Homemade Apple Cider

Apple Cider is a delicious beverage made from the common highly regarded fruit, the apple. Typically enjoyed in the fall months it is often served warm to off set the cooling weather. A better way to enjoy this sweet fruity drink is to make it at home from scratch. Fortunately this drink is easy to make at home, all it requires are some simple household appliances.   

Equipment:

Stock pot

Strainer

Potato masher

Cheese cloth or nylon mesh or coffee filter

Ingredients

12 apples

1-2 citrus fruit such as lemons or oranges peeled and quartered

3-4 Sticks of cinnamon

3-4 whole cloves

2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sugar (or substitute ⅔ cup of agave syrup)

1 Teaspoon whole nutmeg

Directions

1. Wash fruit and cut into quarters
2. Add fruit to a stock pot with sugar
3. Add water to pot until fruit and sugar are covered
4. Place cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in cheese cloth mesh and tie off in satchel
5. Bring water in pot to boil 
6. Add satchel of spices to pot
7. Allow water to boil for at least 1 hour or long enough for fruit to soften
8. Mash softened fruit reduce heat and allow to simmer for 2 hours
9. Turn off heat remove spice satchel and allow pot contents to cool completely
10. Once cool transfer liquid to clean drink storage container by straining through cheesecloth or strainer cloth