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Slow Cooker Spiced Cherry Apple Cider

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When entertaining during the holidays, nothing beats a warm cup of apple cider spiced with cinnamon sticks and fresh orange slices. I grew up with this combination at almost every winter celebration. My mom would mixed these three items together and warm it up in her slow cooker. It was easy and always a hit with guests. It meant having a piping hot cup of deliciously spiced apple cider all day. (As long as it lasted anyway.)  And while I think these three items make a killer flavor combination, sometimes it is nice to shake things up a bit. I certainly did that when I tried this Spiced Cherry Apple Cider this week.

Also prepared in a slow cooker, this cider uses traditional apple cider and cinnamon sticks, but throws a unique ingredient in: cherry gelatin. Normally I’d like to keep things natural, but cherry juice just isn’t easy to come by and probably wouldn’t give this some rush of flavor and pretty red color. Originally this recipe calls for a 6 oz box (or two 3 oz) of cherry gelatin per gallon of apple cider. In my opinion this is way too sweet and the cherry overpowers the apple. I highly recommend cutting that amount in half as I have done for this recipe. However, a strong cherry flavor is what you are looking for, definitely try a 6oz box of gelatin!

Spiced Cherry Apple Cider

5 from 3 votes
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Spiced Cherry Apple Cider

Course Drink
Author Altered from Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon apple cider or apple juice
  • 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 3 oz box of cherry gelatin
  • apple slices and/or maraschino cherries optional

Instructions

  1. Add cider and cinnamon sticks to slow cooker. Cook on high 3 hours.
  2. Add cherry gelatin.
  3. Continue to cook on high another hour.
  4. Remove cinnamon sticks.
  5. Serve warm with apple slices and cherries for garnish if desired.

I garnished my cider with apple slices and maraschino cherries. Both are totally optional, but I think a cherry at the bottom really adds something special if you are serving your cider with clear glasses.

Happy holidays!

8 Comments

  1. Even my kids would all like this one Emilie, it does sound delicious. We will have to try with the cider since they love having apple cider.

  2. 5 stars
    This sounds delicious! I love the addition of the cherries, I can see how the flavor would really sparkle with this! The only change I would make (just personal preference) is use just 1 cinnoman stick, as I find it sometimes overwhelming to other flavors. But I’m going to prepare this! Thanks! YUM!

  3. This is fabulous! I love it. Pinned and tweeted. Thanks for being a part of our party! I hope you stop by on Monday at 7 pm. We love to party with you. Merry Christmas! Lou Lou Girls

  4. 5 stars
    This drink is so pretty and I would love to make this drink today for Valentine’s day! I love the cherries in it and it looks delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    One of my favorite drinks to make, especially when I am feeling under the weather, awesome to sip on for a sore throat.

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