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Quick Slow Cooker Wassail with Cinnamon Sticks – Best Easy Homemade Recipe

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This quick slow cooker wassail with cinnamon sticks is a warm, spiced, and fruity holiday drink that comes together in minutes. Perfect for weeknights or gatherings, it fills your home with a cozy aroma and tastes like you’ve been simmering it for hours.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple juice or apple cider
  • 2 cups orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 2–3 lemons)
  • 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves (about 20–25 cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple, sliced into thin rounds
  • Optional: 1/2 cup cranberry juice
  • Optional: 1 star anise

Instructions

  1. Pour the apple juice, orange juice, and lemon juice into your slow cooker. If using cranberry juice, add it now. Stir to combine.
  2. Drizzle in the honey or maple syrup. Start with 1/4 cup and adjust later if needed.
  3. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice berries. Optionally, place cloves and allspice in a muslin bag or tea infuser for easier straining.
  4. Arrange the orange and apple slices on top of the liquid.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and set to LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 1.5-2 hours. The wassail is ready when steaming hot and spices have infused.
  6. After about 2 hours on low, taste and adjust sweetness or spice level. Add more honey or cinnamon sticks if desired.
  7. Before serving, use a slotted spoon to remove cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice berries. For a clear wassail, pour through a fine-mesh strainer.
  8. Ladle the wassail into mugs, ensuring each cup gets a slice of orange or apple if left in.
  9. Set slow cooker to ‘keep warm’ setting for serving over a longer period. Remove spices first to prevent over-infusion.

Notes

For best flavor, toast cinnamon sticks in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding. Don’t overcook; stick to 3-4 hours on low to avoid bitterness. Remove whole spices after cooking to prevent over-infusion. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months. For an adult version, stir in 1 cup of dark rum or brandy after cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker wassail, cinnamon sticks, holiday drink, apple cider, mulled drink, easy wassail recipe

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/quick-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cinnamon-sticks-best-easy-homemade-recipe/