This Easy Wassail Recipe (non-alcoholic) is perfect for warming your soul during the holiday season. Made with fresh fruit, a variety of juices, classic apple cider, and fragrant seasonal spices, sipping on a steaming mug of wassail is sure to put you in the holiday spirit!
Combine cider, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and brown sugar in a large pot, Instant Pot or 6 quart crockpot. Stir to mix well.
Place nutmeg, cloves, allspice, star anise and cinnamon sticks in a piece of cheesecloth and tie up for easy clean-up. May just be tossed in the pot or slow cooker as well. If adding, place sliced apples, oranges to the pot as well.
Stovetop Wassail
Cover and bring to simmer over medium-low heat, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes, ladle into mugs, serve with cinnamon stick and garnished with a slice of fresh apple and orange if desired.
Crockpot Slow Cooker Wassail
Add all ingredients as described above into crockpot, stir well, cover and heat on LOW 6-8 hours or on HIGH 3-4 hours.
Instant Pot Wassail (non-alcoholic)
Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot, seal vent and cook on manual mode for 10 minutes, allowing to naturally release for 10 minutes, then release the steam (carefully) and serve, piping hot for your holiday party! Keep instant pot on warm after cooking to keep the drink hot, or transfer to a slow cooker on warm setting or in a pretty Dutch oven.
Notes
StorageCool leftover Wassail completely, then store in airtight container in fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze (leaving head space at the top for expansion) for up to 3 months, thawing overnight in fridge. Reheat | In saucepan, microwave or slow cooker until desired temp. Variations & Substitutions
Make Ahead | Combine all ingredients and store in refrigerator up to three days until ready to heat.
Alcoholic Wassail | Either add directly to the wassail while heating, or better for guests who are teetotalers or children, serve hot with brandy, rum, whiskey or bourbon on the side. If adding directly to the hot mulled cider, add about ½ cup brandy (or favorite) and if desired up to 2 cups hard cider. Adjust to taste.
Change the flavors | Swap out equal amounts of juice for your favorites; such as cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, apricot nectar or even lemonade.
Make it Pretty | Press whole cloves into a whole apple and/or orange and place in pot while simmering or in crockpot. Use about 15-25 cloves to stud your apple or orange. Some people even add 2-3 ounces of red hot candies. You could even add a drizzle of caramel.