Name: Instant Pot Apple Cider Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 6 apples (sliced); 1 orange (thinly sliced); ⅓ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen); 2 cinnamon sticks; 1 clove; 2 star anise; 1 fresh rosemary sprig; ½ cup brown sugar; ¼ cup maple syrup; Juice from ½ lemon; Water (enough to fill the Instant Pot until all ingredients are covered); Extra cinnamon, rosemary, or star anise (for garnish)

I love making this Instant Pot Apple Cider recipe on chilly fall nights! Filled with fresh apples, cranberries, cinnamon and warm spices, maple syrup, and just a few other ingredients, this mulled apple cider is so quick and easy to make in a pressure cooker. Cups of hot apple cider will be ready for any gathering in no time!

glass of instant pot apple cider garnished with cinnamon sticks and rosemary.

This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.

I love homemade apple cider, and my favorite thing about making spiced apple cider in my Instant Pot is how simple it is. I just throw some fruit and spices into the pot, set it, and let it cook! Every glass of this cider is like a warm Autumn dream, and I just can’t get enough of it. Plus it makes my kitchen smell perfectly-spiced!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mulled Apple Cider

Apples: Use fresh apples–sweeter types work best for this drink. Remove the core and cut them into slices.
Orange: Thinly-sliced oranges add a bright citrus twist that balances the other flavors.
Cranberries: Fresh or frozen cranberries both work well.
Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and fresh rosemary combine to create a warm spiced flavor. Whole spices work best because they’re more potent, and easier to separate from the cider after cooking.
Maple Syrup: This adds a rich sweetness to the mulled cider. Another liquid sweetener, like agave, can be used instead.
Brown Sugar: This adds more of that deep molasses sweetness. I much prefer this over granulated white sugar.
Lemon Juice: The acidity helps balance out the sweetness of the drink.

Ingredients for Instant Pot apple cider arranged in dishes.

Tips for Success

If you’re missing an ingredient here or there, don’t worry. Spices can be adjusted to your preference, cranberries can be left out if you don’t have them, etc. Just adjust to taste.
After removing it from the Instant Pot, use a fine mesh sieve to strain the apple cider before serving.
If you want a less sweet mulled cider, leave out the maple syrup and/or brown sugar. You can also use a more tart apple variety, so that the sweetness doesn’t overpower the drink.

How to Store and Reheat

Store cooled apple cider in an airtight container, pitcher, or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve cold, at room temp, or warm it up in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Glasses of mulled apple cider garnished with spices.

Serving Suggestions

This pressure cooker apple cider is the perfect warm drink to serve with spiced desserts, other apple recipes, and baked treats! I love it with these apple cider cookies, apple cinnamon bread, or apple pie monkey bread.

How to Make Apple Cider in an Instant Pot Step by Step

Add the Apples: Cut 6 apples into slices/wedges, and add them to the Instant Pot.

Add the Fruit: Cut 1 orange into thin slices and add them to the pot, then add ⅓ cup of cranberries.

Slices of apple, orange, and cranberries in the pot of a pressure cooker.

Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 clove, 2 star anise, 1 fresh rosemary sprig, ½ cup o brown sugar, ¼ cup of maple syrup, and the juice from ½ a lemon. Then add enough water to the Instant Pot to submerge all of the ingredients. Stir everything together.

Apple cider ingredients in an Instant Pot.

Cook: Place the lid and seal, then select HIGH and set the timer for 15 minutes. After cooking for 15 minutes, let the valve release naturally. Mash the softened fruit to release additional juices. Then strain the apple cider mixture from the Instant Pot into a heatproof jar. Discard the solids and spices.