Apple cider is a delicious and refreshing drink that can be enjoyed throughout the year, but it’s especially popular during the fall season. Making apple cider at home is surprisingly simple and only requires a few ingredients and tools. Follow these 15 steps to make your own homemade apple cider.

1. Gather your ingredients: To make apple cider, you’ll need fresh apples, granulated sugar or honey, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and water.

2. Pick your apples: Choose a variety of apples for the best flavor. Combining sweet and tart apples will give you a deliciously balanced taste.

3. Wash the apples: Rinse the apples thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.

4. Core and chop the apples: Remove the cores and chop the apples into quarters. You don’t need to peel them since the peels will be removed later in the process.

5. Blend the apples: Place the apple quarters in a blender or food processor and pulse until they are chopped into small pieces.

6. Transfer to a large pot: Pour the blended apple mixture into a large pot or slow cooker, making sure it’s big enough to hold all of your ingredients comfortably.

7. Add sugar or honey: Sweeten your cider according to your preference by adding either granulated sugar or honey. Start with small amounts and adjust as needed.

8. Spice it up: Add cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to enhance the flavor of your cider. You can also add cloves or nutmeg if desired.

9. Add water: Pour enough water into the pot to cover the apple mixture completely, usually about an equal volume of water to apples.

10. Cook slowly: Set your heat source (stove or slow cooker) on low heat and allow the mixture to cook for several hours until the apples are soft – this may take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.

11. Mash the apples: After the apples have softened, use a potato masher or wooden spoon to mash them as much as possible in the pot. This will help release their juice.

12. Strain the liquid: Place a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a large bowl and pour the apple mixture into it, letting the juice collect in the bowl. Squeeze the solids to get as much liquid out as possible.

13. Discard solids: Once you’ve extracted all of the liquid, you can discard or compost the leftover solids.

14. Taste your cider: If your apple cider isn’t sweet enough, add more sugar or honey as needed. You can also adjust the spices if desired.

15. Bottle and refrigerate: Pour your homemade apple cider into airtight bottles or jars and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Enjoy your homemade apple cider chilled or warmed up with some additional spices or garnishes. It’s a perfect drink to celebrate the fall season!