Description
This Cozy Slow Cooker Cranberry Wassail is a bright, balanced, and wonderfully spiced holiday punch that’s incredibly easy to make. The slow cooker does all the work, filling your house with a warm, festive aroma while you focus on enjoying the season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces (about 3 cups) fresh cranberries
- 6 cups (48 ounces) apple cider
- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice (from 4–6 oranges)
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 3–4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon (10-12) whole cloves
- 2–3 whole star anise pods
- 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced into rounds
- 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
- Optional: 1/2 to 1 cup brandy or dark rum
Instructions
- Rinse the fresh cranberries and pick out any that are soft or shriveled. Slice the fresh ginger into thin rounds (about 1/4-inch thick). Slice the orange into thin rounds for garnish. Set everything aside.
- Pour the apple cider and freshly squeezed orange juice into your slow cooker.
- Drizzle in the honey or maple syrup. Start with 1/4 cup and adjust later. Give it a quick stir with your wooden spoon to start dissolving it.
- Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, and sliced ginger.
- Pour in the fresh (or frozen) cranberries.
- Lay a few orange slices on top of the liquid. Reserve a few slices for garnishing the mugs later.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW. Let it cook for 2 to 3 hours.
- After 2 hours, give it a taste. If it’s too tart, stir in another tablespoon of honey or maple syrup. If it’s too sweet, add a splash more orange juice.
- If you want a smooth, clear punch, pour the wassail through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pitcher or back into the slow cooker (after removing the insert and washing it).
- If you’re making an adult version, stir in the brandy or spiced rum just before serving.
- Ladle the wassail into mugs and garnish each one with a fresh orange slice. Serve immediately.
Notes
Don’t rush the simmer; low-and-slow develops the best flavor. Taste at the 2-hour mark and adjust sweetness. Watch out for the cloves—stick to 1 teaspoon. Strain for a prettier presentation. This wassail tastes even better the next day. Keep it warm on the WARM setting for hours.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 120150
- Sugar: 2530
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 3035
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: cranberry wassail, slow cooker punch, holiday punch, mulled cider, Christmas punch, warm cranberry drink