A Spicy Perspective

Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe

Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe â€“ A slow-cooked mulled cider with an enchanting deep and fruity flavor. This is a special autumn treat for parties or family game night!

wassail recipe

Hot Cider

This fragrant Slow Cooker Cider Wassail Recipe will 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, nothing had ever tasted so good.

wassail mulled drink

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 a sweet and spicy mulled cider made with apple cider, orange juice, hibiscus tea, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, juniper berries, and fresh fruit.

This wassail recipe simmers in a slow cooker until 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 recipes because you simply can’t drink it without smiling.

hot apple cider wassail

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 ingredients simmer 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!

hot apple cider

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 for 4 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 cocktail!

hot apple cider

More Hot Beverages

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

#SlowCooker Wassail Recipe (Mulled Cider) ASpicyPerspective.com #fall #apple #party #recipe
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5 from 22 votes
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Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 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

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

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72 comments on “Hot Apple Cider Wassail Recipe”

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  4. Love this! Made it last year for a holiday party and it was a big hit! I added some spiced rum to it right before serving and it was delicious. Making it again this year!

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  6. This was the perfect finish to our looking at Christmas lights! Everyone loved this, normally we have hot cocoa, but we tried Wassil this year, so delicious.

  7. Love this wassail drink! It is so cozy and delicious!

  8. Totally using this for our family game night tonight!

  9. Such a perfect drink!! My husband really loved it!

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  11. Hi. I would like to make this recipe. I live in Northern Nevada and there juniper trees EVERYWHERE! I just have a couple questions about the berries. 1) Do I used crushed or whole? 2) Fresh or dried? 3) How many are in a tablespoon? I’d really like to know. Thank you. 

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  13. Made this 2 days ahead of time for a party. Everyone loved it and had great reviews. I made it exactly like the directions, except I couldn’t find juniper berries. So yum

  14. It’s in the pot now w/out juniper berries. This is my first time yo make Wassail. First introduced as a kiddo in Texas, served in a bank where our choir sang and have remembered it ever since. My daughter wanted to make something from our heritage….20+ years later found Wassail is a Welsh related beverage an trying this non-alchohol recipe. Thank you!

  15. Love this recipe!! I’ve used it for the last couple years for it Christmas party and we love it. I don’t have juniper berries so I just throw in cranberries as well as a little cranberry juice just for fun but otherwise stick to the recipe. Thanks

  16. The wassail tastes great

  17. This post goes into the OMG Good Category!!

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  23. This was a real treat, and a deviation from my usual wassail recipe.  I used the Tazo passion teabags (they have some hibiscus) because they are easier to find.  It wasn’t too sweet or too tart, and the flavors melded really nicely.  If you’ve never tried wassail, its a healthier warm drink than hot cocoa or coffee, so its great to have a batch warming any time of day.  

  24. We organized a group to go caroling and were looking for a recipe that could be hot and ready when we got home. We tried this and liked it so much that we made TWO BATCHES in THREE DAYS. We did not find juniper and forgot the hibiscus, but it was great regardless. Several guests asked how we made it, so you should see some more hits to the site! :) Highly recommend this recipe!

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  42. Is it alright to put this on low in the crockpot for like 8 hours? I wanted to start in the morning when I leave but I won’t be back until like 1pm which will be about 6 hours. Anyone tried this? Thoughts?

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  46. This looks like such a great recipe to serve to some friends on a cold day, can’t wait to taste it!

  47. In my husband’s family we call this “weasel.” No matter what it’s called, I love it on a cold day.

  48. Looks like the perfect fall beverage – would be perfect for Halloween night!

  49. It doesn’t get much more fall that this! I want o sip on this all day!

  50. This looks incredible and your house must smell amazing!! pinned!

  51. Absolutely beautiful. My family loves warm spiced drinks during the cold months, can’t wait to try this!

  52. And now I can’t wait for the weather to chill in order to enjoy this cider, Sommer :)

    Pinned!!

  53. I love this homemade cider, Sommer! I bet it makes your home smell just incredible. Looks delicious, too!

  54. I have never, ever heard of Wassail, but everything about sounds perfect- I can’t wait to make this!

  55. This looks divine! I’m loving your slow cooker theme! You know I love this way of cooking.

  56. Mmmm!!! Just the perfect thing for fall!!!

  57. I have such a chill today … PERFECT

  58. I swear I can smell how wonderful this is! Yeah, you have me excited for fall.

  59. I have never made this at home (I can’t believe I made it public!). I wonder if I can use apple juice instead of apple cider?

  60. This makes me really excited for Fall! i want to take a large sip. I’m sure it warms you right up!

  61. This is a great recipe for the upcoming cooler weather!

  62. You had me at the large nub of ginger!!! Can’t wait to try this!!

  63. I can’t believe it’s already time for Wassail and slow cooker recipes like this one. I don’t know about you, but I’m SO ready. Thanks for setting the mood!

  64. Loving the slow cooker recipes Sommer! Bring on Fall, best time of year!

  65. This looks so comforting and just perfect in the slow cooker.

  66. This warm, spicy concoction looks perfect for the cooler weather.

  67. Seriously excited for this. It brings back so many memories of Fall and Winter and a crazy song that I’ll now have stuck in my head all day long ;)

  68. My town (Frisco, CO) has this two week period every December called Wassail days. Basically, it is a two Christmas celebration full of tons and tons of Wassail, christmas carols, store discounts and so on. It’s is pretty cheesy, but fun too!
    Anyway, wassail always make me think of Christmas, but I can totally be down with drinking it throughout the fall. Your recipe looks killer!

  69. This makes me excited for fall!