Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

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Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe– Aslow-cooked mulled ciderwith an enchanting deep and fruity flavor. This is a special autumn treat for parties or family game night!

Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (1)

Hot Cider

This fragrantSlow Cooker Cider Wassail Recipewill usher you into the spirit of fall in no time.

The first time I ever tasted wassail was at an old-fashioned village festival in 1986.

It was a chilly fall day. I was walking through the streets with my parents, taking in the local scenery. Everywhere I looked there were artisans dressed in turn-of-the-century garb carving soap bars, blowing glass ornaments, and throwing pottery.

Then behind me, I heard a man cry out, “Hot Waaaaaaaas-sailllllll!”

When I turned to see where the voice was coming from, the most intoxicating aroma of sweet spicy apples brushed past me.

There was only one thought in my mind.I must have that.

I pulled my parents toward a wooden street cart with a large black cauldron nestled in it, and looked up at them longingly.

The moment the hot wassail touched my lips, a wave of calming delight washed over me and warmed me to my toes.

At that moment,nothinghad ever tasted so good.

Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (2)

Wassail Recipe

My family walked through the village with warm hands from our wassail mugs, lifted spirits, and a lasting memory of sweet mulled cider wassail recipe.

This Slow Cooker Cider Wassail recipe is just the thing to warm your body and brighten your mood!

What exactly is Wassail?

It’s asweet and spicy mulled cidermade with apple cider, orange juice, hibiscus tea, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, juniper berries, and fresh fruit.

This wassail recipesimmers in a slow cookeruntil ready to serve and is always a hit with friends and family.

You can even make your wassail several days ahead and rewarm it for guests.

This is one of my absolute favorite slow cooker apple cider recipes because you simply can’t drink it without smiling.

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How To Make Hot Apple Cider Wassail

Ingredients

  • Apple Cider
  • Orange Juice
  • Hibiscus Tea Bags
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Whole Cloves (or nutmeg)
  • Juniper Berries
  • Fresh Ginger (cut into slices)
  • An Apple (sliced into rounds)
  • An Orange (sliced into rounds)

Instructions

This recipe is just as easy as counting to one, two, three…

  1. Slice the fruit. Then place all ingredients in your crock pot. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.
  2. Turn on your slow cooker to the high heat option, and let all the ingredientssimmer for 3 to 4 hours or until the fruit has become soft.
  3. Remove the tea bags from the slow cooker.
  4. Then serve your beverage warm or hot with a ladle. Garnish with your apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, or even some cranberries/allspice berries. Enjoy!

See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (4)

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does wassail mean?

It is an homage of wishing good health to a person by presenting them a cup of wassail. Sipping and sharing wassail is a historic tradition that pairs with caroling and Christmas home visits. Caroling is often called wassailing. You can also drink this on New Year’s Eve to wish good health over the next year.

Can I use ground cinnamon instead of cinnamon sticks? How much?

Yes, you can. Although, cinnamon sticks are traditional served in each mug of wassail, you can use 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, in place of cinnamon sticks.

Can I use ground clove? How much?

Use one large pinch of ground clove instead of whole cloves.

Can I make wassail in an instant pot or on the stove?

Absolutely! Warm on low heat for 2-3 hours. If it starts to simmer, lower the heat. You can do this in the Instant Pot as well, on the sauté setting, but it’s easier to control the heat on the stovetop.

How long does this hot mulled cider last in the fridge?

This hot cider wassail can last in the fridge for4 to 5 days, that is, if you don’t end up drinking it all.

Can I make this holiday drink spiked?

You can add alcohol to your traditional wassail recipe to spice it up. Add in your favorite brandy, bourbon, or rum to make a wassail co*cktail!

Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (5)

More Hot Beverages

Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, sodium, fiber, and sugar percentages.

Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (6)

Print Recipe

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Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

This fragrant Slow Cooker Cider Wassail Recipe will usher you into the spirit of fall in no time. A slow cooked mulled cider with an enchanting deep and fruity sweetness. A special autumn treat for parties or family game night!

Servings: 12

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

  • 1 gallon Musselman’s Apple Cider
  • 4 cups orange juice
  • 4 hibiscus tea bags
  • 10 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 tablespoon juniper berries
  • 1 1/2 inch fresh ginger piece, cut into slices
  • 1 apple, sliced into rounds
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cover.

  • Turn the slow cooker on high heat and cook for 3-4 hours, until the color has darkened and the fruit is soft. Remove the tea bags and serve hot.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 536mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 39g, Vitamin A: 205IU, Vitamin C: 50.8mg, Calcium: 69mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between mulled cider and wassail? ›

There are very few differences between mulled cider and Wassail Punch. Both contain spices and some juice. One of the main differences is that mulled wine is often made with whole oranges. However, Wassail is traditionally made with apple juice.

Can you heat up cold apple cider to make hot apple cider? ›

1. Combine apple juice or apple cider with cloves and cinnamon in a microwaveable mug, cup or glass. 2. Heat in the microwave oven, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes.

How do you keep apple cider hot? ›

If you're serving out of a heat-safe pitcher, fill your pitcher and keep the remaining cider on the stove over very low heat. If you're using a slow-cooker, place the cider and cinnamon sticks into the slow cooker on high heat at least one hour before your guests arrive.

Is apple cider just warmed up apple juice? ›

Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples. I'll also add a little dark rum if it's just us grown ups enjoying a round of apple cider co*cktails!

What liquor is best in hot cider? ›

I prefer bourbon but whiskey or a dark rum with caramel flavors would also work wonderfully. What kind of bourbon goes in spiked apple cider? I used Makers Mark for this recipe which is one of my favorite bourbon brands. However, other brands I also recommend Four Roses or Woodford Reserve as other great options.

What are the two types of wassailing? ›

The tradition of wassailing (also spelled wasselling) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail.

What does warm apple cider do to your body? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.

What is healthier apple juice or apple cider? ›

Cider contains more of apples' polyphenol compounds than clear commercial apple juice. Fresh cider from cider apples may contain from two to four times the amount of these healthful compounds compared to clear commercial apple juice because of the apple varieties used and the extra processing to make clear juice.

Is hot apple cider better than cold? ›

It's all up to personal preference! Apple cider can be served fresh out of the fridge, on ice, or warmed up, typically with cinnamon sticks or additional fall spices. Some folks also feel safer drinking unpasteurized cider after it has been heated to at least 160 degrees (and cools to taste).

Does hot apple cider go bad? ›

Can apple cider go bad, or does apple cider expire? Well, it doesn't go bad in the sense that it's spoiled or expired and not safe for consumption. When unpasteurized apple cider is said to go bad, this means that it has started to ferment, and the sugars in it will eventually turn into alcohol.

How do you serve hot apple cider at a party? ›

Heat the apple cider, pour it into a thermal insulated beverage dispenser to keep it hot and invite guests to serve themselves. Once they pour their cider you add: 1 Tb Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup per 8oz of apple cider {or you can purchase the actual Cinnamon Dolce from Starbucks for more $} Top with whipped cream.

What goes with hot cider? ›

Hot Spiked Cider Pairings
  • Apple Pie or Apple Crisp. ...
  • Cheddar Cheese and Crackers. ...
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts. ...
  • Sausage and Sage Stuffing. ...
  • Pumpkin or Butternut Squash Soup. ...
  • Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. ...
  • Spiced Nuts.

What to mix with apple cider? ›

Traditionally cider is spiked with dark spirits, like the rum and bourbon in the recipes above. But what if you want something a little lighter? Vodka can do the trick. Since it doesn't contribute much in the way of flavor, we add fresh ginger for its distinctive, peppery-sweet flavor.

How many cinnamon sticks per gallon of apple cider? ›

Per gallon of cider, I recommend using 4 cinnamon sticks and 1 teaspoon each of your chosen spices. Use whole ones, if you can—ground spices will give your cider an unpleasant gritty texture.

How much alcohol is in apple cider? ›

On average, most hard ciders are 4.5% - 7% alcohol by volume (ABV), while some ciders have an ABV as high as 10% or 12%. Drier ciders usually have a higher ABV because the yeast consumes a majority of the cider's natural sugars.

What is another name for mulled cider? ›

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

What does it mean when cider is mulled? ›

What Does Mulled Cider Mean? Mulled Cider is typically a sweet cider heated with spices and citrus fruits. Mulled means to heat, sweeten, and flavor (a beverage like cider or wine) with spices.

What is wassail drink made of? ›

What is Wassail? Wassail is like the tastier sister to Apple Cider. Traditional wassail was made with hard liquor, apples, brandy, and other spices. This recipe is made with cloves, apples, cinnamon, lemon, orange, ginger, and nutmeg and is a nonalcoholic wassail recipe.

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