Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Karen
Mulled apple cider with warm spices will warm you up from inside out. This cozy and comforting drink is made in the Instant Pot, and the best part is that it’s ready in just 15 minutes of cooking time!
Mulled cider season is here and I can’t be more excited! I don’t know what I love more – snuggling in my cozy pajamas on a snow day, in front of the fire with a good book and a hot beverage, or the fact that our home smells amazing like sweet apples and warm spices whenever I make a pot of mulled apple cider.
I’ve always made mulled apple cider in my slow cooker, which requires a few hours of low simmer. Since the Instant Pot came into my life three years ago, it has become such a game-changer. At first, I was a bit skeptical about whether I needed an additional kitchen appliance. However, after experimenting with all the different features (including slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute function, electric pressure cooker, and even yogurt maker), I realized it was not just a hype. It does take a bit of time to understand the different buttons and safety mechanisms, but the more I use it, the more I love it.
As much as I love my slow cooker, now I can just throw together all of the ingredients in the Instant Pot and enjoy mulled cider with the same comforting, delicious taste within minutes instead of hours!
This mulled apple cider recipe is perfect for any fall or holiday get together. You can make it ahead and keep warm in the Instant Pot (one of the reasons I love the Instant Pot!) until you’re ready to serve. Once it’s done, give it a taste and then adjust the sweetness as needed. You can add any sweetener of your choice and adjust the amount according to your taste. I like brown sugar and maple syrup, but agave, stevia or any low calorie sweetener would work too depending on your preference.
This is a hot beverage that kids and adults would love. For the adults, a shot of bourbon or rum would be nice to turn it into a hot toddy.
By the way, once you mash the apples and strain out the pulp, be sure to save for use later. It’s basically applesauce, which I often add to my pancakes, oatmeal, and baked goods (as substitute for oil or butter).
Instant Pot Mulled Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 8 medium apples cored and quartered (I used gala apples)
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves
- 1/4 tsp whole allspice
- 1 star anise
- 8 cups water
- Brown sugar or sweetener of choice to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in Instant Pot and secure lid. Turn to "Manual" mode on “High Pressure” setting, and set timer for 15 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally until all of the steam has released and the valve has dropped.
- Discard orange slices and spices, then mash the apples with a potato masher to release the juices. Strain the solids from the liquids using a fine mesh sieve.
- Sweeten with brown sugar or your choice of sweetener if desired.
Notes
