This holiday Wassail recipe not only tastes delicious, but also fills your home with an amazing scent. Stovetop and slow cooker instructions.
You might also like my sparkling cranberry juice punch or slow cooker hot chocolate for the holidays. You can even make your own apple cider in your Instant Pot!
Wassail is a hot beverage made from mulled cider and spices (and sometimes alcohol). It originates as an English drink associated with Yuletide. There are many ways to create this delicious drink by combining juices and spices (ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, etc).
Why I Like This Recipe
- Easy to prepare. 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. I've made it both ways, and it is equally delicious. It just depends on 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.
- No added sugar. Many recipes call for sugar or honey, but it doesn't need that. Pineapple juice is naturally sweet, and the apple and orange juices contain enough natural sugar already. My wassail recipe mulls apple juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice.
- Doubles as a simmer pot. 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
What Others Are Saying
This is a delicious recipe. We now make it every year to enjoy after caroling with friends.---Anne on Pinterest
We keep a pitcher of this in the refrigerator during December. It lasts a long time and is easy to heat up in a thermal mug to take to work.---Derrick
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Tips and Tricks
- Slow cooker instructions. Mix all ingredients into a slow cooker, except for the fresh fruit. Heat on low-heat for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
- Stovetop instructions. Mix ingredients and heat in a large pot or large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
- Remove spices before serving. Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks (see note below).
- How to store. Pour leftover wassail into a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate. *I like keeping one cinnamon stick in the jar with the leftover wassail, but that is optional. The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the stronger the leftover wassail's cinnamon flavor will be, so just keep that in mind.
Ingredients
- Juice: apple, orange, and pineapple juices are a wonderful blend of citrus and sweetness. You can use juice from concentrate or in bottles.
- Spices: I like using ground cinnamon (as well as cinnamon sticks), ground nutmeg, and whole cloves. You can also add star anise.
- Garnish: I only do this if serving wassail in a slow cooker. Adding a few slices of sliced oranges and apples really takes it up a notch.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Wassail
Slow Cooker Method
Step 1: Mix all ingredients into a slow cooker, except for the fresh fruit.
Step 2: Heat on low-heat for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Step 3: Skim cloves off the wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks.
Stove Top Method
Step 1: Mix ingredients and heat in a large pot or large saucepan.
Step 2: Bring to a boil and simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Skim cloves off of wassail before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks.
You can serve it 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.
Wassail FAQs
Wassail is a hot beverage made from mulled cider and spices (and sometimes alcohol). It originates as an English drink associated with Yuletide. There are many ways to create this delicious drink by combining juices and spices (ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, etc).
Traditional wassail often contained alcohol, but this version does not. It is a spiced cider drink.
Pour leftover wassail into a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate. *I like keeping one cinnamon stick in the jar with the leftover wassail, but that is optional. The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the stronger the leftover wassail's cinnamon flavor will be, so just keep that in mind
More Holiday Recipes To Make
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Holiday Wassail Recipe
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!