Spiced Apple Cider (Pressure Cooker)
The flavour of the variety of apples, combined with the warming spices and citrus, is intensified when it's reduced in a pressure cooker. This makes it a hot and comforting drink on a chilly evening.
Ingredients
- 4 large apples a mix of sweet and tart works well
- 1/4 cup 60ml maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 green cardamom pods crushed
- 1 star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 allspice berries
- 1 " piece ginger root peeled and sliced
- rind of 1 small orange
- 4 cups 1L water
Instructions
- Wash, core and slice your apples (leave the skin on).
- Add the apples to the pressure cooker pot, along with the maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, star anise, cloves, allspice, ginger and orange rind. Pour in the water.
- Cover and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes (it may take 10-15 minutes for the pressure to build).
- Carefully release the pressure using the quick-release, and manual if needed. Remove the lid.
- Use a potato masher to help release all the liquid from the fruits.
- Use a fine-meshed sieve or strainer lined with cheesecloth and strain the mixture in batches, pressing down the top to make sure all the juice is extracted from the pulp. Discard/compost solids.
- Serve hot or cold. Lasts up to a week in the refrigerator stored in a closed container.
Notes
If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can still make this recipe. After bringing everything to a boil in a large pot on the stovetop, just simmer on low for about 2 hours.
You can substitute brown sugar for the maple syrup. If you're on keto, feel free to use a sweetener like erythritol or monk fruit.
Garnish with long cinnamon sticks, sliced apples, or even fresh cranberries.