Fall is in the air and all I can think about is warm and cozy food and drinks. This Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider is a family favorite drink for the cold months. Yes, you can buy spiced apple cider from the grocery store but making it at home is so easy. And the added bonus is your house smells amazing from all the warm winter spices- cinnamon and cloves. Making Spiced Apple Cider in the Instant Pot is a cinch, so stop buying it and make it at home.
Ingredients used to make Spiced Apple Cider
Apples- I have used 2 variety of apples in this recipe- Gala and Granny Smith. Gala apples are sweet, and Granny Smith are tart variety of apples. But you can really use any variety of apples you like or have on hand. Fuji, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious would be other great choices.
Spices– This is Spiced Apple Cider, so of course there are going to be spices here. For this recipe I have used Cinnamon, cloves and orange peel. Use a vegetable peeler to get the peels off a Navel orange. I absolutely love the combination of these spices with apples.
Brown Sugar– It gives sweetness and some color to the drink. The amount of brown sugar in the recipe is just a suggestion. You can adjust it based on the sweetness of your fruit and also your taste. Additionally, you can use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the drink.
Making Spiced Apple Cider in the Instant Pot
Making Spiced Apple Cider in the Instant Pot is so much quicker as compared to the stovetop or slow cooker method. Pressure cooking the fruit and spices in the Instant Pot really brings out their flavors. Once all the apples, spices and water are added to the insert of the IP, it is pressure cooked for 15 minutes. For proper cooking in 15 minutes ensure that the apples are cut in at least 8-10 pieces each- either slices or discs are fine.
Once the cooking time of 15 minutes is complete, it is your choice whether you would like to Quick Release (QR) or Natural Pressure Release (NPR). Either choice will not affect the taste or texture of the final product. If you are out and about, you can definitely let it NPR till the pin drops and then open the lid. The recipe card itself is written for Quick Release as it would provide the shortest total cooking time.
Serving and Storing
Spiced Apple Cider can be served warm or cold, your preference. To keep it warm, return it back to the Instant Pot insert after you strain the liquid and turn the Instant Pot to Warm. Serve in glasses with a garnish of cinnamon stick and/or orange peel.
Spiced Apple Cider will keep covered in the refrigerator for 5-6 days. Return it to the Instant Pot to warm it or serve cold.
If you enjoy Fall flavors and recipes, please try these other Fall favorites:
My kids are always get excited every time I make Instant Pot Spiced Apple cider at home. Its hard for them to even wait for it to cool down a bit. My son is ready with his cup for me to pour him some cider. Make this Spiced Apple Cider recipe next time you have a cozy evening at home with family or have family or friends over for the holidays.
Spiced Apple Cider- Instant Pot Recipe
Fall favorite comforting drink made in the Instant Pot
10
servings10
minutes50
minutesIngredients
3 medium Gala Apples (see note)
3 medium Granny Smith Apples (see note)
2 large Cinnamon sticks (broken into pieces)
10-12 Cloves
1 Navel Orange
1/2 cup Light brown sugar (See note)
8 cups Water
Method
- Wash the apples properly and cut them in 8-10 pieces; either slices or rounds are fine. Add the apples to the Instant Pot insert.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the rind of the orange. Add the orange rind, cinnamon pieces, cloves and brown sugar to the insert. Cover all the ingredients with water, about 8 cups.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure that the valve is on sealing. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 25 minutes to come up to pressure and then cook for 15 minutes. Once the cooking process is over and the Instant Pot beeps, carefully turn the valve to Venting for Quick Release. At this point you can turn off the instant pot. It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to completely release. Once the valve drops, carefully open the lid of the Instant pot.
- You will see that the apples are disintegrated and soft. Let the hot liquid cool down for about 30 minutes. Get a large glass bowl and place a wire sieve over it. Carefully start pouring the apple pulp and liquid from the Instant Pot insert into the sieve to strain. You may have to do this step in batches. I use a ladle to gently press on the apples for some pulp to strain through, not too much. Once all the liquid is strained, you can discard the leftover pulp and spices.
- Taste the Cider at this point to add any additional sweetness. To serve it warm, return the liquid back to the Instant Pot insert and keep it on warm. To serve it cold, cover the container and place it in the fridge. It will stay for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.
Tips
- The Cooking time of 50 minutes includes the time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, the actually cooking time of 15 minutes and the time it takes for the Instant Pot to de pressurize after Quick Release.
- You can use any variety of apples you like or have on hand. Fuji, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious would be other great choices.
- The amount of brown sugar in the recipe is just a suggestion. You can adjust it based on the sweetness of your fruit and also your taste. Additionally, you can use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the drink.
