Warm and comforting wassail punch

Hot Wassail Punch

Nothing sets a warm holiday mood like wassail—a fancy mulled cider. The tang and tannins of the fresh fruit, the warm spices, and—if desired—the kick from some spirits really come together for a truly classic seasonal sipper. Not to mention the fact that it makes your house smell amazing!

We recommend using your slow cooker for this one—the four-hour simmer time lets all the flavors blend together.

Yield: Serves 12

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Ingredients

3 cups pineapple juice
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups apple cider
1 cup water
½ cup brown sugar
6 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish, if desired)
Whiskey, bourbon or rum (optional)

Directions

  1. Poke whole cloves into the orange—you can make a pattern, or put them in at random. If the stems break as you’re poking them in, try making a whole with a toothpick first.
  2. Core the apple and cut it into thin slices.
  3. Add all other ingredients to a slow cooker or large pot and stir to mix.
  4. Add clove-studded orange and apple slices.
  5. Heat to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer.
  6. Let punch simmer for about 4 hours.
  7. Strain out cinnamon sticks and any clove debris before serving.
  8. Ladle into heat-resistant cups or mugs.
  9. Add whiskey, bourbon, or rum, if desired.
  10. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and apple slices, if desired.
Want more seasonal sippers?

 

While we created these for fall, we think they’d be a great fit at a holiday party, too!

 

 

And just because we can’t resist a cute party setup, here are a few more ideas: