Print

Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail with Cloves and Orange

cozy slow cooker wassail with cloves and orange - featured image
Print Recipe

A warm, spiced, and aromatic slow cooker wassail made with apple cider, orange juice, cloves, and cinnamon. Perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy winter evenings, this easy recipe fills your home with a comforting fragrance and delivers a perfectly balanced, crowd-pleasing drink.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (64 ounces) apple cider
  • 2 cups (16 ounces) orange juice
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves (about 15 cloves)
  • 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
  • ¼ cup honey or maple syrup (plus more to taste)
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into thin coins
  • 2 to 3 whole star anise (optional)
  • 1 lemon, sliced into rounds

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit and spices: Wash the orange and lemon thoroughly. Slice them into thin rounds, about ¼-inch thick. Peel the ginger and slice it into thin coins. Set aside.
  2. Assemble in the slow cooker: Pour the apple cider and orange juice into the slow cooker. Add the honey or maple syrup and stir gently. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise (if using), and ginger slices. Stud the orange slices with whole cloves (about 4-5 per slice) and add them along with the lemon slices to the pot.
  3. Cook on low for 4 hours: Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 4 hours. After about 2 hours, give it a gentle stir.
  4. Taste and adjust: After 4 hours, taste the wassail. Adjust sweetness with more honey or maple syrup if desired. If more spice is wanted, let it cook another 30 minutes.
  5. Strain (optional) and serve: For a clear wassail, strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Otherwise, ladle into mugs, garnishing each with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t boil the wassail; low heat is essential to avoid bitterness. Studding cloves into orange slices prevents them from sinking and being bitten into. Taste after 3 hours and adjust spices. For a party, keep the slow cooker on warm after cooking for up to 2-3 hours. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker wassail, wassail recipe, holiday drink, spiced cider, apple cider, orange, cloves, cinnamon, slow cooker drink, cozy winter drink

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/cozy-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cloves-and-orange/