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Cozy Slow Cooker Christmas Morning Wassail: Easy 5-Ingredient Recipe

cozy slow cooker Christmas morning wassail - featured image
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A warm, spiced drink simmering in the slow cooker that fills the house with cinnamon, citrus, and sweetness. Perfect for Christmas morning, this easy 5-ingredient wassail is kid-friendly, make-ahead, and sets the tone for a cozy holiday.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider (unfiltered, such as Martinelli’s or local orchard brand)
  • 4 cups cranberry juice (100% juice, not cocktail blend)
  • 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
  • 4 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 large orange (washed, sliced into rounds)
  • 5 whole cloves (optional, pushed into orange slices)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare your slow cooker: rinse and dry the insert.
  2. Pour in 8 cups apple cider and 4 cups cranberry juice; stir to combine.
  3. Add 1/2 cup honey (it will sink to the bottom).
  4. Wash and slice the orange into 1/4-inch rounds. If using cloves, poke them into the orange slices.
  5. Add cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and optional star anise to the slow cooker.
  6. Stir everything together to dissolve the honey.
  7. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. (For overnight, use LOW.)
  8. After 1 hour, taste and adjust sweetness or spice as desired.
  9. Serve warm, ladling into mugs with a cinnamon stick or orange slice for garnish.
  10. Keep the slow cooker on WARM or LOW while serving.

Notes

Toast cinnamon sticks in a dry skillet for 30 seconds for extra depth. Make ahead: prepare up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate; reheat on LOW. For a spiked version, add 1 cup dark rum or bourbon after removing for kids. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve if you prefer a smooth drink. Warn guests about whole cloves in orange slices.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker, Christmas, holiday drink, apple cider, cranberry juice, cinnamon, orange, 5 ingredients

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/cozy-slow-cooker-christmas-morning-wassail-easy-5-ingredient-recipe/