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Quick Slow Cooker Wassail with Cloves – Easy Winter Drink Recipe

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A warm, spiced apple cider wassail made in the slow cooker with cloves, cinnamon, and citrus. This easy winter drink is perfect for holiday gatherings and fills your home with a cozy, festive aroma.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 2 cups orange juice (freshly squeezed if possible)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons whole cloves
  • 4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 fresh orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 fresh apple, sliced
  • Fresh cranberries (optional, for garnish)
  • Additional orange slices (optional, for serving)
  • Star anise (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the spices: Measure out 2 tablespoons whole cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks (broken in half), and 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries. Place them in a cheesecloth square or muslin bag and tie securely. Alternatively, add them directly to the slow cooker and strain later.
  2. Slice the fruit: Wash the orange and apple thoroughly. Slice the orange into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick). Do the same with the apple. Remove any seeds.
  3. Combine the liquids: Pour 8 cups apple cider and 2 cups orange juice into the slow cooker. Add 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar. Stir gently until the honey and sugar dissolve.
  4. Add the spices and fruit: Drop the spice bag (or loose spices) into the liquid. Arrange the orange and apple slices on top. Add a handful of fresh cranberries if using.
  5. Cook: 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 fragrant.
  6. Taste and adjust: Remove the spice bag or strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice level as desired (add lemon juice for tartness, more honey for sweetness, or let spices steep longer for more flavor).
  7. Serve warm: Ladle into mugs, leaving fruit slices behind or adding fresh slices for garnish. Top with a cinnamon stick or star anise if desired.

Notes

For best flavor, toast the spices in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes before adding to the slow cooker. Strain the wassail before serving to remove any stray clove buds. Keep warm on the WARM setting after cooking to avoid over-concentration. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker wassail, winter drink, apple cider, cloves, holiday drink, easy wassail recipe

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/quick-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cloves-easy-winter-drink-recipe/