One of my favorite ways to welcome fall is with a big pot of homemade apple cider simmering away and filling the whole house with the smell of cinnamon and cloves. This easy instant pot apple cider takes all of that cozy flavor and gets you there in a fraction of the time, no hours of watching a pot on the stove required.
I like using a sweet apple variety in this recipe, since the lemon already brings plenty of tartness and balance on its own, so there's no need to mix in a tart apple too.
This is a non alcoholic spiced apple drink that comes together with real fruit, warm spices, and just a touch of brown sugar and maple syrup.
Whether you are hosting a fall gathering or just want a cozy drink to enjoy on a chilly evening, this cider is ready to serve hot or cold in about 25 minutes.
I love making a big batch to keep in the fridge all week, it tastes just as good chilled as it does steaming hot in a mug.
If you are looking for more apple recipes you might also enjoy my Easy Apple Slaw with Poppyseed Dressing, these Gluten Free Air Fryer Apple Fritters, my Gluten Free Apple Almond Cake, these Gluten Free Apple Spice Cookies or my Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole recipes.
You can find all of my drink recipes here: Gluten Free Drink Recipes
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What Apples to Use
I recommend using a sweet apple variety like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji for this recipe. Since the lemon already adds plenty of tartness and brightness to the cider, there's no need to mix in a tart apple. A sweet variety gives you the best balance once the lemon is added.
Why Peel and Core the Apples
Some apple cider recipes skip peeling and coring since the pressure cooking breaks the fruit down either way, but I prefer to peel and core mine for a few reasons.
- Peeled, cored apples mash much more easily once they're cooked, which makes straining through a fine mesh strainer faster and cleaner.
- It also means I'm not cooking the seeds into the cider, since apple seeds contain a compound that converts to trace amounts of cyanide, not something I want simmering in a drink.
- Peeling is also an easy way to reduce pesticide residue if you're not using organic apples, since apples are one of the more heavily sprayed conventional crops.
Storage
Store this instant pot apple cider in a sealed bottle or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months, leaving a little room at the top for expansion. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating or serving cold.
Top tip
After straining, taste the cider before serving and adjust the sweetness if needed. The apples release different amounts of natural sugar depending on ripeness and variety. A splash more maple syrup can help balance things out if your batch turns out more tart than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple cider is unfiltered pressed apple juice, and it can be served either hot or cold. Mulled cider is apple cider that has been warmed with spices like cinnamon and cloves, often with other fruits added, for a richer, more festive flavor.
Yes, and it's actually one of the best ways to make it. The instant pot extracts flavor from the apples and spices in just 15 minutes, compared to hours of simmering on the stovetop. You can also use it to quickly reheat store bought or leftover cider using the manual setting for 1 minute.
Yes, ground spices work in a pinch. Use about 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in place of the cinnamon sticks and a pinch of ground cloves in place of the whole cloves. Keep in mind the cider may turn out slightly cloudier since ground spices don't strain out as cleanly as whole ones.
You can, but check your instant pot's max fill line first. Apple cider needs room for the fruit to move around as it cooks, so doubling the recipe usually only works in an 8 quart or larger pot. If you have a 6 quart, it's best to stick with the recipe as written or cook it in two batches.
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Instant Pot Apple Cider Supplies
You can find all of my instant pot recipes here: Gluten Free Instant Pot Recipes
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Easy Instant Pot Apple Cider
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This homemade mulled cider is made with fresh apples, citrus, and warm spices, all cooked together in the instant pot for a fraction of the usual time. Serve it hot for a cozy fall drink, or chill it and serve cold.
Ingredients
- 8 cups Water
- 10 small Sweet Apples, peeled, cored and cut into quarters
- 1 large Orange, cut into quarters
- 1 Lemon, cut into quarters
- 1 inch piece of Fresh Ginger, peel and sliced into rounds
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 tsp Whole Cloves
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup
Instructions
In your instant pot add the cored, peeled and quartered apples, quartered orange, quartered lemon, peeled and slice fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, brown sugar and maple syrup. Top with water and stir to combine.
Put the lid on your pressure pot and using manual cook for 15 minutes. Let the steam release naturally.
Carefully remove the lid from your instant pot and let the mixture cool slightly.
Using a potato masher, mash the ingredients to release all of the juices.
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Serve hot immediately or store the apple cider in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
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Notes
Want to switch things up? A star anise pod or a pinch of ground nutmeg both make a nice addition to the spice mix here for an even warmer, more layered flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Give this easy instant pot apple cider a try this fall, and let me know how it turns out in the comments below.
Instructions
In your instant pot add the cored, peeled and quartered apples, quartered orange, quartered lemon, peeled and slice fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, brown sugar and maple syrup. Top with water and stir to combine.
Put the lid on your pressure pot and using manual cook for 15 minutes. Let the steam release naturally.
Carefully remove the lid from your instant pot and let the mixture cool slightly.
Using a potato masher, mash the ingredients to release all of the juices.
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Serve hot immediately or store the apple cider in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Hint: I also love this apple cider cold after the drink has been refrigerated for at least a couple of hours.
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