Bring the cozy taste (and smell) of the holidays into your home with this Traditional Wassail Recipe made in the slow cooker! Filled with the comforting flavors of apple, orange, lemon, and warm spices, it's a festive drink that feels like winter in a mug. It's perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings!
🔍 Quick Look: Traditional Wassail Recipe
- 🕒 Ready In: 4-6 hours on low, 3-4 hours on high
- 🍴 Servings: 12
- 🔥 Calories: ~182 per serving
- ⭐ Main Ingredients: Apple cider, apples, orange, lemon, spices
- 📖 Dietary Info: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan
- 👩🍳 Method: Slow cooker
- ⭐ Difficulty: Beginner (throw everything in the crockpot, set it, and forget it!)
Wassail has been one of my favorite holiday drinks for years and years. I love how the slow cooker does all of the work and it fills the house with the most amazing scent of spiced cider and citrus. It's so cozy! This drink is bold, warm, and it has just the right balance of sweet and tangy. It really is just like a hug in a mug!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Traditional Flavor - Made with apple cider, citrus, and warm spices for that classic old-fashioned wassail taste.
- Effortless to Make - The slow cooker does all the work with this wassail recipe. Just add everything to your slow cooker, let it simmer for a few hours, and enjoy!
- Perfect for Gatherings - This recipe makes plenty to share and it stays warm for hours in the slow cooker. It's perfect for taking to parties!
🛒Key Ingredients
- Apple Cider: I always start with a good-quality apple cider. I picked mine up from the grocery store, but I bet it's even better made with cider straight from the orchard!
- Cinnamon Sticks: Makes the whole house smell amazing (and of course, it adds that warm flavor) while the wassail simmers.
- Fruit Slices: Simmering slices of fresh fruit infuse extra flavor and sweetness and look beautiful floating in the pot!
- Bay Leaves: It might sound unusual, but bay leaves give the wassail a subtle earthiness that pairs really well with the sweetness.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Apple Cider: If you can't find apple cider, use unfiltered apple juice. It won't be quite as rich, but it still makes a delicious base.
- Cinnamon Sticks: Ground cinnamon works in a pinch. Use about ½ teaspoon per stick.
- Bay Leaves: If you don't have bay leaves, skip them or add a pinch of ground nutmeg for a little warmth instead.
🍎How to Make This Traditional Wassail Recipe
Step 1: Pour in the apple cider, orange juice. Depending on the size of your slow cooker, you may not be able to add all of the juice, just add as much as you can fit. Add in the fruit slices and spices.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
Step 2: Ladle warm wassail into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice, if desired.
Want to make this recipe on the stovetop instead?
Ask AI how to adjust the recipe:
🌟Expert Tips
- Toast the spices first. For any even deeper flavor, lightly toast the cinnamon sticks and cloves in a dry pan for a couple of minutes before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Simmer low and slow. If you have the time, let the wassail simmer for at least 4-6 hours (or longer) on low for the best flavor!
- Adjust sweetness at the end. Taste the wassail before serving. I chose not to add any sweetener to my recipe, but if you prefer it sweeter you can add in some brown sugar or honey.
💭 FAQs
While both drinks are spiced and served warm, wassail has a more complex flavor. Traditional wassail includes apple with a mix of citrus fruits and layers of warm spices. Mulled cider is typically just cider simmered with a few spices.
Let the wassail cool completely, then pour it into an airtight container or glass jar and refrigerate it for up to 5 days. The flavors actually deepen as it sits, so it often tastes even better the next day.
To reheat, warm it gently on the stovetop over low heat or pour it back in the slow cooker on the "Warm" setting. Avoid boiling it, since that can dull the citrus and spice flavors.
🍁More Cozy Fall Recipes to Try
📋 Recipe
Traditional Wassail Recipe (Slow Cooker Version)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple cider unfiltered
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 apple sliced
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 10 whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Pour in the apple cider, orange juice. Depending on the size of your slow cooker, you may not be able to add all of the juice, just add as much as you can fit. Add in the fruit slices and spices.Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Ladle warm wassail into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice, if desired.
Notes
- Storage Info: Let the wassail cool completely, then pour it into an airtight container or glass jar and refrigerate it for up to 5 days. The flavors actually deepen as it sits, so it often tastes even better the next day. To reheat, warm it gently on the stovetop over low heat or pour it back in the slow cooker on the "Warm" setting. Avoid boiling it, since that can dull the citrus and spice flavors.
Ashley Amundsen says
I love this wassail because I can throw all the ingredients in the crock pot and let it simmer without having to keep an eye on it. Plus, it makes my house smell so good! It's such an easy and delicious drink to make.