Instant Pot Apple Cider—aromatic, cozy apple cider gives you all the feelings of fall. Make it fast in your Instant Pot or simmer all day in your slow cooker and your house will smell amazing!
Note: SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe below

Instant Pot Apple Cider
I love warm apple cider this time of year. It feels so cozy holding a warm mug and sipping fragrant apple cider with family and friends. Making it at home in your Instant Pot or slow cooker is easier than your think!

How to make Instant Pot homemade apple cider:
- Cut a variety of different kinds of apples into quarters. There is no need to discard peels and seeds and stems. They can all go into the pot. Quarter your oranges and add then in. If you would like less tart apple cider then you can peel your oranges.
- Add a handful or cranberries, 4 cinnamon sticks and a tablespoon of whole cloves* into the pot.
- Fill the pot up with as much water as you can without going over the max fill line.
- Pressure cook for 15 minutes with a 15-20 minute natural pressure release. The pot will take a long time to come to pressure because it is so full of liquid. When you release the pressure your house will smell sooooo good!
- Use cheesecloth* or a fine mesh strainer* to strain the apple cider. Mash the apples into the side of the strainer to release extra juices and flavors.
- Sweeten the apple cider with brown sugar (as much or as little as you’d like). You can also use maple syrup to sweeten it.
- Ladle into mugs and enjoy! You can store the leftovers in a pitcher* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or you can freeze for up to 3 months.

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Instant Pot Apple Cider
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (plus 15 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Aromatic, cozy apple cider gives you all the feelings of fall. Make it fast in your Instant Pot or simmer all day in your slow cooker and your house will smell amazing!
Ingredients
- 10 medium apples, assorted variety
- 2 oranges
- 2/3 cup fresh cranberries
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 Tbsp whole cloves
- Water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Cut the apples and oranges into quarters. You don’t need to remove stems, seeds or peels. Add them into Instant Pot.
- Add in the cranberries, cinnamon sticks and cloves.
- Fill Instant Pot up with water until it’s about 1 ½ inches from the top (not higher than the max fill line).
- Cover Instant Pot and set the manual/pressure cook button to 15 minutes. When time is up let the pressure release naturally for 15-20 minutes and then move valve to venting.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl/container. Pour the contents of Instant Pot into strainer. Use a spoon to press the apples against the sides to release any flavor and juices. Discard the solids and whole cloves.
- Add brown sugar. Taste test and add more to taste. Serve and enjoy.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Cut the apples and oranges into quarters. You don’t need to remove stems, seeds or peels. Add them into slow cooker.
- Add in the cranberries, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Fill up with water until it’s about 1 inch from the top (in a 6 quart slow cooker).
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl/container. Pour the contents of Instant Pot into strainer. Use a spoon to press the apples against the sides to release any flavor and juices. Discard the solids and whole cloves.
- Add brown sugar. Taste test and add more to taste. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. Make in the 8 quart but only fill up with water until it is 2-3 inches from top. Halve the recipe if using the 3 quart pot, same cooking time.
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I’m excited to try this! How long can you store leftovers in the fridge?
I would say for up to 10 days
You say you used a 6 qt but if using 8 qt no change. Wouldn’t that be more water and in turn less flavor?
Oh, you are right. I didn’t think of that. I just changed the recipe.
Can I use ground cloves instead of whole? Couldn’t find any. Or omit altogether? Super excited to make this right now!!
I’d omit!
Made this today. The entire batch was consumed with our Thanksgiving dinner. So good!
You must be Canadian! How cool! I’m glad you liked it.
It’s cool to be Canadian…the rest of the world likes you.
This sounds amazing! Tho I’m still terrified of my Instant Pot. Guess I’ll hafta use the old Crotch Pot!
Thx for the recipe.
Watch this! https://youtu.be/EJd6dC5d62U
This sounds amazing!! Can’t wait to try 😀
I hope you like it!
Going to try this recipe. Do the cranberries need to be defrosted in they were, obviously, in the freezer? Also, what type of apples did you use beside the Granny Smith? Macintosh? Cameo? Pink Lady? Gala?
I used granny smith, gala, honey crisp and jazz apples. The cranberries are fine frozen.
I made this last year for our Thanksgiving Day festivities, and it was a big hit! Also had a bottle of Caramel Apple vodka next to the pot in case anyone wanted to “spice it up” a bit, which many people did. Really good!
★★★★★
I bet they loved that!
Uh oh, If made in the crockpot was I supposed to add water?
I’m sorry I forgot to add that line in the crockpot instructions! Yes you are supposed to add water.
Sounds good. I bet craisins could be substituted for cranberries.
I made the apple cider and it was very good. Can you give a receipe to make apple butter from the cooked apples. It is a shame to do away with the apples
★★★★★
I have two questions! 1) Do you think this would be good cold, and 2) do you think dried cranberries would work if you rehydrated them? I don’t think I can get fresh cranberries around here yet. I’ll have to remember to buy extra this holiday season and stuff them in the freezer.
I think it would be good cool and you could throw dried cranberries in there I bet. Or just leave them out. Should be fine without them!
That’s amazing! I’ll have to try it. I’m beginning to believe the Instant Pot can do anything.
It’s an amazing tool!