This winter wassail drink is warm, cozy, and has all the flavors of the holiday season. A homemade knockoff of the store-bought Trader Joe’s version, this recipe uses cranberry instead of blackcurrant and omits the citrus. Tart, a little bit sweet, and spiced with cinnamon and cloves, it’s a delicious mocktail for wrapping Christmas presents.
What is Wassail?
I’m just going to go ahead and apologize if the term “wassail” refers specifically to the warm and cozy drink filled with pineapple and orange juice. I’m not sure if there are any dedicated wassail-ists out there who will be highly offended by me referring to this recipe with the same name. People can get really intense about their holiday traditions!
To me, wassail is any warm, spiced drink that you have at Christmas parties that usually contains apples and cinnamon. Back in the day I was once a “ballerina”, which is sort of how ballet became my favorite form of vestibular therapy. Every year my ballet studio would host a Nutcracker party, where everyone’s parents and 13 year old boyfriends (of which I did not have because no one remotely fancied me in high school) would show up and cheer us on. Afterwards we all indulged in treats our families brought, and my ballet teacher’s famous wassail.
My mom loves wassail too. She usually makes entirely too much and force feeds me and my husband large mugs of it every year. We started to get wise and spike it with rum. Once my Vestibular Migraine hit though, I had a tough time drinking large amounts of citrus…and rum. Orange juice is particularly rough. I just figured I could never have wassail again, until another reader asked about something festive to drink while wrapping Christmas presents.
Ingredients
Not only did my house smell fantastic, but this winter wassail recipe is so easy. It tastes very much like the traditional version you might be used to, and similar to the winter wassail from Trader Joe’s. Cinnamon and cloves give a hint of holiday spice to the tart cranberry flavor that’s mellowed with the sweetness of apple juice.
I used Central Market’s brand of Honeycrisp Apple Juice. Whole Foods has a good one or any brand without added ingredients or sugar. I used my crockpot, but you can easily do this on the stovetop as well.
Other Mocktail Recipes
For other holiday drinks and mocktail recipes check these out.
Fizzy Cranberry Mocktail
Strawberry and Ginger Spritzer
Pear Nojito
Homemade Winter Wassail
Ingredients
- 3 cups honeycrisp apple juice (nothing added)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (nothing added)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1-2 apples, sliced (1 if large and 2 if smaller)
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in your crockpot and set the temperature for low and time for 3 hours. After 3 hours, either keep on warm or strain the apples, sticks, and cloves out of the mixture and serve.
Notes
- You can also make this on the stove top by simmering for about 30-40 minutes until fragrant.
- If this recipe is too tart for you, add more sweetness with apple juice or honey to balance it.
Nutrition
Homemade Winter Wassail
Ingredients
- 3 cups honeycrisp apple juice (nothing added)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (nothing added)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1-2 apples, sliced (1 if large and 2 if smaller)
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in your crockpot and set the temperature for low and time for 3 hours. After 3 hours, either keep on warm or strain the apples, sticks, and cloves out of the mixture and serve.
Notes
- You can also make this on the stove top by simmering for about 30-40 minutes until fragrant.
- If this recipe is too tart for you, add more sweetness with apple juice or honey to balance it.
This was so yummy! Such a nice and cozy drink that we all enjoyed on Christmas Eve!
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.
Thanks, Molly!! So glad you guys loved it.