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Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail Spiced Apple Cider

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This cozy slow cooker wassail spiced apple cider is the perfect winter drink—not too sweet, not too spicy, and made with simple ingredients. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer for hours, filling your home with holiday fragrance.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider (not apple juice)
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 2–3 oranges)
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
  • 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 whole nutmeg, cracked (or 1 teaspoon ground)
  • 3–4 star anise pods (optional)
  • Orange slices (for garnish)
  • Apple slices (for garnish)
  • Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
  • Extra cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the spices: Place the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, cracked nutmeg, and star anise in a piece of cheesecloth. Tie it closed with kitchen twine or a clean rubber band. If using a tea infuser, load it up. Alternatively, you can toss them in loose and strain later.
  2. Juice the citrus: Roll oranges and lemons on the counter before cutting. Cut them in half and juice them to get 1 cup of orange juice and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Strain out any seeds.
  3. Combine everything in the slow cooker: Pour the apple cider into the slow cooker. Add the fresh orange juice, fresh lemon juice, and honey or maple syrup. Drop in the spice bundle (or loose spices). Give it a quick stir.
  4. Set it and forget it: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors meld together.
  5. Check the sweetness: At the 3-hour mark, taste the cider. If you want it sweeter, add another tablespoon of honey. If it’s too sweet, add a splash more lemon juice.
  6. Prepare the garnishes: While the cider simmers, slice oranges and apples into thin rounds. Rinse cranberries if using. Optionally, toast extra cinnamon sticks in a dry pan for 30 seconds.
  7. Serve: Remove the spice bundle with tongs or use a slotted spoon to fish out any loose spices. Ladle the hot wassail into mugs. Float an orange slice and a few cranberries on top. Add a cinnamon stick as a stirrer. Serve warm.

Notes

Don’t boil the cider; it will lose flavor. Whole spices are preferred over ground to avoid cloudiness and grit. Taste the cider before adding sweetener, as sweetness varies by brand. For a spiked version, add 1 cup of dark rum, bourbon, or brandy after simmering. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker wassail, spiced apple cider, wassail recipe, apple cider, holiday drink, winter beverage, slow cooker drink

Find it online: https://platebelle.com/cozy-slow-cooker-wassail-spiced-apple-cider-easy-homemade-recipe/