The Best Wassail Recipe: So Easy - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

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This Wassail Recipe is a delicious warm drink made up of apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Perfectly seasoned to warm you to the core. Wassail is perfect for cold winter days, Holiday parties and Christmas celebrations.

This easy wassail recipe has been in our family for countless years, it a holiday tradition!! This is one thing my kids and myself look forward to every Christmas Eve. My mom serves this warm Christmas drink every year at our family Christmas party and it wouldn’t be the same without it!

This hot wassail recipe is so easy to throw together and will absolutely be enjoyed by all.

How to make Wassail

This easy wassail recipe can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

First to make this wassail recipe you will start by combining the water and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Next, add in the cinnamon, allspice berries, ginger and whole cloves. Turn off the heat and let the spices develop in the hot water for at least 30 minutes.

At this point, after the spices have infused the water, you can strain them from the liquid, or leave them in if you like. I prefer to leave them in to continue to add flavor to the wassail.

Pour in the apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Bring just to a boil and turn down the heat to low, this will keep the wassail warm.

If you prefer to make this for the slow cooker. Dissolve the sugar in the water in the slow cooker. Add the other ingredients and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 8. Keep on low to serve.

Wassail Ingredients

To make this easy, soul warming Christmas drink, you will need just a few ingredients.

  • apple cider
  • orange juice
  • lemon juice
  • water
  • cinnamon sticks
  • whole cloves
  • allspice berries
  • ground ginger
  • sugar

Can I make Wassail ahead?

You can make this wassail recipe before you need it. Simply follow the recipe instructions to make the wassail. Once it is complete, strain the spices and store in the refrigerator. You can make this at least 5 days in advance of when you need it.

Simply warm up when ready to serve.

How to store this wassail drink

If you have any wassail left over after serving, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just heat up what you are going to drink in the microwave and take a trip back to Christmas.

Homemade Wassail Recipe

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The Best Wassail Recipe: So Easy - Feeding Your Fam (6)

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4.43 from 19 votes

Wassail Recipe

Wassail is a delicious warm drink made up of apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Perfectly seasoned to warm you to the core. Wassail is perfect for cold winter days, Holiday parties and Christmas celebrations.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Drinks

Cuisine: Comfort Food, Holidays

Keyword: Wassail Recipe

Servings: 12

Calories: 127kcal

Author: Sarah Alvord, Feeding Your Fam

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 4 whole allspice
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/8 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 quart apple cider
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 1 cup lemon juice

Instructions

  • In a large pot (at least 4 quarts) stir together the water and sugar and bring to a boil.

  • Boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add in the cloves, allspice, cinnamon and ginger. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.

  • At this point you can strain and remove the spices or leave them in. (I like to leave them in)

  • Add in the apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Bring just to a boil and then turn down to low to keep warm while serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @feedingyourfam or tag #feedingyourfam!

Other easy winter treats:

  • Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
  • English Toffee
  • Pecan Pie Bars

This Wassail Recipe is a delicious warm drink made up of apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Perfectly seasoned to warm you to the core.

The Best Wassail Recipe: So Easy - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

FAQs

Does wassail have to be refrigerated? ›

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make this in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to heat and enjoy. To Reheat: Use the microwave, stove, or slow cooker to reheat this hot wassail.

What is wassail drink made of? ›

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

What do you eat with wassail? ›

While wassail may not be a good food pairing, it is co*ckle-warming enjoyed by itself, or with dessert-type sweet fruit-based baked items, like apple pie, cherry tarts and maybe even beignets. Chocolate is not an ideal pairing, but could work depending on the sweetness level of the chocolate.

Where did wassail originate from? ›

The text of the carol employs noun and verb forms of “wassail,” a word derived from the Old Norse ves heil and the Old English was hál and meaning “be in good health” or “be fortunate.” The phrase found first use as a simple greeting, but the Danish-speaking inhabitants of England seem to have turned was hail, and the ...

Is wassail good for you? ›

Because wassail is made with fruit juices and spices such as cinnamon and ginger, it can be soothing for a cold, and may even be helpful in easing congestion.

What happens if you don't refrigerate cider? ›

All liquids should be refrigerated after opening, including apple cider. Bacteria are everywhere, and keeping things below 40 degrees F slows down their growth. Years ago, we made good use out of the bushels of apples from our farm, and used a converted Maytag washer, now a cider press, to make gallons of apple cider.

What drink is similar to wassail? ›

Mulled Cider – Wassail Punch

Wassail, a hot mulled citrusy punch, was the beverage of choice. There are very few differences between mulled cider and Wassail Punch. Both contain spices and some juice. One of the main differences is that mulled wine is often made with whole oranges.

What is traditionally drunk during the tradition of wassailing? ›

Traditionally, mulled cider is drunk on a wassail night. However, we haven't been to a wassail where this isn't every kind of cider under the sun. There's no better way to awaken the orchard than revelling in its previous fruits. Here are some of our favourites for your own wassail.

What is in Trader Joe's wassail? ›

A sweetened blend of black currant, apple, and lemon juices, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and orange peel, Trader Joe's Winter Wassail is a fruit punch whose flavors and aromas evoke the holidays. You can serve it chilled, over ice with bourbon; or warmed, in a big mug, with a cinnamon stick garnish.

What are the two types of wassailing? ›

The tradition of wassailing (alt sp wasselling) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail.

Why is it called wassail? ›

The word 'wassail' comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase 'waes hael', which means 'good health'. Originally, the wassail was a drink made of mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar. It was served from huge bowls, often made of silver or pewter.

What do you serve at a wassail party? ›

It's traditional to serve mulled cider and apple cake to celebrate wassail. I found a lovely recipe for a wassail cup in the Apple Source Book taken from Henrietta Green's Festive Food of England and there's a good recipe for Somerset cider cake in River Cottage Baking.

What is the spiritual meaning of wassailing? ›

What is wassailing? The purpose is to encourage the spirits into ensuring a good harvest the following season. It takes place on the twelfth night after Christmas and involves a visit to a nearby orchard for singing, dancing, drinking and general merrymaking.

What is wassailing mean in English? ›

wassail • \WAH-sul\ • verb. 1 : to indulge in riotous drinking : carouse 2 : (dialectal, England) to sing carols from house to house at Christmas 3 : to drink to the health or thriving of.

What is wassailing now known as? ›

“Love and joy come to you, and to you your wassail to; and God bless you and send you. a happy New Year.” The house-wassailing tradition has evolved into what we now recognise as carolling, where groups of people go from door-to-door singing Christmas carols.

How long can you leave cider unrefrigerated? ›

Since our cider is a raw product, refrigeration is a must. However, it will last 2-3 hours unrefrigerated, so long as it remains out of direct sunlight, just long enough for your car ride home. Once in the refrigerator, you can expect 2-3 weeks of shelf life. Our cider can also be frozen almost indefinitely.

Should mulled cider be refrigerated? ›

Optional add-in spices: You can add any combination of the following spices to make a more complex-tasting cider: 4 star anise pods, 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, or 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries. Storage: Leftover cider can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Does alcoholic cider go bad if not refrigerated? ›

Since hard cider is fermented, it doesn't have to be refrigerated once it is bottled or canned. However, there are a few guidelines to ensure that your hard cider stays fresh and delicious. The ideal storage temperature for hard cider is between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does mulled cider need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerated in a bottle with a closed cap. This mulled cider will last around 2 weeks, maybe longer but I'd stick to 2 weeks as it'll slowly start losing its fresh flavour the longer you leave it. Though always give it a smell before heating it up. If anything seems off, just throw it out.

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