This holiday spice wassail recipe not only tastes delicious but makes your home smell amazing as it simmers! Prepare over the stove or in a slow cooker.
You might also like our sparkling cranberry juice punch or slow cooker hot chocolate for the holidays. You can even make your own apple cider in your instant pot!
Homemade Wassail
For decades I was a hot chocolate girl. Nothing swayed me from reaching for a hot cup of cocoa when the temps began to drop except for the occasional cup of hot apple cider. That is until I tried wassail at a friend’s house. It totally hits the spot without being too rich or sweet and it’s the perfect blend of all of my favorite holiday scents and spices.
What is Wassail?
Wassail is a hot beverage made from mulled cider and spices (and sometimes alcohol). It originates in English drink associated with Yuletide. There are many ways to create this delicious drink by combining juices and spices (ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc). Many recipes call for sugar or honey, but I don't think that it really needs that. Pineapple juice is naturally sweet and the apple and orange juice contain enough natural sugar already. My wassail recipe mulls apple juice, orange juice and pineapple juice.
My wassail recipe is super simple, can be stored in the refrigerator, and can be prepared in a slow cooker or simmered on the stove.
My 15-year-old says that it smells like I'm burning a candle every time I make it. It's better than a candle because I not only get to enjoy the scent, but I can drink it too, ha! (Note: it's more fragrant when simmered over the stove with the lid off vs. in a slow cooker)
Wassail Recipe Ingredients
scroll down for printable recipe
Serves: 12
6 c. apple juice
4 c. orange juice
2 c. pineapple juice (I used canned pineapple juice)
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. whole cloves (you can use a dash of ground cloves if you prefer)
3 cinnamon sticks (can also add star anise)
Optional: sliced orange, apple, or cranberries for garnish
How To Make Wassail
You can make wassail in the slow cooker or on the stove top. I've made it both ways and it is equally delicious. It just depends how quickly you'd like to drink it. Using a slow cooker is a great way to serve it to a crowd. I also like using my slow cooker to make and serve hot chocolate.
Slow Cooker:
Mix all ingredients into a slow cooker, except for the fresh fruit. Heat on low-heat for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Add fresh fruit slices before serving. These are decorative and are completely optional.
Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks.
Stove Top:
Mix ingredients and heat in a large pot or large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
Add fresh fruit slices before serving.
Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks. Can serve in a punch bowl, but I usually ladle it straight from the pot.
Refrigerate any remaining wassail. Heat over the stove or in the microwave.
Make a batch to enjoy after playing in the snow, driving around to see Christmas lights or going Christmas caroling! I'm going to make some on Christmas Eve this year.
What is your favorite holiday drink to sip?
Holiday Spice Wassail Recipe For the Holidays
Ingredients
- 6 cup apple juice
- 4 cup orange juice
- 2 cup pineapple juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- Optional: fresh orange and apple slices
Instructions
Slow Cooker:
- Mix all ingredients into a slow cooker, except for the fresh fruit. Heat on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
- Add fresh fruit slices before serving. These are decorative and do not add to the flavor so are completely optional.
- Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks.
Stove Top:
- Mix ingredients and heat in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add fresh fruit slices before serving.
- Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks.
Whitney says
Why shouldn’t the pineapple juice be from concentrate?
Brandy says
I need to edit that phrase. I don’t use it from concentrate, I use it from a can. So I’ll edit to say “I always use pineapple juice, not concentrated.” They don’t sell pineapple juice in the freezer section here. You can use whatever pineapple juice you want.
LuAnn says
This looks absolutely amazing. My question is. Regarding the list of ingredients. You put a asterisk by the whole cloves. Which I took as, see note below
Since there isn't one. Does that mean to remove the whole cloves before drinking this mixture? TIA.
Brandy says
Hi LuAnn! yes, remove the cloves before drinking. I originally had it as a note but added it directly into the instructions and forgot to remove the *. Thanks for letting me know!