Michigan Hard Apple Cider Recipe

Servings: A crowd
Prep time: 30 minutes
Total time: 4 hours

Ingredients

for the apple cider:
4 ½ pounds|2 kilograms gala apples, quartered
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground allspice
4 cinnamon sticks

for the hard cider:
8 cups|1893 ml apple cider
8 cups|1893 ml apple juice (store bought)
¾ cup granulated sugar
5 cinnamon sticks
3 cups|710 ml (190-proof) everclear

Directions

1. Make the cider: In a large saucepan, cover the apples, sugar, allspice, and cinnamon sticks with 8 cups|1893 ml of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Cover and cook 2 hours longer, then cool slightly.
2. Once cool, strain the apples through a fine mesh strainer, discarding the solids.
3. In a large saucepan, combine the cider, apple juice, sugar, and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for an additional 30 minutes, then add in the everclear.
4. Place the cinnamon sticks in jars and top each with hard cider. Makes about 13 cups of cider.

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