20(ish)--- Christmas Cider and Applesauce: 2 for 1

The sales around Christmas are some of the best all year! This recipe is like one of those sales: 2 for the price of 1! Make the cider, and get the bonus applesauce (or vice versa).

Apple cider is a classic winter beverage, but the powdered mixes and jarred varieties contain lots of extra "stuff". Making it yourself is quite easy-- and it's a great gift idea.

Christmas Cider and Applesauce

Makes ~6 cups cider & 6 cups applesauce

7 large apples of your choice, peeled, cored, and quartered

1/2 cup sugar

3 cinnamon sticks

5 whole cloves

1 tsp maple syrup

Place apples in a large pot and cover with 9 cups of water. Add sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and syrup. Boil on high heat for one hour uncovered. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for additional two hours covered, stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. Remove cinnamon sticks (set aside to dry) and cloves. Use a potato masher to mash apples. Using a ladle, scoop mixture into a strainer over a large bowl. Gently press apples with a spoon to squeeze out any additional juice. Place mashed apples into a separate bowl. Continue process until all juice and apples are separated.

Place cider into glass bottles with a cinnamon stick! Do the same with the applesauce.

I like to gift the cider packaged with a small bottle of adult beverage to complement!