This easy wassail recipe is the perfect addition to a hay ride, trick or treating, or snuggling up with a movie. Classic Wassail, also known as spiced cider, is made with simple ingredients to produce a fragrant, hot spiced apple drink.
What Is Wassail?
Wassail is a juice that is warmed with spices – usually a mixture of orange and apple juice spiced with cinnamon, clove, allspice, and nutmeg. The name comes from an ancient tradition of the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘waes hael’, which means ‘good health’. It was served from huge bowls that could hold many gallons of liquid. These were served at large gathering and were a way of wishing well. Nowadays, wassail, or spiced cider as it if often called are enjoyed in the fall or winter months.
What Is In Wassail?
You’ll need the following to make this easy wassail recipe:
- apple juice, or apple cider
- frozen orange juice concentrate
- brown sugar
- cinnamon sticks
- allspice, whole
- cloves, whole
- nutmeg, whole
- sliced oranges
How Do I Make Wassail?
- Use a large piece of cheesecloth to wrap whole spices. Alternately, you can use a fine mesh strainer to strain after steeping.
- Pour apple juice into your pressure cooker, slow cooker, or a large pot.
- Add orange juice concentrate.
- To your pot, add brown sugar.
- Pour in sliced oranges.
- Add spices in a cheesecloth.
- Steep. See Recipe Card for steeping options.
What’s The Difference Between Mulled Cider & Wassail?
The short answer is NOTHING! Both mulled cider and wassail refer to a spiced juice drink. While wassail is traditionally a warm spiced apple drink, other mulled ciders contain cranberry or other flavors. If you haven’t already – check out our Cranberry Spiced Cider Recipe. It will knock your socks off and you’ll be set for winter with these two delicious hot drinks.
Instructional Video
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This warm spiced cider, also known as wassail, is the perfect beverage for a crisp fall evening.
- 1 Gallon Apple Juice or Apple Cider
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 2 tsp whole allspice
- 3 sticks cinnamon
- 2 whole nutmeg
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Tie Spices into a large piece of cheesecloth. Alternately, you can pour liquid thru a fine mesh strainer after steeping.
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Mix apple juice, orange juice concentrate and sugar in a large pot.
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Add orange slices and spices, stir to combine.
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Heat just to boiling, the reduce to low and steep 1 hour.
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Refrigerate any leftovers.
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Tie Spices into a large piece of cheesecloth. Alternately, you can pour liquid thru a fine mesh strainer after steeping.
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Mix apple juice, orange juice concentrate and sugar into a 6qt or larger electric pressure cooker.
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Add orange slices and spices, stir to combine.
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Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow a 10 minute natural release before quick releasing the rest of the steam.
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Serve immediately.
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Tie Spices into a large piece of cheesecloth. Alternately, you can pour liquid thru a fine mesh strainer after steeping.
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Mix apple juice, orange juice concentrate and sugar into a 5qt or larger slow cooker.
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Add orange slices and spices, stir to combine.
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Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
Recipe Video
When using a pressure cooker for this recipe, the time it will take for the pot to pressurize will take about 20-30 minutes.
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