Winter Wassail
I love Wassail and there are a few ways to make it, each with its own unique flavors. We went over to our neighbors house for Christmas Eve and right when we walked in the door we were smacked in the face with this heavenly smell. She was making Wassail! I really had forgotten all about Wassail for a minute until I had a hot cup of it.
This version is made non-alcoholic and is packed with flavor and notes of spices. I added some ingredients that are found here Wyoming and turned it into a winter Wassail.
Grab a big ol’ pot and let’s get started!
**NOTE! You can make this in the crockpot! Follow the instructions as below and cook on low 6 hours. Then strain.
Ingredients
- 8 cups of unfiltered apple juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- 4 cups of water
- 6 cups of unsweetened cranberry juice (you can adjust this to less if you do not like too much cranberry)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star of anise
- 1 orange, poked with holes
- A sprig of pine (yes from the tree! And optional)
- A sprig of juniper berries (also optional)
- Put the apple juice, cider, cranberry juice, water and brown sugar in a pot.
- Add the cloves, orange, pine, juniper berries, cinnamon sticks and star anise to the pot.
- Bring a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Then let cook on low for an hour or two. Turn off the heat and let cook.
- Remove the spices and strain into a pitcher.
- This can be served hot or chilled.
** please note that the color of your Wassail may differ due to different brand of juices or if you add more or less of one or the other!
Are you sure the wassail recipe is right? Mine looks nothing like yours and I followed it to the tee…6 cups of cranberry??? That’s a TON of cranberry. Can you please help me understand what I did wrong???? I don’t seem to have an opinion for a photo, but took one anyway.
Thanks!
Hi Jaimi! Can you tell me what it looks like? Is it just the color that’s different? Does it taste off?? You can adjust the cranberry if that is too much for your liking. I just made a second batch yesterday and the color of mine is different from the picture because of the apple juice I had to buy. But 6 cups is correct, it will make a ton of juice and when simmered will usually concentrate a little!