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4.4 from 15 votes

Wassail

Wassail may be a traditional holiday drink, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it all autumn long! This warmly spiced hot mulled cider comes together in minutes and can be heated on the stove or in the slow cooker.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 16
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 1 orange studded with approximately 30 whole cloves
  • 1 gallon quality apple cider
  • 8 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 5 allspice berries
  • ½ to 1 tablespoon dried ginger pieces optional
  • 1 orange sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple sliced into rounds
  • simple syrup to taste optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Insert the cloves into the orange by piercing the skin with the end of the cloves. Bake pomander orange in preheated oven for 1 hour.
  2. Remove orange from oven and set aside.
  3. In a large pot over low heat, stir together apple cider, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, sliced orange and apple. Add pomander orange to the pot and simmer uncovered for at least 2 hours. Alternately add mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 hours.
  4. Before serving, strain spices from the cider, but reserve the pomander orange. Add cider back into the pot with the pomander orange. Serve warm.
  5. If you desire a sweeter wassail, add simple syrup to taste. 

Notes

  • If necessary, pierce the skin of the orange with a skewer before inserting the cloves. 
  • If you like the spice of ginger, add a full tablespoon of dried ginger pieces. Alternately, you can omit the ginger entirely if you prefer or do not have any on hand.