Name: Apple Cider Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10-12 apples (a variety of types); 2 oranges; 4 cinnamon sticks; 1 tbsp whole cloves; 1 whole nutmeg (optional); 1 inch of fresh ginger (optional); 1 star anise (optional); Approximately 15 cups of water; 1/2 cup brown sugar (add this in gradually, to taste)

Apple Cider Day was created to celebrate this delicious drink and its many varieties. Whichever version you prefer, let’s celebrate it today!

When I think of fall, I think of pumpkin carving, caramel apples, cooler temperatures and apple cider! They’re one of those things that just are a symbol of fall to me! Fittingly, Apple Cider Day falls right in the middle of fall.

We pick apples, snack on them, and turn them into caramel covered desserts. Bobbing for apples, a game based on old Celtic traditions of Samhain, a precursor of Halloween is also a popular way to use apples.

Let’s find out more about apple cider day!

This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.

What is Apple Cider Day?

Apple Cider Day falls annually on November 18th. It is a day dedicated to celebrating the delicious beverage called apple cider!

There are several different types of apple cider (some that are alcoholic, and some that are kid-friendly), and this day celebrates them all.

There really is nothing quite so lovely as a refreshing sip of apple cider, don’t you agree?

Is apple cider alcoholic?

Did you know, depending on where you are in the world, the term apple cider has different meanings?

In the United States, apple cider refers to a non-alcoholic beverage which is essentially unfiltered apple juice.

In other parts of the world, the term apple cider refers to the alcoholic drink that we (in the United States) call hard cider.

Hard cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented fruit juice. Apples are a popular and delicious choice, but other types of fruit cider exist too!

Spiced apple cider

As we’ve discussed, there is both alcoholic apple cider, and non-alcoholic apple cider. However, the apple cider varieties don’t stop there!

Enter the widely enjoyed seasonal fall beverage, spiced apple cider. This version of apple cider is a popular way to enjoy non-alcoholic apple cider during the cooler months.

Mulling spices are added to apple cider and heated to create a soothing winter drink! This is one of my personal favorite ways to enjoy apple cider.

If you want to jazz up your spiced apple cider, try adding bourbon to make spiked apple cider! There’s nothing cozier than sipping this boozy cocktail, in front of a warm fire, while the cold weather rages on outside.

Today is a wonderful day to enjoy a glass of apple cider – whichever beverage that word denotes for you!

Fun facts about Apple Cider Day

Brush up on your knowledge of Apple Cider Day with these fun facts.

Apple cider is the official beverage of the state of New Hampshire.
US president John Adams drank apple cider every morning because it was thought to promote good health. He lived to be 90 years old!
As legend says, William Tell shot an apple off of his son’s head with a crossbow on November 18, 1307.
It takes roughly 36 apples to make a gallon of apple cider.
There are two versions of apple cider! If you live in the US, apple cider is a non-alcoholic beverage. Elsewhere in the world, apple cider is an alcoholic beverage.
In the 14th century, children were baptized in apple cider because it was thought to be more sanitary than water.
In addition to November 18th being Apple Cider Day, there’s also a World Cider Day on June 3rd.

How to observe Apple Cider Day

There are lots of obvious ways to celebrate Apple Cider Day. You can make yourself a glass of apple cider and relax while you enjoy it. Here are a few other creative ideas to help honor this day.

Visit a cider mill to grab a glass of the freshest cider you’ll find!
Try all the different types of apple cider: non-alcoholic apple cider, hard cider, hot spiced apple cider, and spiked apple cider!
Keep the celebration of apples going strong and learn about other days dedicated to apples like National Caramel Apple Day and National Johnny Appleseed Day!
Try making an apple cider recipe! I’ve rounded up several fun apple cider recipes and apple cider inspired recipes below!
Solve the word search puzzle for November to see if you can find Apple Cider Day in it.
Use the hashtag #AppleCiderDay to spread the word about the day on social media. Here is a tweet to get you started:

There's nothing that says fall more than a steaming hot glass of apple cider. Did you know there's actually an Apple Cider Day? Head over to Always the Holidays to learn more! 🍎 🍂 🍏 🍁 #AppleCiderDay Share on X

Recipes to celebrate Apple Cider Day

Are you looking for a fun recipe to celebrate Apple Cider Day? Check out these recipes I’ve linked for you below.

Some are for more traditional apple cider beverages, and some take that key apple cider flavor and put a creative spin on it!

Cranberry Relish Recipe – Add apples to this 3 ingredients recipe for a fresh, tasty Thanksgiving side dish. If this appeals to you, don’t forget to check out our list of cranberry facts too!
Coffee Apple Cocktail – What do you get when you add coffee, apple cider and vodka? You get this delicious Coffee Apple Cocktail, yum!
Apple Cider Donut Cake – if you can’t decide between apple cider and dessert, this recipe is for you!
Apple Cider Mimosas – These apple cider mimosas are the perfect fall brunch drink.
Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria – The cranberries in this drink transform it into a beverage you can enjoy all winter long.
Apple Cider and Thyme Grilled Chicken – This savory dish perfectly pairs apple cider with dinner for a fun weeknight dinner solution!
Instant Pot Apple Cider – Looking for a quick and flavorful way to make apple cider? Look no further than this instant pot version.
Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce – this cranberry sauce is a great addition to any Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table.
Caramel Apple Cider Floats – Oh, this sounds delightful. A perfect indulgent treat!

What is a national day?

National days of the year are a fun way to celebrate odd and unusual foods, animals and items that you come into contact with. Be sure to check out this national day’s guide for more fun days to celebrate.

There are close to 2000 national days in the year and over 150 of them are celebrated in November. To see them all, have a look at this post to discover more about the national days in November.

Some of them are drink days like Apple Cider Day, while others are food days, or days dedicated to people, places, animals, or items you may come into contact with.

If you’re interested in more food and drink days this month, make sure view the full list of November food holidays.

There’s even monthly observances to be celebrated. For example, one of the observances of November is National Gratitude Month!

Is food your thing? Each day of the month has a food or drink associated with it, too.

Be sure to also check out these other national days this November:

Do you have a sweet tooth? Then National Candy Day is the November Holiday for you!
November 5th has many different names: Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night. Check out the rich history of this British Holiday.
Are you an espresso fan? Fill up a shot and find out more in this post about National Espresso Day.
If you’re a peanut butter fudge fan like me, you’ll be delighted to know that there’s actually a day called National Peanut Butter Fudge Day, dedicated to celebrating peanut butter fudge!

If you enjoy the warm flavor of Apple Cider Day, be sure to also check out National Irish Coffee Day for another warm and comforting day.

Pin this post on Apple Cider Day for later

Would you like a reminder of this post for Apple Cider Day? Just pin this image to one of your drinks boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch our YouTube video to learn about more food and drink days in November.

If you have never tried apple cider before, check out this recipe. Perhaps it will start a new tradition for you!

Yield: 12

Apple Cider Recipe

This hot, spiced apple cider recipe is perfect for fall. There's nothing more comforting than a glass of piping hot spiced apple cider.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

10-12 apples (a variety of types)
2 oranges
4 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg (optional)
1 inch of fresh ginger (optional)
1 star anise (optional)
Approximately 15 cups of water
1/2 cup brown sugar (add this in gradually, to taste)

Instructions

Peel the oranges and quarter them.
Wash and quarter the apples.
Combine the spices, apples and oranges in a large stockpot.
Fill the stockpot with water, leaving a couple of inches of space at the top. This will be roughly 15 cups of water.
Turn the burner on to high heat and wait until the mixture reaches a boil.
Turn down to a medium low heat, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, the apples and oranges will be very tender. Mash them, and let simmer for an additional hour.
Add in the sugar gradually. Taste it to ensure you like the level of sweetness. If you prefer a more spiced cider, add less sugar. If you prefer sweeter cider, add more.
Strain the mixture through a fine strainer, or cheesecloth.
Discard the solids, and strain again.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick (if you like) and enjoy while hot.

Notes

If you want to make this cider ahead of time to serve at a party, you can reheat it either on the stovetop again, or in a crockpot.
The spices listed in this recipe are the ones I enjoy, but some of them are optional (as listed above in the recipe).
When adding in the sugar, add it gradually. You can always add more if you need, but you can't take any out.
If you need to dilute the spice in the final cider, you can always add more water to taste.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 140Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 19mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 6gSugar: 28gProtein: 1g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

About the author

Since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jess has been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. She is a freelance writer, specializing in content related to fashion, food and drink and film industry topics. Find out more about Jess here.