There's not much more that gets me in the holiday spirit than a warm mug of Holiday Wassail! For those unfamiliar, Wassail is an apple cider-based punch that is closely related to mulled cider that starts with unfiltered apple cider and is then flavored with orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, fresh ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. It is served warm and is the perfect festive punch for your next holiday gathering!
This drink has deep roots in English culture, especially around Christmas time. It's tradition for communities to sing songs and stroll around their local apple orchards to bless the next year's harvest. The name itself is derived from the Old English term,"wes hál", meaning "be in good health", and is used as a greeting, a toast, and a blessing, much in the same way we use "cheers" today.
Wassail Ingredients
This recipe starts off with unfiltered apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice as the base. With whole apples, orange slices, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and ginger for additional flavoring. Then it is sweetened with some light brown and dark brown sugars. The last important ingredient is a pinch of kosher salt - this helps elevate all of the flavors in this punch.
All of the ingredients listed below are added to a large pot and simmered for an hour. Remove all of the solids, except for the orange slices, and allow to cool slightly to a drinkable temperature.
- Whole Apples
- Orange Slices
- Unfiltered Apple Cider
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Whole Colves
- Fresh Ginger
- Star Anise
- Light Brown Sugar
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Pinch of Kosher Salt
One of the best parts of this recipe is the aroma that fills the kitchen as it simmers. I'm only half-joking when I say that I want to bottle this smell! It's seriously one of my favorite parts of the holidays!
As always, these ingredients and amounts can all be adjusted to your individual taste. The recipe as written isn't overly sweet, which is something that I find more refreshing than something that has too much sugar in it. I'm a firm believer that the fresh lemon juice is crucial to providing enough tartness to balance everything out, so I recommend that you don't skip it.
Serving Suggestions
This is best served warm at holiday gatherings, ladled directly into a mug with a slice of orange in it.
I also prefer not to put any alcohol in the punch itself. This allows the whole family to enjoy it. My favorite way to make this an adult beverage is to serve the alcohol on the side and let your guests choose. I prefer to mix in an ounce or two of a strong bourbon or whiskey. Any bottled-in-bond or 100+ proof variety of Bourbon works very well!
Storing Wassil
If there are any leftovers (which is a rarity, I must say), let them cool completely, and then transfer them to mason jars or any other container that seals tightly. This will last in the fridge for about a week.
Reheating is as simple as adding it back to a pot on the stovetop, bringing it up to a light simmer, and serving it warm.
For more entertaining dishes and inspiration, go check out all of my Entertaining Recipes here!
Give this recipe for Holiday Wassail a try, and let me know in the comments below if you like it as much as my family and I do! If you enjoyed this, don't forget to leave a rating as well. I really enjoy reading all of your comments!
Did you make this recipe for Holiday Wassail?
Let me know in the comments below how yours turned out, and don't forget to leave a rating!
Recipe
Holiday Wassail
Equipment
- Large Dutch Oven or Pot
- Ladle for Serving
Ingredients
- 8 Cups Unfiltered Apple Cider
- 1 ½ Cups Orange Juice
- ¼ Cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice Juice from Approximately 1 Lemon
- 2 Whole Apples Any semi-sweet variety like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp will do well.
- 1 Orange Sliced Into ¼-inch Slices
- 4 Cinnamon Sticks
- 6 Cloves
- 1 Star Anise
- 1 2-Inch Piece of Fresh Ginger Cut Into 3 Pieces (Unpeeled)
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
- Pinch Kosher Salt
- 100 Proof Bourbon or Whiskey Optional
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or pot, add the apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, ginger, both sugars, and a pinch of kosher salt, stirring to combine.
- Pro Tip: Poke the cloves into the whole apples to make retrieving them easier later.
- Heat over medium-high heat until simmering, stirring frequently to ensure the sugar doesn't stick to the bottom and scorch.
- Partially cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from the heat and discard the spices and whole apples, leaving the orange slices. Serve warm with orange slices from the pot (if desired).
- Garnish with apple slices, cinnamon sticks, or star anise pods.
- To make this an adult version, add an ounce or two of 100-proof bourbon or whiskey!
Paula says
We have used this recipe and it is delicious! We love to hear the ooo's and ahhhh's when our friends and family drink it! You don't have to wait until Christmas to enjoy this yummy beverage!