Spiced Wassail

Warm up your winter nights with a steaming mug of Spiced Wassail, a soul-soothing holiday drink brimming with seasonal flavors. This festive recipe combines tangy apple cider, bright orange and pineapple juices, and a symphony of warming spices, including cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and fresh ginger. Infused with slices of orange and lemon, this traditional wassail is simmered gently to create a cozy, aromatic beverage that’s perfect for holiday parties or quiet nights by the fire. Customize it with a splash of rum or bourbon for an adult twist, or serve it alcohol-free to delight guests of all ages. Simple to prepare and simmered to perfection in just 30 minutes, Spiced Wassail is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, offering a fragrant, festive way to toast the season.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 8 cups Apple cider
• 2 cups Orange juice
• 1 cup Pineapple juice
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar
• 3 sticks Cinnamon sticks
• 6 cloves Whole cloves
• 6 berries Whole allspice
• 2 pods Star anise
• 1 inch piece, sliced Fresh ginger
• 1 sliced Orange
• 1 sliced Lemon
• 2 cups Water
• 1 cup (optional) Optional rum or bourbon

Directions

Step 1

In a large stockpot or slow cooker, pour in the apple cider, orange juice, pineapple juice, and water.

Step 2

Add the brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, star anise, and sliced ginger to the pot.

Step 3

Slice the orange and lemon into thin rounds and add them to the mixture.

Step 4

Stir to combine, then heat the wassail over medium heat until it just starts to simmer. Do not boil.

Step 5

Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for 20-30 minutes to allow the spices to infuse into the liquid.

Step 6

Taste the wassail and adjust sweetness or spice levels as needed (you can add more brown sugar for extra sweetness).

Step 7

If desired, add the rum or bourbon and stir just before serving. Do not heat the alcohol too much as it can evaporate.

Step 8

Strain the wassail through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the spices and citrus slices before serving, if preferred.

Step 9

Serve warm in mugs, garnished with a cinnamon stick or an orange slice for a festive touch.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2304.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1668.6

Total Fat 4.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.8g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 95.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 275.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.5g	0%
Total Sugars 227.8g
Protein 4.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 343.9mg	0%
Iron 7.1mg	0%
Potassium 2313.2mg	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: 3.5%

Protein: 1.6%

Carbs: 95.0%