This wassail recipe brings together apple juice, orange juice, and warm mulling spices into the coziest holiday drink you'll ever make. The smell of cinnamon and cloves simmering on the stove feels like a hug in a mug, and honestly, it's what winter gatherings are made for. I first tried wassail at a friend's Christmas party years ago, and I've been making it every December since it's that good.
If you're looking for more festive drinks to share, try this Jack Frost Cocktail Recipe for something frosty and fun, or go cozy with an Authentic Horchata Recipe that's perfect year-round.
The best part? This traditional wassail is ridiculously simple to make. You toss everything into one pot, let it simmer, and your whole house smells like a holiday market. Kids love it, adults love it, and it's way easier than fussing with a Grasshopper Drink Recipe when you've got a crowd.
Why You'll Love This Wassail Recipe
This hot wassail recipe is everything you want in a festive holiday cider. It's warm, aromatic, and tastes like Christmas smells. The spiced wassail flavor develops beautifully as it simmers, and you can make it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker wassail style if you prefer hands-off cooking.
It's also incredibly versatile. You can serve it as-is for a non alcoholic wassail, or spike it with rum or brandy if you want a wassail recipe alcoholic version for the adults. Either way, it's comforting, delicious, and makes your kitchen smell absolutely magical.
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Wassail Recipe Ingredients
Here's everything for this traditional wassail recipe.
See Recipe Card Below This Post For Ingredient Quantities
Apple juice (or apple cider): Forms the sweet, fruity base of the drink. Apple cider adds a richer flavor, but apple juice works beautifully too.
Orange juice: Adds bright citrus notes that balance the sweetness and bring a fresh, tangy layer to the mulled wassail.
Cinnamon sticks: Infuse the drink with warm, spicy flavor as it simmers. Whole sticks work better than ground cinnamon for a cleaner taste.
Cloves: These little spice buds pack a punch with their warm, slightly peppery aroma. They're essential for that old fashioned wassail flavor.
Apple, sliced: Adds texture and extra apple flavor while looking festive floating in the pot.
Orange, sliced: Releases oils and juice as it simmers, deepening the citrus flavor and making your wassail cider recipe even more aromatic.
How To Make Wassail Recipe
A quick intro: this stovetop Wassail Recipe comes together in one pot with minimal effort.
Combine ingredients: In a large pot, add the apple juice, orange juice, sliced apple, sliced orange, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
Bring to a boil: Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let everything simmer for 1 hour. The longer it simmers, the more the spices meld into a warm, cozy flavor.
Sweeten if desired: Taste your wassail drink recipe and add honey, sugar, or maple syrup if you'd like it a bit sweeter.
Serve hot: Ladle the hot wassail drink into mugs, making sure to include a few fruit slices in each cup. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a slice of orange, or a light dusting of cinnamon on top.
Equipment For Wassail Recipe
You don't need anything fancy for this winter wassail recipe. A large pot is your main tool, along with a knife and cutting board for slicing the fruit. Measuring cups and a spoon help with the juice and spices, and a ladle makes serving easy. If you prefer a crockpot wassail recipe method, you can use a slow cooker instead.
Substitutions and Variations
Crockpot wassail recipe: Add all ingredients to a slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 3 to 5 hours. This is perfect for parties since it keeps the wassail warm and ready to serve.
Wassail recipe alcoholic: Stir in a cup of rum, brandy, or bourbon just before serving for a grown-up twist on this holiday wassail recipe.
Sweeter wassail: Add a quarter cup of brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup along with the juices for a sweeter take on this traditional wassail.
Extra spice: Toss in a few whole allspice berries, a star anise, or a small piece of fresh ginger for a more complex spiced wassail flavor.
Different citrus: Swap the orange for tangerine, clementine, or even a lemon for a slightly different citrus note.
Storage Your Wassail Recipe
Store leftover Wassail Recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of apple juice if it's reduced too much. The flavors actually get better after a day or two as the spices continue to infuse.
You can also freeze wassail for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then pour it into freezer-safe containers. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This festive holiday cider is perfect on its own, but here are a few cozy ways to serve it:
Ladle it into mugs and serve alongside gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, or cinnamon rolls for a holiday dessert spread.
Set up a wassail bar with toppings like extra cinnamon sticks, orange slices, star anise, and little bottles of rum or brandy so guests can customize their cups.
Serve it in a slow cooker at parties to keep it warm all evening, with a ladle nearby and a stack of festive mugs.
Pair it with savory appetizers like cheese boards, spiced nuts, or warm brie for a balanced holiday menu.
Expert Tips
Use fresh apple cider instead of apple juice for a richer, more authentic flavor. It makes a noticeable difference in this wassail with apple cider version.
Don't skip the full hour of simmering. If you're short on time, 15 minutes works, but a full hour lets the spices and fruit really develop into something special.
Strain out the cloves before serving if you don't want anyone accidentally biting into one. They're strong and can be overwhelming if eaten whole.
For a stronger spice flavor, lightly crush the cinnamon sticks and cloves before adding them to the pot. This releases more of their oils and aroma.
Make a double batch if you're serving a crowd. This recipe goes fast, and having extra on hand means you won't run out halfway through the party.
A Family Story About Wassail Recipe
Last December, my sister Sarah came over with her kids, and I had a pot of this simmering on the stove. Emma, my niece, walked in and said, "It smells like Santa's house in here!" Then she tried to drink it straight from the ladle before it cooled down.
"Emma, wait! It's hot!" Sarah yelped, grabbing the ladle mid-air.
Emma blew on it dramatically and took the tiniest sip. Her eyes went wide. "Mom, this tastes like Christmas!" she announced, and then proceeded to demand a full mug with extra cinnamon sticks.
Sarah looked at me and laughed. "Well, I guess we're not leaving without the recipe."
Now Emma asks for "Christmas juice" every time she visits in winter, and Sarah texts me every year to confirm the simmer time.
FAQ
What are the ingredients in Wassail Recipe?
Traditional Wassail Recipe includes apple juice or cider, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sliced fresh fruit like apples and oranges. Some versions add sweetener or alcohol, but the base is always fruit juice and warm spices.
How do you make Old English Wassail Recipe?
Old English Wassail Recipe often includes ale or wine, along with spices, sugar, and sometimes roasted apples. This homemade wassail is a simpler, non alcoholic version that focuses on the spiced cider flavors without the alcohol, though you can add it if you'd like.
What is traditional English wassail?
Traditional English wassail is a hot mulled cider drink served during winter celebrations and wassailing traditions, where people would go door to door singing and sharing the drink. My version keeps the classic spices and citrus but skips the ale for a family-friendly take.
What's the difference between mulled cider and Wassail Recipe?
Mulled cider and Wassail Recipe are very similar. Both are spiced, warm drinks made with apple cider and spices like cinnamon and cloves. Wassail traditionally includes citrus juice, especially orange, while mulled cider sometimes doesn't. Think of wassail as mulled cider's slightly fruitier cousin.
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Pairing
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Wassail Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple juice unsweetened or fresh cider for best flavor
- 1 cup orange juice fresh-squeezed or pulp-free
- 4 cinnamon sticks whole sticks for gentle spice infusion
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves not ground, for clean flavor
- 1 apple thinly sliced, any sweet variety
- 1 orange thinly sliced, seedless preferred
- 1 –2 tablespoons sweetener honey, maple syrup, or sugar, added to taste
Instructions
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Combine the apple juice, orange juice, sliced apple, sliced orange, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large pot and set it over medium-high heat.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it softly bubble for one hour so the flavors fully blend.
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Taste the wassail, stir in sweetener as desired, and ladle into mugs while hot. Finish with optional orange slices or a cinnamon stick for garnish.
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