Slow Cooker Mulled Cider Recipe (Easy Spiced Apple Cider)

This slow cooker mulled cider is infused with cinnamon sticks, sliced oranges, cloves, and a touch of brown sugar for the best flavor. It’s an easy spiced apple cider in the CrockPot that takes 4 hours to make, and it’ll make your whole house smell amazing!

Even though I love summer, I love this time of year when the temperatures drop and hot cider becomes the beverage of choice. This mulled cider doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or time in the kitchen, and it’ll definitely get you in the mood for fall.

easy mulled cider with cinnamon sticks, oranges, and cloves in a slow cooker

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Mulled Cider

Hands-Off Holiday Prep: Just dump everything in, set it on low, and walk away while your CrockPot does all the work.
No Burning: Slow and steady heat allows whole cinnamon sticks, fresh orange slices, and whole cloves to steep deeply into the cider without scorching.
Perfect for Hosting & Gatherings: Set it to “Keep Warm”, and your guests can serve themselves mugs of hot spiced cider.

ingredients for making mulled cider, including apple cider, oranges, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, allspice, and whole cloves

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Apple Cider – Apple cider provides a rich base. If apple cider isn’t available, apple juice works great too. You can also make homemade apple juice without a juicer.
Orange – Peeled and sliced into rounds. Fresh citrus releases aromatic oils as the cider simmers, balancing the sweetness from the apples.
Whole Cloves – You can press them directly into the orange slices for easy straining later.
Light Brown Sugar – For just a touch of sweetness.
Allspice – Whole allspice berries complement the cinnamon and cloves.
Cinnamon Sticks – Infuses warm, sweet spice without dissolving.

Want to skip measuring individual whole spices? Swap the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and allspice for 2 to 3 tablespoons of my homemade mulling spice wrapped in cheesecloth or a spice bag for quick cleanup! Just don’t use ground spices, because they’ll make your cider grainy and gritty.

How to Make Slow Cooker Mulled Cider

Before getting started, you’ll need to wash, peel, and slice the orange into rounds. Then add the whole cloves to the orange slices.

How to Make Mulled Cider in the CrockPot

Combine all of the ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker, giving it a good stir.

slow cooker mulled cider with orange slices, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks

Cook everything on low for about 4 hours. Mulled cider makes your house smell so good.

mulled cider with orange slices, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks in black slow cooker

Run it through a fine-mesh strainer to get out the oranges, as well as any loose spices.
Pour into your favorite mug, and serve with a cinnamon stick for garnish.

hot mulled cider in a glass mug with apples and cinnamon sticks

While I’m more of a hot chocolate girl myself, I do love a warm mug of cider, especially when my house smells as good as it does after an afternoon of slow cooking a batch of spiced cider.

glass mug of warm mulled cider with fresh apples and cinnamon sticks

How to Make Mulled Cider on the Stovetop

If you don’t have a slow cooker or need your spiced cider ready in a hurry, you can also make it in a pot on the stove.

Pour the apple cider into a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add the sliced oranges, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground allspice, and brown sugar. Stir it well.
Heat the pot over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let it simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes to steep the spices. Do not let it come to a full boil, as boiling can evaporate the fruit juices and make the cider taste cloudy.
Strain out the orange slices and whole spices using a fine-mesh strainer or ladle, and serve warm in mugs.

Stovetop Tip for Parties: If you are hosting a gathering, keep the pot on your lowest stovetop setting (or a warming plate) with the lid on, stirring occasionally so it stays hot for guests.

mug of hot cider with apples and cinnamon sticks

How to Keep Mulled Cider Warm for a Crowd

Mulled cider is one of the best party drinks because it’s virtually hands-off once cooked. Here is how to keep it hot, fresh, and delicious on the counter for holiday open houses, Christmas Eve gatherings, or party buffets:

Switch to “Keep Warm”: Once the 4-hour cook time on LOW is complete, turn your slow cooker setting to “WARM” (or “Keep Warm”). This keeps the cider at the perfect sipping temperature without scorching the bottom or boiling away the liquid.
Strain Whole Spices for Long Parties: If you plan to keep the slow cooker on “WARM” for longer than 2 to 3 hours, scoop or strain out the whole cloves and orange slices. Leaving them in all day can cause the orange peel to turn bitter over time.
Refilling the CrockPot: To top off the pot during a party, pour in warm cider rather than cold liquid straight from the fridge so the overall temperature doesn’t drop for your guests. You can preheat extra cider in a saucepan on the stove before ladling it in.
Set Up a Cider Bar Garnish Station: Place a ladle next to the slow cooker along with cups or mugs. Offer a tray of garnish options like whole cinnamon stick stirrers, fresh orange wheels, star anise, or fresh cranberries.

slow cooked mulled cider in a glass mug with apples

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQs

Do I have to peel the orange before adding it to the slow cooker?

No, you don’t have to! Some people leave it on for extra flavor. However, do keep in mind that sometimes it can add a little bitterness, especially if your cider will be left in the slow cooker for longer than 4 hours.

What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Apple cider is raw, unfiltered apple juice that still has some pulp, giving it an opaque look and a more tart flavor. Store-bought apple juice is usually filtered and clarified, resulting in a lighter color and sweeter taste. You can use either for this recipe, but unfiltered cider produces a richer mulled cider.

Can I make mulled cider ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it ahead of time. You can combine all of the ingredients in your slow cooker insert, and then store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, place the insert back into the heating base and cook for the normal amount of time. Alternatively, cook your cider completely, strain out the solids, store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 5 days, reheating when you’re ready to serve.

easy slow cooker mulled cider apple cider recipe

More Favorite Apple Recipes

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