Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail Spiced Apple Cider
A warm, spiced apple cider made in the slow cooker with apple cider, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, and whole spices. Perfect for holiday gatherings and cozy nights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups apple cider
- 1 ½ cups orange juice
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1 large orange, washed and sliced into rounds
- 1 apple, cored and sliced
- Optional: ¼ cup brandy or rum
Instructions
- Place the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice berries in a piece of cheesecloth or a muslin bag. Tie it up securely with kitchen twine.
- Wash the orange well and cut it into thin rounds, about ¼-inch thick. Core the apple and slice it into similar-sized rounds.
- Pour the apple cider and orange juice into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the honey and brown sugar. Drop in the spice bundle and arrange the orange and apple slices on top. Stir gently with a wooden spoon.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, taste the cider. If the spice flavor is strong enough, remove the spice bundle. If you want it stronger, let it cook another 30 minutes, then remove the bundle.
- If using alcohol, stir in the brandy or rum now.
- Ladle the cider into mugs, including a slice of orange or apple in each cup. Serve warm.
Notes
Don’t boil the cider; use whole spices for best flavor. The cider can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 5 days. For a party, keep the slow cooker on warm for up to 6 hours, but remove the spice bundle after 4 hours. The cider freezes well for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 15
- Carbohydrates: 44
Keywords: slow cooker wassail, spiced apple cider, holiday drink, Christmas cider, slow cooker cider