Instant Pot Apple Cider

Warm up with a mug of Instant Pot Apple Cider. This classic cool-weather drink is made in the pressure cooker with apples, oranges and comforting whole spices. It is sweetened with rich maple syrup to make a delicious homemade mulled cider drink.

Spiced apple cider is a cold weather staple and a satisfying alternative to hot chocolate. It may seem fancy, but making cider from scratch is easier than you think! These step by step instructions will teach you how to make a delicious batch of apple cider from scratch in your Instant Pot pressure cooker.

Apple cider is made by mashing cooked apples to squeeze out the juice. Fresh apple cider is so simple and tastes fresh and delicious. This recipe creates a cider that is slightly thiner than many ciders since the apples are pressure cooked with water and then strained.

You can sweeten the instant pot apple cider with maple syrup, honey or brown sugar, if desired.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• All of the ingredients in this pressure cooker cider are natural, vegan and refined sugar-free.
• Homemade apple cider is a great way to switch up your go-to party punch for the holidays.
• It’s perfect for kids and adults.
• You can easily adjust the spices to fit your taste.

Ingredients & Equipment You Need

You will need a few natural ingredients for this spiced apple cider recipe plus an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

• Apples – Feel free to use a medley of apple varieties. Honey crisp, Gala apples, Fuji and Golden or Red Delicious are on the sweeter side, while Pink Lady, Granny Smith Apples, Braeburn, Jonathan and McIntosh are more tart and acidic. Use a mixture of sweet and tart apples for a vibrant, full-bodied flavor.
• Oranges – They add a sweet, citrus element. The acidity also helps create a crisp and complex flavored apple cider.
• Whole Spices – Cinnamon sticks and whole cloves add warm and cozy fall flavor. You can alter the flavor by using other spices like star anise, allspice, five spice or cardamom.
• Fresh ginger and whole nutmeg (Optional) – These whole spices are optional but recommended to enhance the warming flavors.
• Water
• Maple Syrup – To sweeten the instant pot apple cider with a rich, natural maple flavor. You can use honey, brown sugar or coconut sugar, instead. You can test the flavor before adding the apple cider to determine if you want to add the sweetener of your choice. The cider may be sweet enough without the sweetener.

Other Ingredients & Flavors: You can mull the cider with extra fruit, if desired. Winter fruits like pear, black currents, blackberries, cranberries, permissions, pomegranates and pineapple are great options. This will change the flavor of the apple cider, depending on what type of fruit you use.

Equipment Needed: You’ll need a 6 to 8 quart Instant Pot pressure cooker, a slotted spoon (to remove the whole spices), a potato mashed or immersion blender (to press the cooked fruit and extract the juices) and a mesh strainer (to remove the solids).

How to Make Apple Cider in an Instant Pot

This instant pot apple cider recipe comes together easily, with everything cooking in a pressure cooker.

1. Prepare apples and oranges – Wash the apples, peel the oranges and then cut the fruit into quarters. Then, place the fruit in the inner pot of your pressure cooker.
2. Combine with spices and water – Next, drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and the remaining spices. Cover the ingredients with about 2 quarts (8 cups) or enough water to fill the inner pot about halfway.

3. Pressure cook the ingredients – Secure the lid and make sure the valve is in the sealed position. Then, program the Instant Pot to cook on manual HIGH for 15 minutes. When the timer stops, allow a full natural pressure release. Next, carefully remove the lid, and use a wooden spoon to discard the whole spices.
4. Press fruit and strain – Mash the apples and oranges directly inside the pot with a potato masher or an immersion blender. Then, pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl to extract the pulp and solids. Transfer cider back to the pot of the pressure cooker.

5. Sweeten cider and serve – Whisk in maple syrup (adding more to taste) and serve warm or chilled garnished with thinly sliced apples and a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Make sure the apples, oranges and spices are full immersed in water but be sure not to go over the MAX fill line. This shouldn’t be a problem with a 6 quart or larger pressure cooker, but check to be sure.
• Wrap the spices in a muslin cloth to make it easier to remove the whole spices. Once wrapped in the muslin cloth, tie it up and toss the bundle directly in the pot. Then, when it’s ready, remove the fabric from the pot instead of fussing over picking out the whole spices by hand.
• Patience is key! Once the timer stops, your home will smell AMAZING. As tempting as it may be to quickly release the pressure and open the lid for a taste, patience is key. The flavors and aromas become bolder and brighter as the pressure slowly releases naturally.
• Make spiked apple cider – To turn this into spiked mulled apple cider, follow the recipe as instructed, let it cool slightly and then stir in 1 cup of bourbon, whisky, brandy or dark rum. You can also combine the cider with 2 cups of red wine. Or make this apple cider martini.

Pressure cooker apple cider is a comforting and delicious fall drink. Serve it warm or cold with one of your favorite other apple recipes for a delicious taste of fall.

Other Apple Recipes

• Baked Apple Cider Donuts
• Instant Pot Apple Butter
• Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
• Apple Cinnamon Bread
• Apple Pie
• Caramel Apple Cake

Did you try this Apple Cider recipe made in the Instant Pot? Leave a recipe rating and review below.