Last Updated on December 15, 2023
An apple pie cyser recipe is a classic that you just have to try for yourself, and enjoy with your loved ones.
Cyser is an alcoholic beverage made from apples, apple cider, and sometimes sugar. It’s a type of mead that’s made with apple juices, as opposed to water.
It is an ancient recipe that was used for centuries in many different parts of the world. It was a very popular drink among people back then. It was also one of the most common drinks of the British and Irish people, as well as the Americans during the 19th century.
Apple Pie Cyser Recipe
Tools:
- 4-gallon fermentation bucket
- 5-gallon food pail
- Food-grade tubing
- Rubber stoppers and fermentation locks
- 3-quart saucepan
- A large whisk for aerating the mix
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- 16-ounce glass jars or bottles
Ingredients:
- 3 gallons of apple juice – pure or preserved with Vitamin C ascorbic acid only
- 2 1/2 lbs of honey
- 2 lbs of dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp of apple pie spice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cans of apple juice concentration
- 1–5 grams of wine yeast
Preparation
Step 1: Sterilize
Start by sterilizing the glass bottles or jars. Wash them in a dishwasher at a high temperature, or put them in boiling water for about 20 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the bucket
Put the first half of apple juice (about 1.5 to 2 gallons) in the fermentation bucket.
Step 3: Activate the yeast
Activate the yeast by putting 1/4 cup of warm water in a bowl and stirring. Do not follow this process if your yeast is from Wyeast. In around 15 minutes, your yeast will be bubbly meaning it’s activated.
Step 4: Simmer
Put 1 quart of juice on the stove and add the spice; allowing it to simmer but not boil. This will help the pectin in the juice to react.
Step 5: Whisk
With the juice simmering, aerate the juice in the fermentation bucket. You can whisk it thoroughly using a large whisk to help make it bubbly. This step is very important for later because the yeast will need the juice to consume the sugars to make alcohol.
Step 6: Combine
Once the juice simmers, remove it from the fire and stir in the honey and sugar until it dissolves. Add this mixture to the primary fermentation vessel.
Step 7: Mix
Mix it into the juice thoroughly. Add the activated yeast and stir thoroughly. Add the remaining gallon of juice and cinnamon sticks and stir properly.
Step 8: Store
Now you are ready to go! Install the fermentation locks in your vessel and put it in a cool dry place where the temperature does not vary much with the rest of the house. The temperature should be about 68 degrees F.
Step 9: Check
Within 24 hours, you should have some activity occurring as the mix begins to ferment. Let it bubble away for the next 2 to 3 weeks. By this time, the yeast will have fermented and the bubbling will be more fervent than before.
Step 10: Second prep
Pour two cans of apple juice concentrate into your secondary container.
Step 11: Dissolve
Dissolve the remaining 1/2 pound of honey in 2 cups of warm water and stir into the apple juice concentrate.
Step 12: Siphon
Carefully siphon the cyser from the primary into the secondary container, leaving the lower sediment behind.
Step 13: Let it sit, ready to bottle
Having your cyser siphoned, leave it to clarify for a week or so. The remaining sediment will also settle at the bottom. You can now bottle it.
Step 14: Enjoy!
Bottle the cyser. At this time, it may look cloudy but that’s fine. Let it sit for another 2 weeks after bottling and it will be ready to drink. You can drink it chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Take Home
The apple pie cyser recipe is a tough recipe to recreate; but it’s definitely worth the time and effort it requires. The apple cyser recipe has its own distinct taste, that I find irresistible. If you love a homemade alcoholic drink from your produce of apples, then this is the way to go.
This cyser tastes like apple wine. The flavor of honey makes it come out as a boozy apple alcoholic drink with a hint of sweetness. Truly fabulous!
Read more about Caramel Apple Pie Jam Recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make a Cyser?
The cyser is made by fermenting pure apple juice and adding several ingredients; then allowing it to rest for several weeks until it ferments into an alcoholic drink.
What is a Cyser?
Cyser is an alcoholic beverage made from apple cider. Cyser is a type of mead.
How Long Does Cyser Take to Ferment?
Cyser takes between 2-4 weeks to make. Cyser is safe enough to drink once the fermentation process has completed.
Apple Pie Cyser
Equipment
- 4 gallon fermentation bucket
- 5 gallon food pail
- Food grade tubing
- 3-quart saucepan
- A large whisk for aerating the mix
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- 16oz glass jars or bottles
Ingredients
- 3 gallons apple juice - pure or preserved with Vitamin C ascorbic acid only.
- 2 1/2 lbs honey
- 2 lbs dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple pie spice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cans apple juice concentration
- 1-5 gr wine yeast
Instructions
- Start by sterilizing the glass bottles or jars. Wash them in a dishwasher at a high temperature, or put them in boiling water for about 20 minutes.
- Put the first half of apple juice about 1.5 to 2 gallons in the fermentation bucket.
- Activate the yeast by putting 1/4 cup of warm water in a bowl and stirring. Do not follow this process if your yeast is from Wyeast. In around 15 minutes, your yeast will be bubbly meaning it's activated.
- Put 1 quart of juice on the stove and add the spice; allowing it to simmer but not boil. This will help the pectin in the juice to react.
- With the juice simmering, aerate the juice in the fermentation bucket. You can whisk it thoroughly using a large whisk to help make it bubbly. This step is very important for later because the yeast will need the juice to consume the sugars to make alcohol.
- Once the juice simmers, remove it from the fire and stir in the honey and sugar until it dissolves. Add this mixture to the primary fermentation vessel.
- Mix it into the juice thoroughly. Add the activated yeast and stir thoroughly. Add the remaining gallon of juice and cinnamon sticks and stir properly.
- Now you are ready to go! Install the fermentation locks in your vessel and put it in a cool dry place where the temperature does not vary much with the rest of the house. The temperature should be about 68 degrees F.
- Within 24 hours, you should have some activity occurring as the mix begins to ferment. Let it bubble away for the next 2 to 3 weeks. By this time, the yeast will have fermented and the bubbling will be more fervent than before.
- Pour two cans of apple juice concentrate into your secondary container.
- Dissolve the remaining 1/2 pound of honey in 2 cups of warm water and stir into the apple juice concentrate.
- Carefully siphon the cyser from the primary into the secondary container, leaving the lower sediment behind.
- Having your cyser siphoned, leave it to clarify for a week or so. The remaining sediment will also settle at the bottom. You can now bottle it.
- Bottle the cyser. At this time, it may look cloudy but that's fine. Let it sit for another 2 weeks after bottling and it will be ready to drink. You can drink it chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!