Brisk weather calls for warm drinks and apple cider is a fall favorite. Instead of using a boring mug, use an apple for an edible cup!
What you’ll need:
- 20 apples (I always use a variety including Macintosh *my favorite* and Granny Smith for a great flavor)
- 2 cider spice packets (or)
- 4 cinnamon sticks (or 4 tablespoons cinnamon of you don’t have sticks)
- 4 tablespoons allspice
Now let’s get started:
1. Wash and chop apples. We will strain out any skin and seeds after cooking it down.
2. Place your chopped apples into a large pot, and just barely cover with water. Do not add excess water, as it will result in a weaker flavor.
3. Add both Cider Spice packets or, wrap your cinnamon sticks & allspice in cheese cloth and tightly tie the bundle closed.
4. Boil your apples and spice packets, uncovered, for one hour and a half, stirring frequently.
5. Reduce heat and cook for and additional hour and a half. This time keep your pot covered to trap all those juicy flavors in.
6. Remove spice pouches and apple pieces & mash or blend the apples to a pulp.
7. Using cheese cloth or a fine strainer, drain the apple pulp, so you retain all the liquid.
8. Once cool, pour into a strainer over a large bowl. When most of the juice has drained away, put the remainder of the pulp into a doubled up cheese cloth and squeeze over the bowl until no more juice comes out.
8b. You can repeat this process as many times as you want to eliminate all the pulp. I like leaving some in as it feels more “homemade” to me that way.
To make the cups:
1. Wash apples.
2. Slice off the tops.
3. Hallow them out (I used an ice cream scooper.)
4. Fill the up with cider!
The cider keeps for up to a week as long as you store it in the fridge and keep it in an air tight container.
