Cider Recipe - The Simple Method

Cider Recipe - The Simple Method

Here is a very simple method to make cider at home.

As long as you have apple juice, you can make cider. You can shred then squeeze your apples, or you can cheat by buying apple juice.

If you are using your own apples and are using a juicer, you must core the apples as the juicer will shred the pips too.

This is bad as there is a compound in apple pips that when ingested, turns into cyanide and can poison you!

If you are shredding, grating or pulping apples then there is no need to core them as this does not harm the pips.

If you are using juice from apples or juice from a carton, the process is the same.

So here is a very quick, simple recipe to make 10 litres of cider. That's 16 pints.

All ciders will be dry when they have finished fermenting, so you can either add a sweetener or you can add some sugar to your glass when you pour your cider.

If you think adding more sugar when you bottle it will make it sweeter, it wont, and you could be left with exploding bottles of cider. The yeast will just eat the sugar!

So you either need to add sugar when you drink it, or use a sweetener that the yeast can not eat.

Ingredients:-

What You Will Need To Make Cider (We sell a Cider Making Starter Package)

Cider Yeast
Yeast Nutrient
Sugar
2 carrier bags full of apples or up to 10 litres of Apple Juice

Scroll down to see what equipment we'll need.

Equipment:-

Scroll down to see how to make this recipe.

Method:-

Our Simple 12 Steps To Making Cider At Home

If you are using apples, then you will need to shred then and then press them to extract the juice. If you are using juice, then this recipe will make up to 10 litres.

Stick the thermometer at about the 4 litre mark on the outside of the bucket.

Use 1tsp of steriliser powder dissolved in warm water and sterilise your bucket, hydrometer and spoon.

1 - Put the apple juice into the bucket.

2 - Take a reading with your hydrometer and keep this written down somewhere safe. This tells you how much sugar is in the juice and it's potential alcohol content once finished. If you need help using the hydrometer, we have made a video on YouTube - How To Use a Hydrometer

3 - You do not need to do this if you are using shop bought apple juice. If you are using fresh apple juice from apples, then crush a campden tablet (one for each 4.5 litres of juice) between 2 desert spoons and add the crushed tablet(s) to the juice. Stir and leave for 24 hours. This subdues the natural yeasts and stops oxidisation of the juice.

4 - Check the temperature is between 18-22 Celsius, then add 1 tsp yeast nutrient per 4.5 litres of juice, and 1tsp of yeast per 4.5 litres of juice. Stir.

5 - Put the lid on loosely, put the bucket somewhere at 18-22°C and leave for 10 days for the fermentation to complete.

6 - Make up some more sterilising solution and sterilise your hydrometer, bottles and syphon ready for use.

Then using the hydrometer, check the Specific Gravity again, It should be below 1.000. If it is, move on to step 7. If not, put the lid back on and leave for a few more days, then check again. Once it is below 1.000 (ideally 0.996) then move to step 7.

7 - Put 1 level teaspoon of sugar into each 1 litre bottle.

8 - Using the syphon, carefully (without disturbing the sediment in the bottom of the bucket) syphon the cider into the bottles, leaving a 2 inch (5cm) air space at the top of the bottle.

9 - Screw on the lid tight, gently roll the bottle to dissolve the sugar.

10 - Leave in a place (stood up) that is 18-22C for a further 4 days.

11 - Put the bottles (stood up) somewhere cool and dark and leave for at least 2-4 weeks. This allows it time to clear and the sediment to cement at the bottom of the bottle. The cider is ready to drink now, but the flavour will improve further if left for 6 months to 1 year.

12 - Pop a bottle in the fridge (stood up) and let it chill. Open it up and pour gently in 1 long slow motion so as not to disturb the sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

13 - The cider will be dry, so if you want it sweeter, in a small glass add 3 tsp of granulated sugar and just enough boiling water to just cover the sugar. Stir to make a thick sugar syrup. Now add this to your glass and stir gently. If you want it sweeter, then just repeat.

Now sit back and enjoy your own home made cider.

Cheers