Wassail
This hot Wassail, or spiced cider, is a Christmas tradition. It is apple juice, orange juice, and spices, and combines to make a warm, comforting, festive Christmas punch. This is a family favorite, and should definitely be on your holiday drink menu.
Wassail is a traditional English drink made from mulled cider or ale, sugar, and spices. It is often associated with the Christmas season and was traditionally used to toast to good health. The word “wassail” comes from the Old English phrase “waes hael,” which means “good health.” Wassail is also the name of a traditional English carol that is often sung while drinking the mulled cider. In modern times, wassail is often served at Christmas parties and other holiday gatherings.
Serve this wassail at your next holiday party with Peppermint Glazed Butter Cookies, Christmas Sugar Cookies, and all the appetizers like these Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs, Crab Dip, and Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Bread.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me knows how much I love a good beverage. Despite not drinking alcohol or coffee, I find myself frequently in line at Starbucks, or ordering off the drink menu when we go out. A good mocktail, a flavored soda, or a hot drink is something I can’t get enough of. And probably responsible for a few of the extra pounds I carry.
I have a friend who doesn’t drink anything but water, and she says it is because she would rather save her calories for dessert. Me, I do both. And it is drinks like this Wassail that are the reason.
A Christmas Holiday Tradition
At Christmas time, I rejoice in all the warm and fuzzy feelings, the hot chocolates, the spiced ciders, and the Christmas punch that I get to drink. And you guys, this is my favorite of the lot. This Wassail recipe is one my in-laws make every year at Christmas.
We gather at Christmas Eve to exchange gifts, eat soups, and spend time as a family, and there is always a crockpot full of this perfectly spiced, sweet and tasty hot wassail.
And I am always the first in line to fill a cup and sip the night away.
Keeping Wassail Warm
There are a few different ways to keep wassail warm while serving it at a party or gathering. One option is to use a slow cooker or crockpot. Simply place the wassail in the slow cooker, set it to the desired temperature, and leave it on throughout the party. This will keep the wassail warm and ready to serve at any time.
Another option is to use a large pot on the stove. Place the wassail in the large stock pot and heat it over low heat. Stir the wassail occasionally to prevent it from burning. This method will require more attention than using a slow cooker, but it can work well for smaller batches of wassail.
A third option is to use a punch bowl or large pitcher with a heating element. These vessels are designed to keep drinks warm while serving, and they can be a convenient option for parties. Simply prepare the wassail in advance and transfer it to the heated punch bowl or pitcher.
Overall, the key to keeping wassail warm is to use a heat-safe container and to keep the temperature low enough to prevent burning.
Tips for Serving Wassail at a Party
Here are some tips for serving wassail at a party:
- Make a large batch of wassail ahead of time so that you can easily serve it to your guests. You can make the wassail by heating apple cider or ale with sugar, spices, and citrus slices.
- Keep the wassail warm in a slow cooker or on the stove so that it is ready to serve at any time.
- Serve the wassail in heat-proof glasses or mugs so that your guests can enjoy it warm.
- Offer a variety of garnishes, such as cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and orange slices, so that your guests can customize their drinks.
- Consider serving the wassail in a traditional wassail bowl, which is a large punch bowl with a handle and spout. This will add a festive touch to your party.
If you visit my house in December, chances are you will find a pitcher of the stuff in my fridge, just waiting to be poured into my favorite mug and steamed or microwaved.
The combination of spices like cloves and cinnamon just give it that extra special Christmas-y feeling, and the other ingredients just make it delicious.
I love to cozy up on the couch, turn the lights down low, and get the Christmas lights on. I turn on my favorite Christmas songs, and start a fire in the fireplace. Then I sip, and relax, and just enjoy the season. To me, Hot Wassail, is Christmas. It is as much a part of my Christmas tradition as gift giving and Santa. And so I share that tradition with you.
I hope you love this delicious Wassail drink as much as I do.
Other beverages that you might enjoy:
- Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
- Canada Dry Ginger Ale and 7UP Punch Recipes
- Cucumber Mint Mojitos
- Black Cherry Dragonfruit Mocktail with Blackberry Mint and Lime
- Mango Orange Mojito (Virgin)
Wassail
Ingredients
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 quarts apple cider
- 2 cups Orange Juice
- 12 whole cloves
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch ground ginger
Instructions
- Put everything in a slow cooker, and slow cook all day.
- My favorite slow cooker is this Hamilton Beach brand. It's big enough for all of my recipes and will automatically switch to warm when my recipe is done cooking.
- But for Wassaill just let it do it's thing and enjoy the scent of the Christmas season.
- Enjoy.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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