My Favorite Wassail of all time!

1. Add 6 cups of water to a 6-quart pot. Add 6 tablespoons white sugar and 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar. Set the pot over high heat. Let the sugar dissolve in the heat. Once it's mostly dissolved, you can start adding the other ingredients, even if it hasn't boiled.
2. Open both cans of frozen orange juice and lemonade concentrate. Add about half of each can to the pot. (Save the other halves of the concentrate together in a ziplock and store in the freezer, for the next time you make this! See notes about doubling the recipe))
3. Add in all remaining ingredients: 4 cups apple cider, 1/4 teaspoon whole cloves, 1/4 teaspoon allspice berries, 1/4 teaspoon fresh nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 4 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 (1-inch) piece of candied ginger.
4. Cut the apple into slices, leaving the peels on. Wash the orange thoroughly, and cut it into rounds, peel on. Add the apple and orange to the pot and stir thoroughly.
5. Put the lid on. The burner should still be set to high heat. Let the mixture come to a boil, then immediately lower the heat to medium-low, to maintain a gentle bubble. Vent the lid so steam can escape.
6. Heat over medium-low for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, or up to 2-3 hours, if you like. The longer you heat it, the "spicier" the wassail will taste.
7. Use a slotted spoon to remove the apples, oranges, and all spices. You can pour the wassail through a mesh strainer or colander, if you are really committed to having no whole spices in your drink (or if you are worried about it getting too spicy.)
8. Serve the Wassail in mugs, garnished with fresh cranberries, fresh oranges or apples, fresh rosemary, etc. I like to serve a cooked apple or orange slice in each mug, they are SO incredibly tasty! See note for more ideas.

Slow Cooker Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and stir well. Heat on HIGH for 1-2 hours, or LOW for 3-4 hours. Stir the pot every hour or so. The longer you heat it, the more concentrated the flavors and the more spicy it will be.
2. You can leave this in the crockpot for many hours, but be aware that the apples and oranges will start to disintegrate if left in too long (ask me how I know, I made this overnight one time.) It still tastes great but you miss out on the tasty apples.
3. Storage: Store leftover wassail in a pitcher, or in quart mason jars. Remove the spices before storing, unless you want if to keep getting more an more spicy. Reheat in a mug in the microwave, or pour it back into a pot and heat on the stove (or in a crock pot).