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Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail with Cinnamon Sticks: The Best Winter Drink

slow cooker wassail - featured image
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This warm, spiced, and gently sweet wassail is made in the slow cooker for a cozy winter drink that fills your house with the aroma of cinnamon, clove, and orange. It’s easy to make, perfect for cold nights, and a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (1.9 liters) apple cider
  • 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) honey or 50 g brown sugar
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves (about 15 cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • Orange slices for garnish
  • Apple slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place whole cloves and allspice berries in a muslin bag or large tea infuser and tie securely.
  2. Peel the ginger and slice into thin rounds (about 1/4-inch thick).
  3. Pour apple cider and orange juice into a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
  4. Stir in honey or brown sugar.
  5. Add cinnamon sticks, the spice bag, sliced ginger, and star anise (if using). Stir gently.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or on HIGH for 1.5-2 hours, until steaming hot.
  7. Taste and adjust sweetness or spices as desired.
  8. While wassail cooks, slice orange and apple into thin rounds for garnish.
  9. Ladle wassail into mugs. Garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick, an orange slice, and an apple slice.
  10. Keep slow cooker on WARM or LOW while serving for refills.

Notes

Don’t let the wassail boil, as it can make the orange juice bitter. For a spiked version, add 1/2 cup dark rum or bourbon 15 minutes before serving. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Remove whole spices after the first day of storage to prevent over-infusion.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker wassail, winter drink, hot apple cider, spiced cider, holiday drink, non-alcoholic, cozy drink

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/cozy-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cinnamon-sticks-the-best-winter-drink/