You can use a mix of sweet and tart apples, the same apples, or whatever you prefer.If you don't have an orange, substitute with a 1/4 cup of orange juice. Another option is lemon juice. Or, you can leave it out.If you added too much water or your cider tastes watery, you can simmer it for 20 minutes or so to reduce it (simmer off some of the liquid to make it more concentrated). And if it's too concentrated, add some water.I sometimes add two star anise to the apple mixture before cooking the cider.To make it on the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a stock pot, cover with a lid and simmer for two hours or until the apples are soft and easy to mash. Then strain the apple mixture following the steps below.To cook them in a slow cooker, combine everything and set the cooker to go for about 6 hours, then strain the apple mixture following the steps below.
Servings: 8cups
Calories: 129kcal
Equipment
1 Pressure cooker optional
Ingredients
10medium applesor 8 large apples
1orangeseedless and skin peeled
3cinnamon sticksor 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
8cupswater
2tablespoonsmaple syrupoptional; or honey or other sweetener
Instructions
Cut the apples up into large chunks or slices. Remove the core and stem, or cut around it. You can leave the skin on.
Add the orange (remove the peel), apple slices, water, and cinnamon sticks to the Instant Pot along with 8 cups of water.
Seal the pot and cook at high pressure for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes allow the pot to depressurize on its own for at least 10 minutes, and then use the release the valve to let any additional steam escape before opening the pot.
Use a potato masher or large fork to mash up the apples to release any extra juice.
Place a fine mesh strainer (or cheese cloth) over a sauce pan and pour the contents of the Instant Pot container into the strainer to separate the cider from the solids.
Taste the cider and stir in about one to two tablespoons of maple syrup or other sweetener to bring the cider to the desired sweetness.
Store the cider in the refrigerator for a few weeks or the freezer for a few months.