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.
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.
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!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
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
Nutrition Information
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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?
Ashley Fehr says
A blend is fine! It is hard to find 100% Cranberry juice
Mindy says
Great! Thanks 🙂
Christy says
Trader Joe’s has a great 100% cranberry juice. No added sugar.
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!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Ayleen! It doesn’t really alter the flavor because I used all of the same flavors that are already in the cider to garnish it.
Rebecca says
When should you add the garnish? While cooking or just prior to serving? Thanks in advance!
Ashley Fehr says
You could do either but it likely looks best just before serving
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!
Ashley Fehr says
I think you could add it if you wanted! I didn’t have any, so I didn’t, but I thought it would be a nice addition.
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.
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, I think it will work just fine!
Marlene says
Has anyone tried cooling it and serving it over ice? I’m looking for a chilled drink but this sound delicious.
Ashley Fehr says
I think it would be great chilled!
Penelope says
I tried making this, and the cider looked brown and nothing like the picture? Why is that?
Ashley Fehr says
I’m not sure how that would happen. I guess that different brands of juices could have different tints, but normally the red of the cranberry takes over and makes it quite pink.
Penelope says
What brands of juice did you use for the recipe?
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t think brands matter to much as long as you’re looking for a pure unsweetened juice. Pick a brand you trust!
Andrea says
Any reason you can’t use apple cider instead of juice?
Ashley Fehr says
You definitely can! I would just reduce the spices.
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!!
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry — the serving size is off! It will actually make 10 cups (though maybe only 6 mugs). A double recipe should fit in a 6 quart slow cooker, but I don’t think any more than that. It makes roughly 2.5 quarts of cider. I hope this helps!
Kelli says
Hi, if I use whole cloves instead of ground what would the ratio be?
Thanks! Can’t wait to try it!
Ashley Fehr says
I would just sprinkle a couple in 🙂
Katrina says
Do you think this could be made and bottled to give as a Christmas gift?
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry, I’m not sure how that would work! I would think it could be canned if done properly, like apple juice, but I don’t have any experience doing that.
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!
Natalie says
For an adult party which choice of alcohol would be best? Maybe a wine?
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t drink much alcohol so I can’t really say. Wine might work!
Cindy says
Im gonna try brandy.
Shannon says
I made it and added Jack Danials, “Winder Jack”. Super yum!
Amo says
How much did you use?
Dana says
Try a vanilla vodka, vanilla vodka doesn’t give off much sweetness & will make it a smooth transition from the apple to cranberry flavors pretty perfectly!
Krysten says
This looks absolutely perfect for fall!
I can’t wait to try it!!
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?
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 🙂
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.
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, you can use regular sugar and use the same amount! Feel free to taste and adjust at the end if need be. Hope that helps!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
Oh yum this sounds fantastic! I love apple cider! I bet its even better with cranberries!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This cider is just gorgeous, Ashley! The cranberry apple combo sounds perfect and can just imagine how amazing your house smelled while this was cooking! Love that you made it in the slow cooker too! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
How GORGEOUS is this cider? I am obsessed with these pictures! So pretty. And I bet your house smells amazing as this is warming in the slow cooker.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Natalie! Fruit is so darn pretty 😉
Kathleen says
Ashley this sounds so yummy! I think this will be in my Crock Pot this Thanksgiving! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kathleen! I hope you like it!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
This would be so perfect for Thanksgiving. Apple cider is my favorite and I love that it is made in the slow cooker.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jen! Slow cooker anything is my favorite!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
This cider is everything I want from fall! I can only imagine how ridiculously delicious your house smells while making this!
Ashley Fehr says
Totally! That is one of the best things about it 🙂
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
We always make apple cider for holiday breakfasts, for some reason, and I love that this one has cranberry too. That’s such a lovely idea! And anytime I can make something in a slow cooker, I’m a happy gal!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! Cranberry is pretty much my favorite thing right now — I feel the need to put it in pretty much everything!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! Not only does this sound delicious, the aroma that will fill the house will be the best! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Dorothy! It absolutely did smell wonderful!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
My family always has hot spiced apple cider at Thanksgiving while we’re waiting for the turkey to bake and I’m seriously considering making this cranberry version instead! It looks absolutely perfect, Ashley! Crockpot FTW too!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! Crock pot all day every day!
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!
Ashley Fehr says
Yay! Thanks Alice! I have 2 slow cooker and it never seems like enough. Lol. I love having a few different sizes for different things!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love making cider in the slow cooker! This cranberry version looks delicious. So perfect for the cold and rainy weather that we’ve had!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gayle! The weather is slowly getting colder here too… a wee bit of snow and frost every morning. Definitely cider weather!