Fire Cider: The One Thing I Make Every Fall Before Winter 🔥

Every fall, there are certain things I start thinking about before winter really settles in.

Hay. Heated water buckets. Getting the animals ready. Making sure the generator actually starts.

And in the kitchen?

Fire cider.

If there is one simple thing I think every family should have going before winter, this is it.

I make a big jar every year and let it sit for about a month. By the time the colder weather really gets here, it’s ready.

Fire cider has been used for years as a traditional winter tonic, and one of the things I love most about it is that there really isn’t one perfect recipe.

You can make it your own.

What Is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is basically a mixture of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices steeped in apple cider vinegar.

It’s strong. It’s spicy. And it definitely wakes you up.

Every batch can taste a little different depending on what you put into the jar.

I usually pour a small amount in the morning during the colder months, but if drinking it straight isn’t your thing, there’s another really easy option:

Use it on a salad.

Once everything is strained, you’re left with an incredibly flavorful vinegar that can easily become part of a homemade dressing.

That’s part of making things like this at home.

Try something. See what you think. Change it next year.

Make It Your Own

This is probably my favorite part.

There are so many things you can add depending on what you grow, what you already have in the kitchen and what flavors you like.

Rosemary growing outside? Throw some in.

Sage left in the garden? Use it.

Have elderberries? Add them.

Love cinnamon and clove? They work beautifully with the orange and the other fall flavors.

And if you’re a huge horseradish person like me, go ahead and try that too.

I just can’t promise you’ll want it in the next batch.

Why Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is one of those ingredients I think is worth keeping in the kitchen whether you’re making fire cider or not.

It’s fermented, incredibly versatile and useful for everything from vinaigrettes and marinades to pickling and recipes like this.

You’ll hear a LOT of health claims about apple cider vinegar online. Some are probably a little more enthusiastic than the science behind them.

For me, it’s much simpler.

It’s something we’ve used in the kitchen for years, I enjoy it, and making fire cider has become part of my fall routine.

Start It Now and It’ll Be Ready for November

That’s really the reason I’m sharing this in October.

If you make your fire cider now, it’ll have a full month to steep before November arrives.

You don’t need special equipment.

You don’t need an exact recipe.

And you can use ingredients you may already have growing in the garden or sitting in your kitchen.

Fill a jar. Cover it with apple cider vinegar. Shake it every day. Strain it in a month.

That’s it.

And if taking a little fire cider straight sounds absolutely terrible?

Put it on your salad.

I’m not judging.