This is the most amazing hot wassail drink I’ve ever had! Easy to make and full of delicious spices, this wassail will soon be a holiday favorite in your house!
Last year, I was put in charge of my church’s Christmas party. Um, yeah. I was basically freaking out about the responsibility. It was SO much work! (I still have no clue why they asked me of all people to do it…) But it all turned out beautifully! We had a horse and carriage ride, outdoor games, yummy catered food, great entertainment and of course, the jolly man himself came too!
I had asked a friend to bring a couple gallons of a warm drink for people to sip on during the carriage rides and she brought this very recipe for the Best Ever Hot Wassail Recipe. I love hot cider drinks but had never made any myself before.
When I tasted it, I was in love. Yummiest drink ever! It just screams Christmas! When I got the Best Ever Hot Wassail Recipe, I made it like 100 times right away. It makes your house smell amazing, too. It’s very easy to make and if the recipe is too big, it’s easy to half. It warms you up and seriously is the most delicious wassail I’ve ever had! Try it this holiday season and see for yourself! Pretty sure it will turn into a family favorite..
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 12 whole cloves or 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pan.
- Bring to simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat and continue simmering for 45 minutes. Ladle into cups or mugs and enjoy!
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yum! this looks so amazing. love warm drinks in the winter 🙂
— jackie @ jade and oak
I haven’t heard of wassail before, but it sounds great! I’m going to have to try this.
Stopping by from Link Party Palooza and pinned Horchata and the wassail, which I will be trying both soon!
I know why they put you in charge! I know you did a wonderful job 🙂 I would love to warm up with a big mug of this by the fireplace this winter!
I’ve never tried wassail, but I’m seeing it everywhere! Sounds like something I need to try this year for sure!!
I knew about wassailing (caroling), but I didn’t know there was a drink called wassail. This looks good. I’ll have to try it.
This sounds so delicious! I have some apple cider in my fridge that I was going to heat up with some cinnamon sticks, but this sounds so much better:)
This recipe is exactly like the one my dad used to make when I was a girl, except he took all the spices, including the cinnamon sticks, and placed them in a cheese cloth, tied them inside and put it in 4 cups of water with 2 1/2 cups of sugar. Heat the water enough to dissolve the sugar. This simple sugar was infused with the cheese cloth filled with the spices. Refrigerate over night, then add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. Enjoy. 🙂
Lemon juice or lemonade? That sounds really lemony.
I recently remade this and used fresh lemon juice and it was amazing! You can definitely use lemonade too. If you’re thinking 1/2 cup is too much, you can bump the fresh lemon juice down to 1/4 cup. It needs that acidity in there from the lemons to boost the flavor. Enjoy!!
my favorite recipe I have used for 40 years is the one with lemon juice. This is the BEST RECIPE
Love this recipe! I have been making this wonderful winter drink starting in early November for years. The only difference is I combine the cinnamon sticks, cloves and ginger into a cheese cloth and let it steep in the sugar and water for an hour before adding the apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. I rarely have individual mugs with a cinnamon stick because the recipe makes a very large batch and if each mug had a cinnamon stick it can get expensive. Cinnamon sticks are not cheap.
Can I make this in a slow cooker? If so, how long should I let it simmer?
I would say on low for 4 hours? Let me know if you make it and how it turns out!
I made it in the crock pot last year and my family raved over it. It makes the house smell like Fall and/or Christmas. I like being able to keep it hot throughout the day or night so it’s ready whenever someone comes in out of the cold. I’m making it this weekend for a Fall party.
I’m so happy you liked it!! I’m making it this weekend, too! It’s going to rain all day today so hot wassail is on the menu. 🙂
I find it too tart how do I cut that.
Add more OJ and apple cider! Sometimes the lemon juice adds a little too much tartness.
Easy hope no ones allergic
Excellent!
Putting together my Christmas party ideas and recipes.. this Wassail seems easy and sounds delicious! Thank you
I love wassail! I make it for my kids every year. Best holiday drink! I tried this recipe, because I couldn’t find my old one. I cut the lemon juice in half and added a 12 oz bag of whole fresh cranberries. It adds another layer of flavor and some additional tartness. Turned out amazing!
PSA: if you do add cranberries, keep your distance! The skins burst as the wassail heats up and they can squirt hot liquid at you.
I served it to two classrooms of early childhood educators. They loved it and asked me for the recipe.
Yay!! Thank you so much!