Instant Pot Apple Cider Recipe (2024)

Published: Aug 12, 2019 · Modified: Jul 22, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

Instant Pot Apple Cider will warm you up on those chilly fall days! This recipe is super easy to make and requires just a handful of ingredients, with minimal effort and cleanup. This is a super way to use up apples from the orchard. Enjoy warm or chilled!

Why This Recipe Works

Fall is upon us, which means all of my favorite things are about to unfold. Colorful leaves, crisp fall air, the smell of soup simmering and best of all.. APPLES!

If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that I tend to go overboard with apple recipes this time of year. They pair perfectly with so many different types of food!

I knew I had to pair two of my favorite things before autumn arrived this year, the Instant Pot and apples! This apple cider turned out so deliciously perfect. My boys and I sucked down a few glasses within minutes.

We will make this again and again throughout fall and winter. It is delicious when warm and also yummy chilled!

Recipe Ingredients

Apples – Use a variety of tart and sweet for a more complex flavor

Lemon – When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe.

Spice mixture – If you enjoy lots of spice for flavor in cider, you can use whole cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice and nutmg. Alternatively, for a less spicy drink, decrease the amount of cloves and allspice by half.

Brown Sugar – For a sweeter cider, throw in extra brown sugar (up to 1 cup total).

How To Make Apple Cider In Your Instant Pot

Step 1

Add 6 cups of water and the juice of 1/2 of a lemon to the pot. Add 6 to 7 quartered apples, 1 quartered orange, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves, 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice and 1 nutmeg. Press the apples down so they are fully covered in liquid.

Step 2

Place the cover on the pot and set the timer to 15 minutes on high pressure (use the pressure cook setting). It will take the pot around 30 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.

When cooking time is done, do a quick release. Open the lid and mash the fruit with a potato masher.

Step 3

Ladle the contents of the pot into a large bowl, pouring everything through a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the solids and pour the cider into quart-size mason jars or a large pitcher. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Warm before serving or enjoy chilled!

Recipe Notes

• If you prefer a slow cooker version, check out this delicious Crockpot Apple Cider!
• Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
• Serve as chilled OR hot apple cider!
• I have fallen IN LOVE with my beloved apple peeler and corer. If a lot of apples go through your kitchen, you absolutely must consider buying one. It’s the most magical tool in my kitchen!

What Types Of Apples To Put In Apple Cider

I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.

Sweet/Softer Apple Brands

• Fuji
• Honeycrisp
• Red Delicious
• Golden Delicious
• Cortland
• Gala

Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands

• Granny Smith
• McIntosh
• Ida Red
• Braeburn
• Empire
• Jonathan

FAQ About Apples

Fall Apple Recipes

• Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce is fun to prepare because it’s so easy to make. Use an assortment of green and red apples and you’ll have a flavorful snack you can enjoy; better than the store stuff!
• This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
• Create delicious little Apple Carrot Cake Muffins by using apples and carrots. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
• The only thing better than salted caramel apples is Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake! This is the perfect fall treat and a great way to use up any type of apples.
• Transform classic French Toast into an appley indulgence! Prepare Apple French Toast Bake recipe the night before so there’s no morning prep! It’s also wonderful as a make and bake option.

Why Does It Take My Instant Pot So Long To Heat Up?

The time leading up to actual cook time may seem long and even confusing (“What is going ON in there?!”), but it’s an important part of the process! The Instant Pot is working on building up the appropriate amount of pressure that it will be cooking the food at.

It handles liquids and solids differently and also fresh and frozen differently, so the time can vary. Most recipes take between 10 and 25 minutes to build up pressure.

Best Recipes To Make In An Instant Pot

The list of recipes you can make in an Instant Pot is endless! It can cook soup, chili, pasta, meat, potatoes, veggies, cake, beans and so much more. Click over to see a massive (and growing) database of my favorite Instant Pot recipes!

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