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Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail Spiced Apple Cider

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This cozy slow cooker wassail spiced apple cider is a warm, comforting holiday drink made with apple cider, orange juice, and warm spices. It’s incredibly easy to make, perfect for gatherings, and fills your home with the aroma of Christmas.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple, sliced into rounds
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Optional garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs, additional cinnamon sticks, star anise

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange and apple thoroughly. Slice them into thin rounds, about a quarter-inch thick. Remove any seeds from the apple slices.
  2. Pour the apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice into your slow cooker. Add the honey or maple syrup and stir gently to combine.
  3. Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and ground nutmeg. Give everything a gentle stir. Optionally, tie the whole spices in a piece of cheesecloth for easier straining.
  4. Arrange the orange and apple slices on top of the liquid.
  5. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to low heat. Let it cook for 3 to 4 hours. For a quicker version, cook on high for 1.5 to 2 hours.
  6. After about 3 hours, taste the cider and adjust sweetness or spice as desired.
  7. Before serving, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher or container to remove the whole spices and fruit slices. Optionally, reserve a few fresh fruit slices for garnish.
  8. Pour the strained cider back into the slow cooker to keep warm, or transfer to a stovetop pot on low heat. Ladle into mugs and garnish as desired.

Notes

For best flavor, use whole spices and cook on low. The cider tastes even better the next day. To make it spiked, add 1 cup of bourbon, dark rum, or brandy after cooking. For a sugar-free version, omit the honey or maple syrup.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, spiced apple cider, slow cooker, holiday drink, Christmas, apple cider, warm drink

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