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Cozy Slow Cooker Wassail with Cranberry and Orange

slow cooker wassail with cranberry and orange - featured image
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A warm, spiced wassail made with apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange, slow-cooked to perfection. This easy, crowd-pleasing drink fills your home with a cozy winter aroma and offers a perfect balance of tart and sweet.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 64 oz (8 cups) apple cider
  • 2 cups 100% cranberry juice
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries (plus more for garnish)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), sliced into thin rounds

Instructions

  1. Prepare the slow cooker: Plug in your slow cooker and set it to low. Rinse the insert if needed.
  2. Combine the liquids: Pour the apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice into the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Add the sweeteners: Add the brown sugar and honey. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
  4. Add the spices: Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole allspice berries. Optionally, tie them in a cheesecloth bundle.
  5. Add the fruit garnishes: Scatter the fresh cranberries, orange slices, and apple slices on top.
  6. Cook on low: Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, until piping hot and spices have infused.
  7. Taste and adjust: After 3 hours, taste and adjust sweetness or spice as needed. Add more honey or apple cider if desired.
  8. Strain (optional): For a crowd, strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean punch bowl or slow cooker insert to remove spices and fruit.
  9. Keep warm: Switch the slow cooker to the ‘warm’ setting and keep hot for up to 4 more hours, stirring occasionally.
  10. Serve and garnish: Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh orange slices and cranberries.

Notes

For deeper flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes before adding. Do not use ground spices as they will make the wassail cloudy and bitter. The wassail can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, slow cooker, cranberry, orange, apple cider, holiday drink, mulled cider, winter beverage

Find it online: https://lindabake.com/cozy-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cranberry-and-orange/