Christmas Wassail

Warm your home with the festive aroma of Christmas Wassail, a cozy holiday punch that’s as inviting as it is flavorful. This traditional recipe combines fruity apple cider, tangy orange juice, and tart cranberry juice with a medley of warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise for a perfectly spiced sip. Sweetened with just a touch of brown sugar and infused with fresh ginger, this seasonal drink is simmered to cozy perfection in under an hour. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it can be served as a family-friendly treat or elevated with a splash of rum or brandy for adult festivities. Garnish with fresh apple and orange slices for a festive touch, and enjoy this timeless beverage that’s sure to become a holiday favorite. Keywords: Christmas Wassail, holiday punch, warm spiced drink, apple cider recipe, festive drinks.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 8 cups Apple cider
• 2 cups Orange juice
• 1 cup Cranberry juice
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar
• 8 Whole cloves
• 3 Cinnamon sticks
• 1 Star anise
• 1 inch piece Fresh ginger (sliced)
• 1 Apple (sliced for garnish, optional)
• 1 Orange (sliced for garnish, optional)
• 0.5 cup Rum or brandy (optional, for adults)

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the apple cider, orange juice, cranberry juice, and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Step 2

Add the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and sliced ginger to the pot.

Step 3

Place the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 30–45 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 4

Taste the wassail and adjust sweetness, if desired, by adding more brown sugar to taste.

Step 5

If using alcohol, stir in the rum or brandy just before serving. Do not let it boil after adding alcohol.

Step 6

Strain the wassail through a fine mesh sieve to remove the spices and ginger slices before serving.

Step 7

Serve the wassail warm in mugs or heatproof glasses. Garnish with slices of apple or orange, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2536.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1550.1

Total Fat 6.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 1.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 147.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 314.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.5g	0%
Total Sugars 246.2g
Protein 4.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 430.6mg	0%
Iron 7.5mg	0%
Potassium 2731.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 4.5%

Protein: 1.4%

Carbs: 94.1%