Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) Recipe
If you’re looking for a refreshingly floral and fruity drink that celebrates the peak of summer, my Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) is about to become your new obsession. Imagine the juicy essence of ripe peaches, mellowed and deepened by raw honey and balanced with a crisp apple bite—all gently fermented into a sparkling, golden beverage you simply can’t buy at any store. This recipe is perfect for anyone who loves to experiment in the kitchen and wants a sip of sunshine to enjoy at the end of a long day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) relies on just a handful of ingredients, but each one truly shines. Every element brings something unique to the party: peaches and apples offer up their juicy sweetness, honey rounds it all out with floral depth, and the right yeast brings the magic. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Apple Juice (48 fl oz): Go for 100% juice with no added sugars; this provides the backbone of your cider’s flavor and color.
- Filtered Water (16 fl oz): Pure water ensures a clean fermentation and helps extract every last drop of flavor from the peaches.
- Fresh Peaches (500 grams, chopped): Ripe peaches bring the juicy, fragrant stone fruit notes this cyser is all about—don’t skimp here!
- Raw Honey (75 grams): Choose a locally sourced or floral honey for complexity; this sweetens your cyser and feeds the fermentation process.
- Cider Yeast (2 grams): This specialized yeast gives you a clean, fruity finish and is much more reliable for cider than bread yeast.
How to Make Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser)
Step 1: Start With Clean Gear
Cleanliness is critical in any fermentation project! Begin by scrubbing all your equipment with soap and hot water. After it dries a bit, rinse the jug with a splash of cheap vodka, then let it air dry completely. This step keeps your Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) fresh, safe, and delicious.
Step 2: Simmer the Peaches and Honey
Add your chopped peaches, filtered water, and raw honey to a large pot and bring it all up to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for about 15 minutes, stirring and gently mashing those peaches with a spoon to get every bit of their flavor into the mix.
Step 3: Strain the Peach Mixture
Remove the pot from the heat and carefully pour everything through a fine mesh colander set over a large pitcher or bowl. This separates the fragrant peach liquid you want from the spent pulp. Don’t worry if it smells incredible—resist the urge to drink it now!
Step 4: Cool and Combine With Yeast
Allow the strained peach and honey liquid to cool down while you prep your fermenting jug. Once it’s about room temperature, pour the liquid in using a funnel. Sprinkle in the cider yeast and gently swirl to mix. Let the jug sit for about 30 minutes so your yeast gets nice and frothy and active.
Step 5: Prepare the Apple Juice
While your yeast is waking up, heat the apple juice in a pot until it just starts to simmer. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. If you’re impatient, you can set the pot in a bowl of ice water to speed things along—just be sure it’s completely cool before going to the next step.
Step 6: Mix and Ferment
Using a funnel, add the cooled apple juice to your fermenting jug, leaving about two inches of headspace at the top. Cap and gently swirl the jug for about a minute to blend all the goodness. Next, remove the cap and fit the airlock and stopper securely to seal. Your Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) is now ready to ferment!
Step 7: Let Nature Work
Within just a few hours, you’ll spot bubbles and excitement inside your jug. Let everything ferment at room temperature for 7 to 14 days, or until bubbling stops and the airlock is quiet. You’ll see cloudy sediment settling at the bottom—that’s what you want!
Step 8: Rack and Age
Carefully remove the airlock, then pour the clear cider into a new, clean jug using a funnel. Try not to disturb the sediment at the bottom. Cap the jug and let it age for four weeks in a cool place or the fridge. This is where the flavors mellow and blend together beautifully.
Step 9: Bottle With Honey for Sparkle
Sanitize two 1-liter carb-safe bottles. Add one tablespoon of honey to each bottle for a final dose of sweetness and sparkle. Transfer your now-aged cyser into these bottles, cap, and gently invert twice to mix. Let them sit at room temp for about five days for gentle carbonation, then pop them in the fridge. If it needs more fizz, give it up to seven days before chilling.
How to Serve Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser)
Garnishes
Garnish each glass with a thin peach slice or a sprig of fresh mint for a charming, summery vibe. A twist of lemon peel also brightens up the drink and looks beautiful floating atop the bubbles.
Side Dishes
Pair your Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) with a cheese and charcuterie board, light salads, or even grilled dishes. The aromatic fruitiness complements creamy brie, sharp cheddar, tangy goat cheese, and savory cured meats perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, serve over ice in mason jars for a backyard party—or pour into champagne flutes for a rustic-chic brunch. You can even float frozen peach slices in the glasses instead of ice cubes for a burst of flavor and color.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover cyser in a tightly sealed bottle in the fridge. Properly stored, it will stay delicious for up to a month—you might notice flavors continue to deepen the longer it sits.
Freezing
While traditional cider isn’t usually frozen, you can make peach cyser ice cubes from leftovers to chill sangria, cocktails, or even sparkling water. Pour into an ice cube tray, freeze, then pop out as needed for fruity sips all season.
Reheating
This drink is best enjoyed chilled, but if you want a cozy twist in colder months, gently warm your Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) on the stove until just steaming—never boiling. It’s a treat with a cinnamon stick for a festive touch!
FAQs
Do I need any special equipment to make this?
All you really need is a fermenting jug, an airlock and stopper, a mesh strainer, and bottles safe for carbonation. If you’re new to homebrewing, most kitchen supply or online shops offer beginner kits that do the trick!
Can I use canned peaches instead of fresh?
Fresh peaches give the most vibrant flavor, but if they’re out of season, you can use canned peaches in juice (not syrup). Just be sure to rinse off any syrup and reduce the added honey a bit, since canned fruit usually brings more sweetness.
How sweet or dry is this cider?
This Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) lands right in the middle: not as sweet as hard lemonade, but far from bone-dry. If you want it less sweet, you can cut back on honey or use a drier cider yeast variety.
How long does fermentation really take?
Fermentation time varies with temperature and yeast, but typically you’ll see most bubbling slow within 7 to 14 days. If in doubt, wait a little longer before bottling—a cloudy look and lack of airlock bubbles signals you’re ready to go.
Is it normal to have sediment at the bottom?
Absolutely! Sediment (also called the lees) is a natural byproduct of fermentation and racking. Pour gently when serving or bottling to leave the sediment behind for the clearest, prettiest pour.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’re as excited as I am to taste your very own Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser)! It’s a project that’s hands-on, rewarding, and results in a bottle that just feels like summer. Gather your ingredients, invite a friend, and raise a toast to something truly special and homemade—cheers!
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Homemade Peach Cider Recipe with Honey (Peach Cyser) Recipe
- Total Time: 4 weeks
- Yield: 2 liters 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make a delicious Homemade Peach Cider, also known as Peach Cyser, using fresh peaches, apple juice, and honey. This refreshing beverage is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Peach Cider:
- 48 fl oz apple juice
- 16 fl oz filtered water
- 500 grams fresh peaches, chopped
- 75 grams raw honey
- 2 grams cider yeast
For Bottling:
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Clean and Sanitize Equipment: Wash and sanitize your equipment thoroughly.
- Prepare Peach Mixture: Simmer peaches, water, and honey for 15 minutes, then strain.
- Add Ingredients to Jug: Cool peach liquid, add to jug, and mix in cider yeast.
- Add Apple Juice: Add simmered apple juice to jug.
- Ferment: Wait for yeast activity, then cap jug with airlock.
- Fermentation Process: Allow cider to ferment for 7-14 days.
- Rack the Cider: Transfer cider to a new jug, leaving sediment behind.
- Aging: Age the cider for four weeks.
- Bottle the Cider: Add honey to bottles, transfer cider, and ferment for five days.
- Storage: Store bottled cider in the fridge.
- Enjoy: Chill and enjoy your homemade Peach Cider!
Notes
- Make sure all equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
- Be cautious when transferring the cider to avoid disturbing sediment.
- Check carbonation levels before refrigerating bottled cider.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240ml)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Peach Cider, Peach Cyser, Homemade Cider, Homemade Peach Cider, Cider Recipe, Homebrewing
