Long before the pumpkin spiced latte took the world by storm, good ole fashioned apple cider was the go-to drink for this beautiful time of year. In celebration of the classic Autumn beverage, here is an easy recipe and instructions on how to make it:
Step One: Cut up dem apples
The first step is always the easiest. Simply slice your apples in preparation for the recipe. You don’t have to use the same types of apples, so use as great a variety as you’d like: red delicious, golden delicious, granny smith — the more the merrier. Three to five apples should do, but obviously, the more apples you use, the more delicious cider you'll have to share with your friends and family.
Step Two: Simmer that sucker
Toss your chopped-up apples into a pot on the stove, or a crock pot if you really want to get fancy with it. Add an orange or two and a lemon if you’d like your cider to have a citrusy undertone. Add some cinnamon, and when all of your ingredients are in the pot, fill it up with water and let it simmer for at least four hours. However, letting the apples simmer overnight will grant you the best results.
Step Three: Mash it up and pour
This is the fun part. Once your ingredients are simmered, mash them all together into a thick, goopy concoction. When all your ingredients are mashed, pour them into a strainer or cheesecloth for optimal results. Make sure you have something under the strainer to catch your cider, otherwise all your work will have gone to waste. Strain the cider twice if you are worried about any chunks floating around in your drink. Be sure to use a finer strainer the second time around.
Final Step: Enjoy!
Once you have finished straining your cider, throw away all the excess gunk and enjoy. You’ve just made your own fresh, homemade apple cider. Share it with your friends and family, serve it at your Halloween party or just keep it all to yourself — The choice is yours.
For those of us out there that are a little too lazy to make our own cider, you can always take the easy route and just buy some at Kroger. However, if you still want that homemade flavor, but don’t want to make it yourself, fresh apple cider is often sold at the Athens Farmer’s Market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
