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5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Apple Cider

A sweet and tart Apple Cider is quintessentially Fall.
Make it in the Instant Pot and it is SUPER easy too. Adding Citrus, berries and spices elevate the drink to a new level!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 130kcal
Author: Smruti

Ingredients

  • 5 medium Apples (mix of granny smith, fuji and red delicious)
  • 1 Orange (sliced thick)
  • ¼ cup Cranberries
  • ¼ cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 Star Anise
  • 2 Cinnamon
  • 5 Cloves
  • 5 cups Water

Instructions

  • Wash and cut the apples and oranges. They can be cut into wedges, slices or pieces. The peel can be left on the fruit.
    5 medium Apples, 1 Orange
  • In a thick orange slice pierce the cloves; making it easy to fish them out after cooking.
    5 Cloves
  • Place all the fruits in the instant pot.
    ¼ cup Cranberries
  • Add the spices and sugar.
    ¼ cup Brown Sugar, 2 Star Anise, 2 Cinnamon
  • Pour in water to almost submerge the fruits when pressed down.
    5 cups Water
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and set mode to pressure cook. Set time to 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and release the remaining pressure.
  • Open the Instant Pot and remove the spices.
  • Mash the fruits using a potato masher.
  • Strain the cider using a fine mesh or muslin cloth. Extract as much juice as possible.
  • Serve topped with some apple slices or cranberries.

Video

Notes

  • Picking Apples: Pick a mix of green and red varieties of apples. They tend to give a sweet and tart balance in the drink. If you cannot find green apples or do not like them, make the drink with whatever you have at hand.
  • Spices in the Cider: Add more spices like pepper, nutmeg or ginger for warmth. However, remember to remove the whole spices before serving. A smooth drink with pieces of spice is often not enjoyable.
  • Making it kids friendly: If making them for kids, reduce the spices to make it more fruity. Often adding just a clove or a small cinnamon is a great idea as it flavors the drink without spicing it.
  • Sweetener: Sweeten the drink with a sweetener of your choice. Maple syrup, honey, sugar or even dates work. Use an amount that you are comfortable with. Skip for a natural version.
  • Using the Instant pot: I like to make the cider using the instant pot and serve it with it too. After it is made, simply transfer back to the instant pot and keep the pot on 'keep warm'. It can be stored for a few hours like this and served at the party using the same mode on the instant pot too.
  • Serving the apple cider: The drink can be enjoyed warm or even after refrigerating it for a few hours. It tastes great warm, but can be enjoyed cold too.
  • Instant Pot: Remember to always account for the time needed for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. The cook time listed does not account for this.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates using an automated calculator. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg