Apple Cider Day Date in the current year: November 18, 2024

In most parts of the world, “cider” or “apple cider” refers to a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. In the United States, however, the alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice is typically referred to as “hard cider”, whereas the names “cider” and “apple cider” are reserved for a non-alcoholic beverage made from unfiltered and unsweetened apple juice. Its alternative names include “soft cider” and “sweet cider”.

Apple cider is made by pressing whole apples, including the core. The resulting liquid is opaque due to containing tiny apple particles. Natural raw cider has a very short shelf life because it is not pasteurized. Due to this, it is a seasonal beverage produced at apple orchards and mills during the apple harvest. Commercially produced ciders are pasteurized or contain artificial preservatives; what makes them different from commercially produced apple juice is that they are unfiltered and unsweetened.

Hot mulled cider is a popular fall and winter beverage in the United States. It is traditionally served throughout the holiday season, beginning with Halloween and ending with New Year’s Day. To make the drink, cider is spiced with mulling spices (a spice mixture that usually consists of allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg; it may also include cardamom, peppercorn, star anise and other spices) and heated to a temperature just below boiling. Dried or fresh fruit (for example, orange slices) can also be added to the cider to give it additional flavor. The drink is then strained and poured into mugs. Hot mulled cider is often served with a cinnamon stick and/or fruit slices.

Apple cider is also used to make cider doughnuts, a type of cake doughnuts made in the northeastern United States during the fall season and sold at cider mills and roadside stands. Cider acts as a leavening agent and flavors the batter. Apple cider doughnuts are usually spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with cinnamon and/or granulated sugar.

It is unclear who and when came up with the idea of celebrating a holiday dedicated to apple cider, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying Apple Cider Day. On November 18, pick up some locally produced apple cider and cider doughnuts if you can. Make an adventure out of it and spend the day at an apple orchard, picking apples and enjoying delicious cider and doughnuts.

If there are no apple farms or cider mills near you, store-bought cider will do too! Enjoy a mug of hot mulled cider that will keep you warm this November and don’t forget to post about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #AppleCiderDay.

Apple Cider Day should not be confused with World Cider Day. The latter is celebrated on June 3 in honor of the alcoholic version of the drink. It was established by the Association of Apple Wine and Fruit Juice Houses to promote cider on a global scale.