Sparkling cider vs dry

HAREEBROWNBEEST said:

I planned on making my cider I have going a sparkling cider that will be back sweetend with some red hot candies and a little frozen apple juice concentrate. I just read that if you add the sweeteners later that you cannot carbonate unless you have a keg? Is this true or is there a way around this? I want it a little carbonated not flat or still.

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voltin said:

In order to have a back sweetened, sparkling cider you will have to add your sweetener, carbonate to your desired level and then pasteurize. There is a sticky on pasteurization in this forum.

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divi2323 said:

Well... You can also sweeten with a non fermentable sweetener and then bottle prime. I.e. stevia, xylitol, lactose, splenda. The need for pasteurization goes away with this method.

One of my ciders I went with 2tsp stevia for a five gallon batch and primed with a cup of table sugar, and ended up taking 2nd place in a competition.

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