How to make it
8 steps. Take it one step at a time.
Place the quartered apples and orange
Place the quartered apples and orange in a large stockpot.
Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and nutmeg
Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and nutmeg to the pot.
Cover the fruit and spices
Cover the fruit and spices with water until the pot is nearly full, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
Bring to a boil over high heat
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 2 hours.
2 hrAfter 2 hours, use a potato masher or a large spoon
After 2 hours, use a potato masher or a large spoon to mash the softened apples and orange against the side of the pot to release their juices.
Cover and simmer
Cover and simmer for an additional 1 hour.
1 hrStrain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pitcher or pot, discarding the solids.
Stir in the brown sugar
While the cider is still warm, stir in the brown sugar until fully dissolved.
A little kitchen wisdom
Using a variety of apples like Gala for sweetness and Granny Smith for tartness creates a more complex flavor profile. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar at the end.
