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Cozy Crockpot Wassail: Easy Spiced Cider Punch Recipe

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A warm and festive spiced cider punch made in the slow cooker with apple cider, orange juice, and aromatic spices. This easy crockpot wassail fills your home with holiday aromas and is perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 64 ounces apple cider
  • 2 cups orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 2–3 lemons)
  • 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple, sliced into thin rounds (optional for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep your spice bag. Cut a square of cheesecloth about 8×8 inches. Place the cinnamon sticks (break them in half if they’re long), whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise in the center. Gather the corners and tie it up with kitchen twine. If you’re using a muslin bag, just drop everything in and close it up.
  2. Pour the liquids. Add the apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice to your crockpot. Don’t stir yet—we’ll do that after everything’s in.
  3. Add the sweetener. Drizzle in the honey or maple syrup. If your honey is thick and stubborn, microwave it for 10 seconds to loosen it up before adding.
  4. Drop in the fruit slices. Arrange the orange, lemon, and apple slices on top of the liquid. They’ll float around and that’s totally fine—they’re there for flavor and visual appeal.
  5. Submerge the spice bag. Gently push the spice bag down into the liquid so it’s mostly covered. Don’t worry if a corner sticks out; the heat will circulate just fine.
  6. Set it and forget it. Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 1.5-2 hours. The longer it goes, the more the flavors meld together. I prefer LOW for at least 3 hours—the result is deeper and more cohesive.
  7. Check the sweetness. After about 2 hours, give it a taste. This is your chance to adjust—add more honey if you want it sweeter, or a squeeze of extra lemon if it’s too sweet for your liking.
  8. Remove the spice bag. Once it’s done, fish out the spice bag with tongs and discard it. You can leave the fruit slices in for garnish or remove them if they’ve gotten too soft.
  9. Serve warm. Ladle into mugs and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick or a thin apple slice if you’re feeling extra. The punch will stay warm on the WARM setting for hours.

Notes

Don’t let the wassail boil; boiling can make the citrus turn bitter and the spices overwhelming. For a deeper flavor, toast the whole spices in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding. This wassail tastes even better the next day—make it ahead and reheat gently. For a spiked version, add 1 cup of bourbon, dark rum, or brandy during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot wassail, spiced cider punch, slow cooker wassail, holiday punch, warm cider drink, Christmas punch, easy wassail recipe

Find it online: https://lemonydrinks.com/cozy-crockpot-wassail-easy-spiced-cider-punch-recipe/