Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup
A creamy, spiced soup with a balance of sweet and savory flavors, perfect for cold days. This american-inspired soups ready in about 55 minutes pairs apple cider, chopped apples, chopped onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup chopped apples
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp rosemary
- 1/2 tsp sage
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, sauté chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic over medium heat until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Add chopped apples, thyme, rosemary, sage, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the apples release their juice.
- Step 3: Pour in apple cider and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, then blend until smooth using an immersion blender.
- Step 4: Stir in flour and butter until fully incorporated. Add heavy cream and cook for 5 minutes until the soup thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (20 min prep + 35 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep apple cider from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Half-Spiced Apple Cider Soup?
American soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
The aroma while cooking this was absolutely heavenly.
- ★★★★★
Simple and delicious.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
