Ok, you HAVE to try this wassail recipe. For me, this is it. This is the official drink of “it’s finally cold enough to wear a hoodie.” The whole house starts to smell incredible and it’s just… the best. But listen, my one rule is you have to use the good apple cider. The cloudy kind that you can find this time of year. Not that super-sweet clear stuff in the giant plastic jugs. It just won’t taste the same, trust me on this. It’s the difference-maker.
What You’ll Need For Wassail Recipe
Don’t get scared by the list, it’s mostly spices. You’ve probably got half this stuff hiding in your pantry already. And really, try to use whole spices. I’ve been there when I only had the ground stuff, and the drink just gets a little muddy. It’s fine in a pinch, but the whole spices are better.
- A gallon of that good, cloudy apple cider
- About 4 cups of cranberry juice (I use the unsweetened kind)
- 2 cups of orange juice (no pulp is my preference)
- An orange, sliced
- An apple, sliced
- A handful of cinnamon sticks (like 8 or so)
- A couple tablespoons of whole cloves
- A couple teaspoons of whole allspice
- A bit of grated nutmeg
- A few star anise pods (if you have them)
- A splash of maple syrup or honey (totally optional, for the end)
Putting It All Together
The actual “cooking” part of this is laughably easy. You’re just throwing stuff in a pot. The hard part is waiting for it to be done while your kitchen smells this good.
Step 1: Dump in the Juice
Grab your biggest pot. Dump in all the juices—the cider, cranberry, and orange. Give it a quick stir. That’s it.
Step 2: Deal With the Spices
You can just toss all the little spices (cloves, allspice, star anise) right into the pot. But if you don’t love the idea of accidentally drinking a whole clove, you can make a little pouch. If you have cheesecloth, wrap them up in that and tie it. If not, a coffee filter and some string works too. Then just drop the pouch in with the big cinnamon sticks.
Step 3: Add the Fruit
Float your apple and orange slices on top. They’ll get all soft and infuse everything with more flavor, plus they look nice.
Step 4: The ‘Don’t Boil It’ Rule
This is the ONLY rule you can’t break. Turn the heat on to medium-high. Let it get hot, let it steam, but DO NOT let it turn into a bubbling, boiling mess. It gets a weird, cooked taste if it boils. As soon as you see little bubbles popping up around the edge, turn the heat down to the absolute lowest setting your stove has.
Step 5: Now, We Wait
Your work is done. Seriously. Just let it hang out on the stove for as long as you can stand it. An hour is good. Four hours is amazing. The longer it sits, the better it gets. Your only job now is to enjoy the smell.
Step 6: Taste and Serve
After at least an hour, ladle a little bit out (careful!) and taste it. If you think it needs to be sweeter, now’s the time to stir in that maple syrup or honey. When you’re ready, just ladle it straight from the pot into mugs.
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Why I Bother Making This Stuff
Look, I know that Wassail Recipe it’s just hot. But there’s something about a pot of this simmering on the stove that makes the whole house feel calmer and cozier. It’s not fancy, but it makes an ordinary evening feel a little more special. Plus, the kids can drink it, so they stop asking for soda. They feel like they’re getting a special grown-up drink, and I don’t have to deal with a sugar rush. It’s a win for everyone.
Anyway, give it a shot and tell me what you think in the comments. Would love to know if it becomes your go-to, too.
Wassail Recipe
The perfect warm, cozy, and non-alcoholic drink for chilly nights. This easy wassail is packed with spices, fruit, and delicious apple cider.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon cloudy apple cider
- 4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 apple sliced
- A handful of cinnamon sticks
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
- 2 teaspoons whole allspice
- A bit of grated nutmeg
- 2 or 3 star anise pods
- A splash of maple syrup or honey (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
dump all the juices into your biggest pot the cider the cranberry and the orange give it a quick stir
Step 2
toss in all your spices and the fruit slices the cinnamon sticks apples oranges everything goes in
Step 3
heat it up on the stove just until you see little bubbles dont let it boil seriously turn the heat way down to low once it gets hot
Step 4
now just let it hang out on low heat for at least an hour a few hours is even better if you have time
Step 5
give it a little taste and add maple syrup if you want it sweeter then just ladle it into mugs and enjoy
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 169Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 3gSugar: 34gProtein: 1g