This winter wassail drink is warm, cozy, and has all the flavors of the holiday season. A homemade version of the one sold at Trader Joe's, this crock-pot wassail recipe uses cider and cranberry instead of blackcurrant, and is made without orange juice. It's also non-alcoholic!
Tart, a little bit sweet, and spiced with cinnamon and cloves, it's a delicious Christmas mocktail that's perfect for driving around and looking at Christmas lights or wrapping presents.
The best part about this winter wassail is it makes your home smell amazing! Just pop it into the crock pot and you have warm drink to serve at a party, or just enjoy at home.
I recommend serving this winter wassail punch with a delicious holiday dinner like Boursin Pasta, Chicken in Puff Pastry, or a hearty Pot Roast. It also goes well with holiday sweets like Rosette cookies or Snickerdoodle Blondies.
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What is Wassail?
Ever heard the song lyrics "here we come a-wassailing"? The term wassail actually means "good health" and refers to a spiced apple cider drink that typically contains orange juice and some kind of liquor.
It's one that I've had often at Christmas parties when I was young, especially during The Nutcracker season, where it was the drink that was a staple year after year for all the kids.
Now that I'm older, I not only love the way it makes my home smell, but also love that it's just a great non-alcoholic Christmas drink that the whole family can enjoy.
You'll love this homemade wassail because:
- Easy - Made with simple ingredients that are just put in a slow cooker and warmed till ready!
- Non-alcoholic - This is a warm Christmas mocktail that the whole family can enjoy.
- Citrus-free - For those that find citrus to be a little too acidic or following a migraine diet, this is a great substitute.
- Homemade - Yes, you can buy this at Trader Joe's, but it won't make your house smell amazing, nor will the flavors be as fresh and vibrant. It really does taste so much better!
Making Wassail in a Crock-Pot
I love the method of making this winter wassail in the crockpot because it's really hands off, allows the flavors to combine, and only takes about 3 hours on low. It's one of those recipes you can put on at lunch or in the morning and keep warm all day.
If you want to double this recipe for a crowd, it works well in a 6 quart crock pot, but a small slow cooker would work for the recipe as written.
Ingredients
- Apple juice - I prefer to use honeycrisp apple juice if you can find it. It's the perfect amount of sweet and tart. But any type of apple juice will do in a pinch. C
- Cranberry juice - Try to find one without any added sugar. I've also used tart cherry juice instead of cranberry and it is DELICIOUS! Pomegranate juice is another sub that would work as well.
- Cinnamon sticks - These infuse the winter wassail with cinnamon flavor.
- Cloves - Whole cloves can be found at most grocery stores, especially in the bulk spice section. I usually just let them float around and then strain them out, but you could put them into a tea strainer or press them into apple slices to keep them in one place.
- Apples and cranberries - These are mostly decorative, but add a bit of extra flavor!
- Honey - Omit this if using sweetened juices, but if you find cranberry juice to be too tart, this takes it down a notch.
How to Make
- Add in juices - Combine the apple cider and cranberry juice.
- Add in spices - Add in the apples, cranberries, cinnamon, and cloves, plus honey if using.
- Stir and cook - Cook on low heat for about 3 hours. Strain the spices and fruit out, and serve!
Serving Suggestions
This recipe makes about 6 servings of winter wassail if using 8oz mugs. The recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a party, just add an extra hour or two for the cooking time.
Because wassail is strongly flavored and can be sweet, a small amount goes a long way! Pair this with savory foods like a cheeseboard, Boursin Pasta, Chicken in Puff Pastry, Quiche Florentine, or a hearty Pot Roast.
I personally love it as a warm non-alcoholic drink to sip on while opening or wrapping presents or driving around looking at Christmas lights.
Storage and Reheating
To Store - Keep wassail in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Sometimes I like to use the empty glass bottles from the juices to store!
To Reheat - Use the microwave, stove, or slow cooker to reheat to the desired temperature.
Recipe FAQ
I've made this with tart cherry juice and it was so delicious, I would put it in the recipe but I think it's harder to find than cranberry. Pomegranate juice will also work!
Yes! Non-alcoholic wassail is just as delicious and still has all those strong apple and cinnamon flavors. Plus you can drive around with it while looking at Christmas decorations!
I think this winter wassail is best warm, but it could definitely work chilled, especially as a base for a cocktail or mocktail. Add in some ginger beer or sparkling cider in a coupe glass to make it fancy.
More Holiday Recipes
For more warm drinks like this winter wassail, don't miss my Cinnamon Milk and Rooibos Latte.
If you make this, tag me #thedizzycook or @thedizzycook on Facebook and Instagram. And if you love the recipe, please leave a review below! Follow along on my Pinterest for more great recipes.
Winter Wassail
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 3 cups honeycrisp apple juice (nothing added) or apple cider (non-alcoholic)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (nothing added) or tart cherry juice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 honeycrisp or gala apple, sliced (1 if large and 2 if smaller)
- ⅓ cup fresh cranberries
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and set the temperature for low and time for 3 hours. After 3 hours, either keep on warm or strain the apples, cinnamon sticks, and cloves out of the mixture and serve.
- If mixture is too tart for your taste, mix in honey to sweeten.
Notes
- You can also make this on the stove top by simmering on low, covered, for about 30-40 minutes until fragrant.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks or fresh rosemary for a festive look.
Christina L Carlton says
I was really hoping it was going to be a copy cat version of Trader Joe's recipe with the black currants. But I'll certainly give it a try.
Emily says
Love! I used this as my mocktail for thanksgiving and Christmas. Very festive
Stacy says
This was so yummy! Such a nice and cozy drink that we all enjoyed on Christmas Eve!
Molly says
Made this wassail for Christmas. The entire pot disappeared! It had the right amount of spice and flavors. Perfect drink for a winter day! I’ll be making it again for sure.
Alicia says
Thanks, Molly!! So glad you guys loved it.