Simple Stovetop Wassail Recipe
This simple stovetop wassail recipe smells and tastes like the holidays. All of the ingredients including apple cider, orange juice, and spices are combined and simmered on the stovetop. The flavors marry together just perfectly. You will love every ladled cupful of this stovetop wassail.
Growing up, I remember wassail being served at Christmastime at my grandparents’ house. The smell, the house, cousins piled in, it truly holds some of my best memories associated with this drink.
I continue that tradition and make this drink for the holidays. When hosting a party, I typically double the recipe to have plenty of servings. And oh shucks, even if you have leftovers, you will be thankful. Both kids and adults can enjoy this version since it is a nonalcoholic wassail.
Stovetop wassail is prepared simply by combining the ingredients and simmering them on the stovetop. You can then garnish the drink with sliced oranges and cinnamon sticks. I have left the wassail in a large pot on the stovetop and guests have ladled it into mugs, or I have served it in a crockpot. Both methods work great for keeping the wassail warm throughout a gathering.
Note from Lexi
A huge tip for this recipe is to customize it to your liking. If you really dislike the taste of nutmeg, then leave it out! If you want to make it in the crockpot instead, that works great too (see notes section for details). It’s really hard to mess this recipe up. It’s truly just a wonderful winter drink that is timeless and you’ll make year after year!
– Lexi with Our Slice of Home
Ingredients
How to make stovetop wassail
Step one: Slice the apple into large pieces and press the whole cloves into the apple.
Step two: In a large pot or Dutch oven pour in the apple cider, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and nutmeg. Place the apples with the cloves inside the pot.
Step three: Bring to a simmer for 30 minutes.
Step four: Remove apples and garnish with thinly sliced oranges and additional cinnamon sticks.
FAQ
Wassail is a traditional Christmas drink. It is apple cider infused with fruit and spices.
Apple cider is an unpasteurized, raw, and unsweetened beverage made from pressed apples. Apple juice is pasteurized and typically sweeter. This recipe recommends the use of apple cider.
Yes! Follow instructions and place all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Remove the slices of apples before serving!
This wassail recipe is a non-alcoholic version. Some add bourbon or brandy to wassail when serving.
I have prepared this recipe with red apples including honeycrisp, gala, and fuji. All of them have been delicious!
Substitutions
Apple cider: You can also use apple juice. If you use apple juice the drink will be sweeter and I would then omit the brown sugar.
Whole cloves: Can be swapped for ground cloves.
Orange juice: An easy substitution is pomegranate or pineapple juice.
Brown sugar: Swap out brown sugar for pure maple syrup.
When to serve wassail
Wassail is a traditional Christmas drink. Make it just for your family or double the recipe to serve at a holiday party.
Equipment needed
6-quart cooking pot or Dutch oven
How to store and reheat
Allow the wassail to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to drink it. You can reheat it in in the microwave, stovetop, or the crockpot.
Tips for Success
Buy a good quality brand of apple cider and orange juice. As the main ingredients in this drink, it makes all the difference.
Don’t skip on the spices! I recommend including all the spices listed for the best and flavorful wassail.
Heat this slowly over medium heat. If you bring it to rapid boil it produces quite a bit of “foam” that you will need to scrape out at the end.
Simple Stovetop Wassail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 1 ½ cups orange juice
- 1 apple
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 8 whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
- 1 orange thinly sliced to garnish at the end
Instructions
- Slice the apple into 4 large pieces and press the whole cloves into the apple.
- In a 6-quart pot or Dutch oven pour in the apple cider, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Place the apples with the cloves inside the pot.
- Over medium heat bring to a simmer.
- Reduce to medium low heat and simmer for 30 – 45 minutes.
- Remove the apple slices with the cloves inside
- You can garnish the large pot of wassail with thinly sliced oranges and additional cinnamon sticks. To garnish individual mugs of wassail I like to include 1 cinnamon stick and a half of a thin slice of orange
Favorite drink to make for Christmas!