Homemade apple cider is so easy to make in a Vitamix! We love it cold or warmed up with fresh whipped cream! The pulp can also be added to homemade applesauce, or used to make apple hand pies.
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I’ve been making apple cider with my kids for several years; occasionally we will invite friends over to share the cider with us too. It’s a fun tradition, and of course, also a very tasty one too.
When the cider is first made, if there is the slightest chill in the air, I warm it up and serve it in mug with dollops of fresh whipped cream. It’s literally the best. Incredible fall coziness in a mug. (The rest goes in the fridge to be enjoyed cold later).
Homemade apple cider is not something I typically try to preserve (we just enjoy it fresh once or twice in the fall), but this year I think I am going to try and save some in the freezer to enjoy in front of the fire, or for my husband to use when he smokes pork butts in the smoker.
If you have a high powered blender, this homemade cider is very easy to make. The hardest part is peeling the apples, though you could technically skip that step if you wash the apples well first. When I first started making cider, I asked at the apple orchard we pick from which apple varieties were best for cider. The kind owners told me that really it’s best just to use a mix of varieties for cider. So that’s what I do. I use a couple of varieties with a stronger taste, and a couple of varieties with a more mild taste.
Homemade Apple Cider in A Vitamix
Steps to making delicious, fresh, homemade apple cider:
- Prep the apples: Peel, core, and slice (doesn’t need to be small pieces)
- Blend with a little water until smooth.
- Strain with a fine mesh strainer.
- Transfer to jar and enjoy! (Shake before drinking after it sits a bit)
- Use the pulp.
See, I told you it was EASY! Go ahead, impress your family and friends.
(Don’t have a Vitamix? This post goes into detail about its many uses. I have a 5200 series and have been using it regularly for several years. It’s a workhorse for sure.
If you have a different kind of blender, give it a try. Another high-powered blender should work fine, but please leave a comment if you use it to make cider and let us know!)
As far as what to do with the pulp that is left after you strain the cider, you have a few different options of how to put it to use. I made a few big batches of applesauce in my Instant Pot and simply stirred the cider pulp into my pot of applesauce. No one’s the wiser.
Another (EVEN MORE DELICIOUS) option is to use the pulp to make hand-pies/pop-tarts. Do this option. You won’t regret it.
How to make hand pies with apple cider pulp:
- Make and chill pie dough. (Or get some at the store).
- Mix the pulp together with some sweetener and spices to taste. (I used maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg).
- Roll out the pie dough, cut into shapes (rectangles or circles), and fill with sweetened pulp mix. (More details on this process in my Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts recipe)
- Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes.
- Enjoy right away or save for later. (Or do both. I froze half of the hand pies I made last week. More freezing details in my Freezer Pop-Tarts post).
Of course, don’t forget to tag me when you share your apple adventures, drinking cider with friends, your pop-tarts right out of the oven, or whatever! I love to see what you make! Aaaaaand I also appreciate so much when you come back and leave a comment and rating. It’s super helpful to others deciding whether or not to try a recipe! Thanks!
NEED MORE APPLE RECIPES? Check out this list of over 50 delicious apple recipes!
RECOMMENDED TOOLS ::
- Vitamix 5200
- Mesh wire strainer (I have this exact set and use them daily)
- Titan Peeler (looooove this one)
- Victorinox paring knives (again, highly recommend these knives)
Apple Cider in A Vitamix
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 1 quart 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Vitamix
Description
Homemade apple cider is so easy to make in a Vitamix! We love it cold or warmed up with fresh whipped cream! The pulp can also be added to homemade applesauce, or used to make apple hand pies.
Ingredients
- 4–5 lbs apples of different varieties*
- 1 cup of water
Instructions
- Pour one cup of water in the Vitamix. Peel, core, and slice the apples. Add the prepared apples to the Vitamix container until the container is full.
- Blend the apples on high until they are completely smooth. Strain the blended apples through a wire strainer, reserving the pulp**.
- Serve the cider warm or chilled. Store the extra cider in the refrigerator for a week, or freeze.
Notes
* When I asked years ago at an apple orchard about what apples were best for making cider, the orchard owners answered that using a variety of apples is best. I typically use 3-4 types, two with a stronger flavor, and one or two with a more mild flavor.
**You can add the pulp to applesauce, muffins, or smoothies. Or (my favorite) add a little sugar and spice use it as a filling for hand pies.
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We had a lot of fun making this! So easy and delicious.
★★★★★
Excited to try this.
Than you for sharing it.
Made this recipe using by Blendtec blender and it worked great! Once it was done, I added a cider spice mix to make spiced apple cider! My boys loved it! Bringing the rest camping with us this weekend 🙂 Planning on using the pulp in an applesauce spice cake and some hand pies!
★★★★★