Take-home cider mill recipes

If you haven’t done it up to this point, sneaking in one last cider mill trip before it gets too cold might sound like the way to go. Coming back with cider mill treats like donuts, a gallon of cider, or a bag of apples is the gift that keeps on giving after your trip. But what do you do with the extras? Big cider mill quantities can’t always get eaten right away, and what you have at home might just make the perfect pairing to cider mill treats. We’ve even woven in a few recipes for day old (or few days old) cider mill foods.

 

Cider Mill Apple Recipes

Dark chocolate island apple halves

Exactly what it sounds like, and a great way to preserve apples and keep them from getting brown. This recipe is highly customizable, perfect for one person, or many.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 Apples (remember, they will be halved, choose according to how they will double)
• Dark chocolate in bar form, or dark chocolate melting chips
• Chopped walnuts or your choice of nut, (pecan, walnut, or hazelnut suggested for this recipe)
• Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Cut each apple in half, remove the hard core and seeds, you will want a decent size divot taken out (this is where the other ingredients will sit!)
2. Sprinkle cinnamon lightly on both halves of each apple, the cinnamon will help to prevent it getting brown during storage, not too much in one place, but you do want it to cover the whole surface area of the apple.
3. Add chopped walnuts to the center of the apple, the walnuts will get softer with each day they sit, so it is if they sit for a day or two, they will only soak up the yummy juices from the apple. This recipe preserves for a few days if kept in an airtight container.
4. The most complicated part. Take your dark chocolate of choice and melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stove (see this article for both directions).
5. Once your dark chocolate is melted, take a spoon and dollop a generous amount over the center of the apple, where the walnuts are. You can use the remaining chocolate on your spoon to drizzle to the edges if desired as well.
6. Let the chocolate cool off and set up, and viola, your dark chocolate island apple halves are finished.

 

Apple Dumplings

With two 30-minute gaps to let the dough rest and to bake the dumplings, this recipe is best for when you’re in for the evening and could pop a movie in in the meantime. In its entirety, this recipe takes 2 1/2 hours, so it is a bit of a commitment. The “dumpling” that it makes originated from 1700’s England and has turned into an American dessert classic. Visit A Couple Cooks to make this recipe.

Apple Chips 

Apple chips are a great way to preserve the crisp flavor of cider mill apples. Similar to the above recipe, apple crisps are a short prep time of 15 minutes then require a long baking time of 1 1/2 hours. This recipe is perfect to leave on while you go for an afternoon walk on a week or weekend day. Visit A Couple Cooks to make this recipe as well.

 

Cider Mill Donut Recipes

Donut breakfast panini 

This 10-minute Food Network recipe makes for a favorful breakfast panini out of fresh or few-day old cider mill donuts.

But let’s look at a few swaps, if you don’t like ricotta cheese, try cream cheese, Greek yogurt, or brie. And if you don’t have a panini press, simply grab a pan, some non-stick spray, and a spatula. Gently apply some pressure with the spatula to the donut while on medium heat to create the panini press effect.

Cider donut bread pudding 

If you have just a few donuts leftover or lots, this recipe can be adjusted! It calls for you to grab one cider mill apple and you are on your way. Visit allrecipes to use your tasty leftover donuts. This recipe is great to bring to family gatherings or to surprise a friend!

 

Apple Cider Recipes

Spiced Apple cider simmer pot

Different types of simmer pots have become popular recently, some are a simple pot that sits on the stove with no purpose other than an enticing aroma. This simmer pot recipe serves two functions, (1) making your house smell like the definition of fall and (2) to create a delicious, spiced drink that spends all day soaking with fall flavors. If you prepare this before guests arrive, they’ll likely comment on how good it smells, and will be sure to be impressed when served the gorgeous smelling drink.

Add any of the following combinations to a 6-quart pot or bigger filled with apple cider and let simmer on low heat for 4 to 6 hours. You can also make this recipe in a crock-pot. Be sure to thoroughly strain out each spice/addition and enjoy warm! If your cider is tart after simmering, add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey.

• Fruity citrus spiced: oranges prepared to your preference – 2 whole oranges cut into slices or wedges (with peel), 1 cup of dried orange peel, or 2 cups fresh orange peel, 2 apples sliced into thin wedges, and 1 tablespoon dried ginger or 1/4 cup fresh minced ginger.
• Classic fall spiced: 2 thinly sliced apples, 4 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon of whole cloves, 1 tablespoon of whole dried allspice berries, 2 whole star anise, a pinch of ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or if you’re feeling fancy, 2 whole vanilla beans).
• Cinnamon apple spiced: 2 thinly sliced apples, 5 whole cinnamon sticks, 2 tablespoons of whole cloves (1 1/2 tbs. if using ground cloves).
• Chai apple spiced: 2 thinly sliced apples, 3 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon of whole cloves (or 1/2 tbs. of ground cloves), 1 tablespoon of ground cardamum, 1 tablespoon of fresh minced ginger or ground ginger, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or, if you’re feeling fancy, 2 whole vanilla beans), and 1/4 cup brown sugar.

Honey apple fizz cider mocktail 

Call it a mocktail or a fun fizzy refreshment, a simple 5-minute prep-time mocktail is a quick and easy for the whole family to enjoy. Check out this recipe to learn what all is included. Add crushed ice for a slush version of your honey apple cider fizz.

Apple cider lemonade 

A super simple, pour-able recipe for apple cider lemonade. Pour and forget! If you’re not a lemonade fan, try a splash of apple cider and some sweet tea, peach sweet tea, or raspberry sweet tea. All are widely enjoyed, try your hand at adding apple cider to the mix.