Caramel Apple Cider
Equipment
- 1 stovetop
- 1 pot or slow cooker
- 2 glasses
Ingredients
- 3 cups bottled apple juice If you are on a low-carb diet, use a sugar-free apple juice.
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or you can make your own at home by mixing together 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, and then storing any leftovers in a sealed jar.
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 tablespoons sweetener of choice caramel sauce, maple syrup, honey, or sugar substitute such as stevia in the raw if you are on a low-carb diet.
- Whipped cream use coconut whipped cream for a vegan version.
- 2 tablespoons store-bought caramel sauce for drizzling on top your favorite, a vegan one, or a keto caramel sauce.
- Flaked salt to sprinkle on top optional (or some kosher salt to garnish the rim of your glass if making an apple cider cocktail with vodka)
- 1 tablespoon vodka or white rum to spike your drink optional (only if you'd like to transform it into a caramel apple cider cocktail)
Instructions
STOVETOP:
- In a medium saucepan, combine apple juice, apple pie spice, and cinnamon sticks together and let cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and stir in your sweetener of choice very well.
- Pour apple cider into 2 heat-resistant glasses, top with whipped cream, drizzle with 1 tablespoon caramel sauce per glass, and sprinkle flaked salt on top. TIP: If making a cocktail, stir the vodka into the drink right after adding the sweetener. In addition, garnish the rim of the glasses according to the instructions in the notes. You may add or not the whipped cream, caramel, and flaked salt right after. If you want your drink to have only the caramel, skip the sweetener and mix the caramel into the drink.
- Serve while warm and enjoy!
SLOW COOKER:
- Add apple juice, all the spices, and the sweetener to a 3-quart slow cooker, stir well, place the lid, and cook on HIGH for 2-4 hours or until heated throughout. Pour apple cider into 2 heat-resistant glasses, top with whipped cream, drizzle with 1 tablespoon caramel sauce per glass, and if desired, sprinkle flaked salt on top.
Recipe Notes
- FRIDGE: Store apple cider in a pitcher or sealed bottle in the fridge for up to 7 days. Only top with whipped cream and caramel right before serving.
- FREEZER: Freeze leftovers for up to a year, but leave about 2 inches of headspace in the airtight container, allowing the caramel apple cider to expand naturally.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.