Description

This warm, spiced wassail punch is made in the slow cooker with apple cider, orange juice, and whole spices. It’s the perfect easy holiday drink that fills your home with the scent of Christmas and tastes like a hug in a mug.

Ingredients

Scale

8 cups (2 liters) apple cider
2 cups (480 ml) orange juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
1/2 cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey
4–5 whole cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon (about 15) whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
3–4 slices fresh ginger (about 1 inch each)
2–3 whole star anise pods (optional)
2–3 oranges, sliced into rounds (for garnish)
1–2 apples, sliced into rounds (for garnish)
1/2 cup fresh cranberries (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Wash the oranges and apples. Slice one or two oranges into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick) and set aside for garnish. Slice the remaining orange in half and juice it if using fresh juice. Slice the apple into thin rounds. Peel and slice the ginger into about 4 thin coins (no need to peel the ginger—just scrub it).
Pour the apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice into your slow cooker.
Add the brown sugar and honey to the slow cooker. Stir gently with a wooden spoon or ladle until the sugar starts to dissolve.
Toss in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, ginger slices, and star anise (if using). If using a spice bag or cheesecloth, bundle them up and drop the bundle in.
Float the reserved orange slices, apple slices, and fresh cranberries on top of the liquid.
Cover the slow cooker and set to LOW. Let it simmer for 3-4 hours. The punch should be steaming hot but not boiling. If in a hurry, cook on HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours.
After 3 hours, taste the punch. Adjust sweetness with more honey or brown sugar, or add more apple cider if too strong. Let cook another 30 minutes if needed.
Ladle the warm punch into mugs, avoiding whole spices if not using a bag. Garnish each mug with a fresh orange slice or a few cranberries. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not boil the punch; keep it on LOW for best flavor. Whole spices are preferred over ground to avoid cloudiness. The punch can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 5 days; flavors deepen over time. For a spiked version, add bourbon or dark rum to individual mugs.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup (8 ounces)
Calories: 150
Sugar: 32
Sodium: 10
Carbohydrates: 38
Fiber: 1

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker punch, Christmas drink, holiday punch, spiced cider, easy holiday drink