If you're in a bind, you can substitute cider with apple juice in a recipe. Just make sure it's unsweetened apple juice, so your recipe isn't too far off from its original flavor profile. If you don't have unsweetened apple juice on hand, you can reduce the sugar in your recipe.

Pick the Option that has the Most Sediment (least filtered) Most apple juices will be brightly colored with no sedimentation. These may be more visually appealing, but the heavy filtration has removed the depth of flavor that will balance the sweetness when making hard cider.

Apple cider is fresh, unfiltered, and often unpasteurized. It's also considered a seasonal drink and can be hard to find outside of the autumn months. Apple juice, on the other hand, is filtered and pasteurized, which gives it a longer shelf life, a sweeter taste, and a smoother texture.