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A woman holding up a glass of sparkling apple cider up to the camera.

Sparkling Apple Cider (Fermented Apple Cider)

This recipe for sparkling apple cider is an organic juice drink that doesn’t need vinegar or alcohol and can be cheaper than store-bought Martinelli’s.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Fermenting Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 16 cups
Calories: 109kcal
Author: Carolyn Thomas

Equipment

  • 1 Gallon-sized container with lid.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon apple juice (or any other flavor of juice)
  • ⅓ cup kombucha (you can use less, down to 2 Tablespoons per gallon, see notes for other options)

Instructions

  • Pour the apple juice into a gallon container.
  • Pour out at least three inches of the juice into a cup.
  • Measure out 2 Tablespoons up to ⅓ cup of kombucha or your preferred starter liquid and add to the apple juice.
  • Place the lid on tightly and gently shake to incorporate the two liquids (this is the only time you'll shake it!).
  • Place in a warm area in your house for 10–12 hours and note the time.
  • The plastic container will become firm and expand. The glass container will become fuller and fill the headspace. Homesteading Hack: Do not shake the juice container after it has become fizzy. The explosion can make quite a mess!
  • Carefully untighten the lid and listen for the fizzy sound.
  • Pour the sparkling juice over a glass of ice and enjoy right away or chill in the refrigerator for later. Homesteading Hack: You can store the sparkling juice in the container you make it in; just pop it in the fridge and release the pressure as needed! 

Notes

  • You can use any fermented liquid. I have used kombucha, whey that develops on top of plain yogurt (not Greek yogurt), and even juice from my Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut, and they all created that fizzy cider.
  • Do not shake the juice container after it has become fizzy. The explosion can make quite a mess!
  • You can store the sparkling apple cider in the container you make it in; just pop it in the fridge and be sure to release the pressure as needed!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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