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Light & Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail: Easy Homemade Recipe

light and cozy slow cooker wassail - featured image
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A light and aromatic slow cooker wassail with apple cider, orange juice, and warm spices. This easy recipe is perfect for cozy nights, holiday gatherings, or a comforting drink any time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups apple cider (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
  • 2 cups fresh orange juice (about 4–5 oranges)
  • 1 cup water (filtered if possible)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 4 cinnamon sticks (Ceylon cinnamon preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches, peeled and sliced into thin rounds)
  • 1 star anise (optional)
  • Orange slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Apple slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh cranberries (for garnish, optional)
  • Extra cinnamon sticks (for stirring, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the ginger and citrus: Peel the fresh ginger with a spoon and slice it into thin rounds. Juice the oranges and lemon.
  2. Combine the base: Pour the apple cider, fresh orange juice, water, honey, and lemon juice into the slow cooker. Stir to start dissolving the honey.
  3. Add the whole spices: Toss in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, sliced ginger, and star anise (if using). Do not use ground spices.
  4. Slow cook to perfection: Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
  5. Taste and adjust: About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust sweetness or spice as needed.
  6. Strain before serving: Ladle the wassail through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher or directly into mugs to remove whole spices and ginger slices.
  7. Garnish and enjoy: Float orange slices, apple slices, and fresh cranberries in each mug. Add a cinnamon stick for stirring. Serve warm.

Notes

Do not boil the wassail; low and slow is best. Whole spices are essential for a clean flavor. Taste and adjust sweetness before serving. This recipe doubles well for larger gatherings. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker wassail, light wassail, cozy drink, apple cider drink, holiday drink, warm beverage, easy wassail recipe

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/light-and-cozy-slow-cooker-wassail-easy-homemade-recipe/