By Becky Hardin
Published Dec 20, 2021
I love making this Instant Pot Apple Cider recipe on chilly fall nights! Filled with fresh apples, cranberries, cinnamon and warm spices, maple syrup, and just a few other ingredients, this mulled apple cider is so quick and easy to make in a pressure cooker. Cups of hot apple cider will be ready for any gathering in no time!
I love homemade apple cider , and my favorite thing about making spiced apple cider in my Instant Pot is how simple it is. I just throw some fruit and spices into the pot, set it, and let it cook! Every glass of this cider is like a warm Autumn dream, and I just can’t get enough of it. Plus it makes my kitchen smell perfectly-spiced!
Ingredients for Instant Pot Mulled Apple Cider
- Apples: Use fresh apples–sweeter types work best for this drink. Remove the core and cut them into slices.
- Orange: Thinly-sliced oranges add a bright citrus twist that balances the other flavors.
- Cranberries: Fresh or frozen cranberries both work well.
- Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and fresh rosemary combine to create a warm spiced flavor. Whole spices work best because they’re more potent, and easier to separate from the cider after cooking.
- Maple Syrup: This adds a rich sweetness to the mulled cider. Another liquid sweetener, like agave, can be used instead.
- Brown Sugar: This adds more of that deep molasses sweetness. I much prefer this over granulated white sugar.
- Lemon Juice: The acidity helps balance out the sweetness of the drink.
Tips for Success
- If you’re missing an ingredient here or there, don’t worry. Spices can be adjusted to your preference, cranberries can be left out if you don’t have them, etc. Just adjust to taste.
- After removing it from the Instant Pot, use a fine mesh sieve to strain the apple cider before serving.
- If you want a less sweet mulled cider, leave out the maple syrup and/or brown sugar. You can also use a more tart apple variety, so that the sweetness doesn’t overpower the drink.
How to Store and Reheat
Store cooled apple cider in an airtight container, pitcher, or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve cold, at room temp, or warm it up in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Serving Suggestions
This pressure cooker apple cider is the perfect warm drink to serve with spiced desserts, other apple recipes , and baked treats! I love it with these apple cider cookies , apple cinnamon bread , or apple pie monkey bread .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 6 apples sliced
- ▢ 1 orange thinly sliced
- ▢ ⅓ cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- ▢ 2 cinnamon sticks
- ▢ 1 clove
- ▢ 2 star anise
- ▢ 1 fresh rosemary sprig
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar
- ▢ ¼ cup maple syrup
- ▢ Juice from ½ lemon
- ▢ Water enough to fill the Instant Pot until all ingredients are covered
- ▢ Extra cinnamon, rosemary, or star anise for garnish
Instructions
- Place the apple slices, orange slices, and cranberries in the Instant Pot. 6 apples, 1 orange, ⅓ cup cranberries
- Add the cinnamon sticks, clove, anise, rosemary, sugar, syrup, and lemon juice. 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 clove, 2 star anise, 1 fresh rosemary sprig, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup maple syrup, Juice from ½ lemon
- Add water to the Instant Pot until all of the ingredients are covered. Stir everything together. Water
- Place the lid and seal. Select HIGH and set the timer for 15 minutes. After cooking for 15 minutes, let the valve release naturally.
- Mash the softened fruit to release additional juices.
- Strain the apple cider mixture from the Instant Pot into a heatproof jar. Discard the solids and enjoy! Extra cinnamon, rosemary, or star anise
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Apple Cider in an Instant Pot Step by Step
Add the Apples: Cut 6 apples into slices/wedges, and add them to the Instant Pot.
Add the Fruit: Cut 1 orange into thin slices and add them to the pot, then add ⅓ cup of cranberries.
Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 clove, 2 star anise, 1 fresh rosemary sprig, ½ cup o brown sugar, ¼ cup of maple syrup, and the juice from ½ a lemon. Then add enough water to the Instant Pot to submerge all of the ingredients. Stir everything together.
Cook: Place the lid and seal, then select HIGH and set the timer for 15 minutes. After cooking for 15 minutes, let the valve release naturally. Mash the softened fruit to release additional juices. Then strain the apple cider mixture from the Instant Pot into a heatproof jar. Discard the solids and spices.
More Apple Cider Recipes We Love!
Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Apple Cider Mimosas (Easy Apple Cider Cocktail)
Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider
Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider
Instant Pot Apple Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 apples sliced
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 clove
- 2 star anise
- 1 fresh rosemary sprig
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- Juice from ½ lemon
- Water enough to fill the Instant Pot until all ingredients are covered
- Extra cinnamon, rosemary, or star anise for garnish
Instructions
- Place the apple slices, orange slices, and cranberries in the Instant Pot. 6 apples, 1 orange, ⅓ cup cranberries
- Add the cinnamon sticks, clove, anise, rosemary, sugar, syrup, and lemon juice. 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 clove, 2 star anise, 1 fresh rosemary sprig, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup maple syrup, Juice from ½ lemon
- Add water to the Instant Pot until all of the ingredients are covered. Stir everything together. Water
- Place the lid and seal. Select HIGH and set the timer for 15 minutes. After cooking for 15 minutes, let the valve release naturally.
- Mash the softened fruit to release additional juices.
- Strain the apple cider mixture from the Instant Pot into a heatproof jar. Discard the solids and enjoy! Extra cinnamon, rosemary, or star anise
Notes
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
