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wassail recipe Two clear glass mugs filled with hot wassail, garnished with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise on a wooden surface.

Wassail Recipe

This cozy Wassail Recipe cider fills the kitchen with nostalgic citrus and warm spice aromas.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Drinks, holiday beverages
Cuisine: European, Seasonal
Keyword: holiday drink, mulled cider, spiced cider, wassail
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Simmer Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 219kcal
Cost: $6

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

  • 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.
    Overhead view of homemade wassail simmering in a pot with sliced oranges, apples, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
  • 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.
  • 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.
    Close-up of a ladle lifting a steaming orange slice and star anise from a pot of spiced wassail.

Notes

A slow simmer transforms simple juice into something magical and deeply comforting. This is the kind of drink that makes the house smell like celebration before guests even arrive.

Nutrition

Serving: 285g | Calories: 219kcal (11%) | Carbohydrates: 53g (18%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg (1%) | Potassium: 697mg (20%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 45g (50%) | Vitamin A: 272IU (5%) | Vitamin C: 105mg (127%) | Calcium: 47mg (5%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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