By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 30, 2025
Making apple cider from scratch is such a fun and festive way to celebrate fall. And making crockpot apple cider is the easiest way to do that! There is so much to love about this fall drink recipe, and I’m so excited to share it with you! Make it a cocktail or mocktail, both are delicious! I crave this comforting sip all year round!
Pin this recipe for later!
5-Star Review
“This was AWESOME! Huge hit over the weekend camping” -Liz
Skinny Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe
I made this Caramel Apple Cider because, let’s be honest—caramel and apple are an unbeatable combo. I’m all about homemade apple cider , but it doesn’t truly feel like fall until that rich caramel sweetness enters the picture.
This caramel apple cider is also a “skinny” recipe that has less sugar without losing the flavor, so you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging in this delicious beverage. You can make this recipe with or without alcohol, so it’s truly something everyone will love! Add the vodka for parties, or leave it out for family gatherings.
The leaves are changing, the weather is crisp, and our house is filled with the amazing smells of autumn coming straight from my crockpot.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 10 apples
- ▢ 1 orange quartered
- ▢ 4 cinnamon sticks
- ▢ 1½ tsp nutmeg
- ▢ 2 tsp whole cloves
- ▢ 14 cups water
- ▢ ⅓ cup sugar
- ▢ ¼ cup agave nectar
- ▢ ¼ cup caramel sauce
- ▢ ½ cup caramel vodka optional
- ▢ cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and orange slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add sliced apples and oranges to large slow cooker. Don’t worry about peeling them, you will strain later. Add cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and cloves to the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker with water almost all the way to the top. For me it was about 14 cups, but you can use more or less. 10 apples, 1 orange, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1½ tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp whole cloves, 14 cups water
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
- After the cooking time, take a potato masher and mash the fruit fully in the slow cooker. Go slowly so you do not spill the water over the sides.
- Pour cider through a strainer to remove any of the large fruit chunks and spices.
- Follow by straining again through a fine-mesh strainer to make even more refined. Press the mixture through the mesh to get all the juice out that’s possible. Return the remaining cider to the slow cooker.
- Stir in sugar, agave nectar, and caramel sauce. Stir in alcohol if desired. ⅓ cup sugar, ¼ cup agave nectar, ¼ cup caramel sauce, ½ cup caramel vodka
- Keep on low while serving, or refrigerate for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container.
- Serve hot, garnished with apple slices, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks. I dipped the rim of the glass in caramel sauce for some extra fun. cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and orange slices for garnish (optional)
Equipment
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider Step by Step
Place apples in slow cooker: Add 10 cups of sliced apples and 1 orange to large slow cooker. Don’t worry about peeling them, you will strain later. Add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1½ tsp nutmeg, and 2 tsp whole cloves to the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker with water almost all the way to the top. For me, it was about 14 cups, but you can use more or less.
Cook: Cover slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
Mash: After the cooking time, take a potato masher and mash the fruit fully in the slow cooker. Go slowly so you do not spill the water over the sides.
Strain: Pour cider through a strainer to remove any of the large fruit chunks and spices.
Use fine mesh strainer: Follow by straining again through a fine-mesh strainer to make even more refined. Press the mixture through the mesh to get all the juice out that’s possible. Return the remaining cider to the slow cooker.
Add flavoring: Stir in ⅓ cup sugar, ¼ cup agave nectar, ¼ cup caramel sauce. Stir in alcohol if desired.
Keep warm or refrigerate: Keep on low while serving, or refrigerate for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container.
Serve : Serve hot, garnished with apple slices, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks. I dipped the rim of the glass in caramel sauce for some extra fun. Enjoy!
How to Store
If you have any leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Serving Suggestions
For the ultimate fall experience, I like to have a batch of chewy pumpkin cookies or these decadent pumpkin brownies to eat while I sip on the cider. It’s also great to have a batch of apple chips on hand for healthier snacking.
More Fall Drink Recipes
Apple Cider Mimosas (Easy Apple Cider Cocktail)
Apple Pie Moscow Mule
Pumpkin Spice White Russian
Apple Butter Old Fashioned Cocktail
Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 10 apples
- 1 orange quartered
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1½ tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 14 cups water
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ cup agave nectar
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
- ½ cup caramel vodka optional
- cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and orange slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add sliced apples and oranges to large slow cooker. Don’t worry about peeling them, you will strain later. Add cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and cloves to the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker with water almost all the way to the top. For me it was about 14 cups, but you can use more or less. 10 apples, 1 orange, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1½ tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp whole cloves, 14 cups water
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
- After the cooking time, take a potato masher and mash the fruit fully in the slow cooker. Go slowly so you do not spill the water over the sides.
- Pour cider through a strainer to remove any of the large fruit chunks and spices.
- Follow by straining again through a fine-mesh strainer to make even more refined. Press the mixture through the mesh to get all the juice out that’s possible. Return the remaining cider to the slow cooker.
- Stir in sugar, agave nectar, and caramel sauce. Stir in alcohol if desired. ⅓ cup sugar, ¼ cup agave nectar, ¼ cup caramel sauce, ½ cup caramel vodka
- Keep on low while serving, or refrigerate for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container.
- Serve hot, garnished with apple slices, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks. I dipped the rim of the glass in caramel sauce for some extra fun. cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and orange slices for garnish (optional)
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
