An apple cider substitute may be necessary when making dishes such as doughnuts, salad dressings, dumplings, and more! These fantastic alternatives may already be in your cabinet, so you don't have to visit the store! No matter what recipe you prepare, one of these ingredients will solve your problem!
Alternatives To Apple Cider
When you hear “apple cider,” your mind may go to cool fall or winter nights and the warm taste of this delicious drink. Often paired with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, apple cider is the perfect flavor for the holidays.
While apple cider is wonderful to enjoy on its own, it can also be used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes. If you make ribs, you already know that apple cider is a key ingredient. In addition, you may find that you need apple cider to make a salad dressing or marinade. It is also used in baking (think apple cider doughnuts).
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You may need a substitute if you find yourself without apple cider in the house. While only a couple of apple cider substitutes will give you the same apple flavor profile, there are several other options for a fun flavor twist.
Take a look at my homemade apple cider and crockpot apple cider for a delicious drink that is better than the one from the store!
1. Apple Juice
If you want the same apple flavor, then apple juice is the best substitute for apple cider. While apple juice is made from juicing apples and apple cider is made from pressing apples, they have a very close flavor profile.
Beyond the different ways that cider and juice are made, they are also served differently. While apple cider is served hot, apple juice is traditionally served cold. However, this does not affect your recipe since apple juice maintains its flavor when heated.
Since apple juice can be heated up it makes an easy (and often less expensive) substitute for apple cider. The key is to aim for unsweetened apple juice since this will offer a closer level of sweetness.
Apple juice can be used in a 1:1 ratio for apple cider in any recipe.
To help elevate the flavors of apple cider for a beverage, consider adding some cinnamon or other spices. In addition, if you cannot find unsweetened (or all-natural) apple juice then you may want to leave out some of the added sugar (or other sweeteners) that your recipe calls for to keep it from being too sweet.
2. Hard Cider
If your goal is a drink that tastes like apple cider, consider taking the adult beverage route and using a hard cider. Hard ciders are essentially cold apple cider that contains alcohol.
Most hard cider brands have a distinctive apple flavor and are made by fermenting apples (or other fruit like pears). However, depending on the brand, they may be more or less sweet than regular cider. In addition, since cider is fermented, it will add some acidity to your recipe.
While using hard cider straight from the bottle will add alcohol to a recipe, if used in cooking you can cook the alcohol out from the cider. Therefore, if you have a leftover pack of hard cider from a celebration, consider trying it.
3. Honey Cider
Depending on where you live, you may not be as familiar with honey cider as you are with apple cider. However, honey cider is quite close to apple cider.
This type of cider is also made with apples but is also made with honey (and sometimes honeycomb). Since it has an apple base, this will provide a similar flavor profile to apple cider.
Keep an eye out for it at the grocery store or a local farmer’s market and consider giving it a try the next time you need a substitute for apple cider.
Due to its similar flavor, it can be used in a 1:1 ratio for apple cider in any recipe.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice may seem like an interesting substitute for apple cider. However, the juice of lemon provides a lovely alternative to apple cider when cooking.
While it has a more acidic base than apple cider, the acidity can easily be balanced with the addition of a bit of sugar or honey. This makes for a nice alternative to apple cider in dressings and marinades.
Although lemon juice will work well in small quantities when cooking it will not provide an exact substitute in large quantities. Therefore, it is best used to replace apple cider in small measurements in recipes.
Use lemon juice in place of apple cider in a 1:1 ratio if the measurement is less than ¼ cup. If needed, add a sweetener of choice to taste. If you need more than a ¼ cup, then consider using apple juice instead.
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5. Other Fruit Juices
While apple juice is the ideal substitute, you can use other fruit juices. As mentioned above, lemon juice can replace apple cider in many recipes.
In addition, a handful of other fruit juices can work in certain recipes.
Lime Juice
If you have limes at home instead of lemons, you can use those in the same way. They will provide a similar acidity that lemons do, with a hint of fruit flavor. In addition, you can also add some sugar or honey to increase the sweetness.
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice has a distinctly different taste than apple cider but has a similar sweetness. While you cannot swap pineapple juice for a holiday apple cider drink, you can use it in cooking.
Pineapple juice is a great choice instead of apple cider when making ribs. It will add the same moisture and sweetness. You can use it in a 1:1 ratio.
Orange Juice
Another substitute that will work well for making ribs is orange juice. Like pineapple juice, it will provide a similar level of sweetness plus moisture. It can also be used in a 1:1 ratio.
In addition, orange juice may also work in small quantities for dressings and marinades.
6. White Wine
While white wine is not the ideal swap for apple cider it does have some similar fruity notes that can work in certain recipes. It is especially good for salad dressings and marinades.
Beyond the obvious differences that white wine is made from grapes rather than apples and contains alcohol, it is also more acidic than apple cider. However, it is the acidity that makes it a good substitute in dressings.
Since white wine is less fruit-forward you can use twice as much: 2 tablespoons of white wine for 1 tablespoon of apple cider. To enhance the sweetness you can also add a pinch of brown sugar or honey.
If you don’t want the alcohol, then bring the wine to a boil and let cool before using.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
If you don’t have apple cider at home, you may have a bottle of apple cider vinegar. While the names are similar, these two liquids' tastes are quite different.
Although apple cider vinegar has the same original base as apple cider, it has been fermented. Therefore, it is much more stringent and acidic.
Despite the similarities in name, apple cider vinegar is not the ideal substitute for apple cider. However, it can work in small quantities in recipes such as dressings and marinades to bring out the apple notes.
Use half the amount of apple cider vinegar instead of apple cider when cooking.
You may also dilute the apple cider vinegar with water to create a 1:1 ratio (1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar + 1 tablespoon of water = 2 tablespoons of apple cider). In addition, you may want to add a pinch of sugar or honey to increase the sweetness.
8. Other Kinds of Vinegar
In addition to apple cider vinegar, there are several other types of vinegar you may have at home. Like apple cider vinegar, these are not the first choice as a substitute; however, they can all work in some capacity.
The kinds of vinegar have been listed in the order of the best choice to the least favored choice. As with any vinegar, remember these will all add acidity to your recipe.
They are also less sweet than apple cider, so you may want to add some sugar, maple syrup, or honey.
Moreover, each of these will shift your recipe's flavor (and possibly the color). Therefore, be mindful of choosing a substitute that you are somewhat familiar with. This will help you to find one that will best pair with the flavors in the other ingredients.
While these kinds of vinegar are less stringent than apple cider vinegar, it is still best to start small. Begin with half the suggested measurement of apple cider. Then, if needed, slowly add more.
- White Wine Vinegar
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Champagne Vinegar
- Sherry Vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Balsamic Vinegar
Best Apple Cider Substitute
If you are going to the grocery store for apple cider and they happen to be out, then the best choice is to pick up a bottle of apple juice. This alternative will give you the closest original flavor to your recipe.
However, if you are in a pinch and do not have apple cider or apple juice, then peek in the fridge (or pantry) and see what you have on hand. Sometimes, the best substitute is simply the one you have at home.
These tasty apple cider substitutes are perfect for a variety of different recipes! Leave a comment down below and let me know which one you are going to use first!
📋 Recipe
Best Apple Cider Substitute: Crockpot Apple Cider (+More Great Alternatives To Use!)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon mulling spices
- 8 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 orange (optional, sliced)
- 1 apple (optional, sliced)
Instructions
- Place mulling spices in a double layer of cheesecloth and bring up the sides to form a 'bag', tie closed with a string (*see note).2 tablespoon mulling spices
- Add the apple juice, brown sugar, and mulling spices to your crockpot or slow cooker. Stir until brown sugar dissolves.8 cups apple juice, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 orange, 1 apple
- Lay apple and orange slices on top of the cider and replace the lid of your crockpot.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1 ½ hours. Garnish with sliced fruit or cinnamon sticks, if desired, and serve while warm.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Sliced lemons and/or cranberries make a lovely addition to this cider.
- In place of making a cheesecloth bag for the mulling spices, you may remove the large pieces of spices with a slotted spoon or strainer after cooking.
- This recipe yields about ½ a gallon of mulled apple cider.
- Add your favorite bourbon or whiskey for a delicious spiked adult beverage!
- To store: Extra apple cider can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. Remove the fruit and skim off any foam that has accumulated on the top. Pour the cider into a plastic pitcher with a lid or a glass bottle with a lid and refrigerate.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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