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Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

written by Ashley Fehr

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3.85 from 13 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 5 mins
Servings 10

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Published on November 13, 2015 / Last updated on June 6, 2020

The perfect holiday drink, this Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is made with apple, cranberry and orange juices! Perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas party.

slow cooker cranberry apple cider in black crockpot with apple slices orange slices cinnamon sticks and cranberries
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I kind of refuse to believe that Christmas is THIS CLOSE. Ya know??

Are you the kind of person who is way ahead of schedule and already done Christmas shopping? Or are you not even started?

I like to think I’m somewhere in between. I like to be that person who is way ahead of schedule, but the last few years? It just hasn’t happened. I almost think it’s because we’re all getting older, and so most of our siblings and our parents are just getting harder to shop for. We just accumulate more and more things, and really? There isn’t usually anything we actually need.

So I guess I put it off later…. and later…. and then I end up scrambling in the holiday madness for my last few gifts at the last minute.

mug of cranberry apple cider in hands with toothpick across holding apples and cranberries

Cider has never really been something my family has at our holiday gatherings. I’m not sure why, really, it was just never one of our traditions.

But I love food, and I love experimenting with different flavors, and I’m all about adding trying new recipes and making new traditions. So here we are.

I’ve had traditional apple cider, and it’s pretty delicious. But I have to say, I enjoy this Cranberry Apple Cider a whole lot more. I don’t know why, I just love cranberry anything lately. I also love that you can keep it hot all day in the slow cooker, which is great for parties, and you can control the added sugar by making it yourself!

I used all pure, unsweetened juices, with just a bit of sugar for this recipe (feel free to use sugar or your favorite natural sweetener as desired), to keep the sugar as low as possible. I love that this is a warm, holiday drink that the little ones can enjoy, too! Often when my husband and I make coffee, our 3 year old wishes she could have something of her own to sip on. This cider is the perfect drink for the whole family and perfect for those large gatherings!

overhead image of slow cooker with cider in it and apple slices orange slices cranberries and cinnamon sticks for garnish
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Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

written by Ashley Fehr

3.85 from 13 votes
The perfect holiday drink, this Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is made with apple, cranberry and orange juices! Perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas party.
Review
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Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 3 hrs
Total Time 3 hrs 5 mins
Cuisine American
Course Drinks
Servings 10
Calories 129cal

Ingredients

  • 1 liter apple juice pure unsweetened
  • 2 cups orange juice pure unsweetened
  • 1 liter cranberry juice unsweetened
  • 1/4-1/2 cup sugar (stevia, honey or other sweetener) (to taste)
  • 3 cinnamon sticks whole
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a 4 quart or larger slow cooker. Stir.
  • Cook at least 3-4 hours on low or until hot. Keep warm as long as needed on the low or warm setting.
  • *Leftovers refrigerate wonderfully and reheat just fine!

Notes

I was going to add whole cloves and allspice, but I couldn’t find any! I would never add ground spices to a cold drink, but the ground spices dissolve completely as the cider is heated so it works just as well. If you can find ground cloves and allspice and want to go that route, it would also be amazing!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 129cal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 281mg | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Mindy says

    I am finding that a lot of cranberry juices while being 100% juice are actually a blend of a few different juices. Is a blend okay to use for this recipe or do you recommend a 100% all cranberry juice?

    Reply

  2. Ayleen Santana says

    Hi! If I want to add the slice of oranges, apples and the cranberries, those alterate the flavor or it doesn’t matter? I would like to add them, because I like more how you presented the recipe in the picture. Looks spectacular!

    Reply

  3. Liz says

    Is this supposed to have allspice in it? I see it mentioned in the note, but not in the ingredients list. Assembled this tonight to heat up in the morning for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving dinner!

    Reply

  4. Elizabeth says

    This sounds lovely and I plan on making it for thanksgiving. I couldn’t seem to find sugar free juices tho. So I hope using regular juice will be fine and just omit the sugar.

    Reply

  8. Candace says

    Yum! I plan on making this for my daughters first birthday party at the end of October! I’m making for about 25 people so I’m guessing I need to triple the recipe. Do you think it will all fit in one crockpot? I have a 6 quart. Thanks!!

    Reply

  10. April Reany says

    Made it just as your recipe says and it was absolutely fantastic! I am making a large batch for an autumn church event and will also be making it for my friend’s Fall bridal shower. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  13. Alicia says

    The cranberries, apple and orange slices in the picture make the cider look very nice. But, I don’t see those in the recipe. Did you just add those for the picture or would you add those normally? If not just for the picture, are they added right before serving or earlier?

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Hi Alicia! They’re definitely not necessary, but feel free to add them before serving if you want to dress up your cider! I added them just for photos so you knew what you were looking at 🙂

      Reply

  14. Courtney says

    I have a couple of questions. Can I use regular sugar instead? If so, would it be the same amount? Also, is this more tart or more on the sweet side? Thanks.

    Reply

  22. Dorothy Dunton says

    Hi Ashley! Not only does this sound delicious, the aroma that will fill the house will be the best! 🙂

    Reply

  24. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

    Ashley, I can leave a comment! hooray! I am seriously loving all these slow cooker recipes I am seeing for Thanksgiving! now, I just need like 3 more slow cookers! 😛 I love this cranberry apple cider! beautiful!!!! and festive! love this!

    Reply

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