This traditional Wassail recipe has been handed down for generations and is one of my favorite easy holiday drinks. It’s a delicious warm cider drink that balances the flavors of orange and apple with cinnamon and spices!
Looking for more drink recipes? Try this Homemade Eggnog, Creamy Hot Cocoa, Christmas Punch, or Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider!
Why I love this drink:
- Tradition – This is a treasured family recipe that will always remind me of the holidays. We love to make a batch to enjoy with neighbors as we pass out treats on Halloween to the trick-or-treaters. We always enjoy it on Christmas morning as well.
- Cozy – One batch will fill your house with the most wonderful aroma of apple and cinnamon. It’s the best drink to enjoy on a cold, snowy day.
- Delicious – this hot wassail recipe is not overly sweet and has all the perfect flavor balance.
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. You could certainly add alcohol if you wish by adding a splash of brandy, bourbon, rum, or whiskey, to taste.
How to make Wassail:
Prep Apples: Poke the whole cloves into the apples on all sides.
Combine Ingredients: Add all of the ingredients, including the apples, to a large pot over medium low heat then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-45 minutes.
Serve: Remove the apples and whole cloves then ladle hot wassail into mugs and enjoy!
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make this in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to heat and enjoy.
To Reheat: Use the microwave, stove, or slow cooker to reheat this hot wassail. Just heat until it’s your desired temperature.
More Holiday Recipes:
- Halloween Pizzas
- Rack of Lamb
- Homemade Caramels
- Easy, No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey
- Apple Crisp
- Classic Pumpkin Roll
- Baked Ham
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Red Velvet Cookies
- Easy, No-Fuss Prime Rib
- Baked Apples
- Chocolate Fudge
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Recipe
Wassail
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 15 whole whole cloves ,or ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar , optional
Instructions
- Poke the whole cloves into the apples on all sides.
- Add all of the ingredients, including the apples, to a large pot over medium low heat.
- Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-45 minutes.
- Remove the apples and whole cloves. Ladle into mugs and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe November 2013. Updated October 2017 and October 2022.
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This drink was a hit at Christmas dinner. It’s pretty much Christmas in a cup. So good!
This wassail is the BEST EVER. I have made this recipe three times already this winter and everyone loves it. My spouse and a close friend have all but demanded, “you can make this every weekend for the whole winter!” Hence, I’m making it again this weekend. I omit the brown sugar and add Bulleit Bourbon to spike it when serving. The juice rations are perfect. The (fresh) lemon juice really makes it. Thank you!!!
I added 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 5 star anise, & 1 teaspoon of allspice to the above recipe, with all of the powdered spices tied in a cheese cloth which I tied to the pot handle & allowed it to bob in the wassail while it simmered. I would occasionally stir the wassail, squishing the cheese cloth against the side of the pot as I stirred. It turned out incredible!! I also added about 1.5 cups of brandy to it afterward, & it is still amazing with the brandy. I would have given the recipe 5 stars, if I didn’t have to make so many adjustments to it in order for it to taste better/bolder.
I made it for a church reception and everyone really liked it. I used orange pineapple juice
Would Some Cranberry Juice work in this recipe?
How much would you recommend.
The lemon overpowered the apple. I would minimise the lemon next time.
First time I have ever made this and it was a hit with Rum. Yummy. I love this stuff with or without the rum.
How many quarts/cups of wassail does this make total? I need to make wassail for a church activity and i have never made it or heard of it before. But i need to make 8 gallons
About 10 cups!
The flavor of the cider is so comforting. Delicious
How long will it keep in fridge? I wanted to make it ahead of time for Thanksgiving and us bottled lemon juice ok to use?
It will keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge. Bottled juice is fine.
Should the apples be put in whole, or sliced?
I made the wassail for Christmas. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Sometimes wassail recipes are too tart or too sweet. This was a perfect blend.
What a great recipe!! Relatively simple and much more special than apple cider straight from a jug. The house smelled great, and everyone loved it
Should I juice my own oranges, or is store-bought fine?
Store-bought is fine!
Hello,
I was wondering what can I use to replace the Clove? I cannot stand the taste of clove. My Mom used clove in so many things. I wondered if I can use cinnamon in it’s place?
I LOVE everything else in this recipe.
Thank You
I would just omit the clove.
Love Wassail. Thank you for recipe. MERRY CHRISTMAS
Merry Christmas to you and thanks for a good sounding simple recipe
This is the easiest recipe I have viewed. I don’t have a slow cooker or crock pot so this is ideal. I needed to omit lemon juice due to husband’s allergy but I don’t think it would ruin it.
When you say 8 cups apple cider, do you mean apple cider vinegar?
No, I mean apple cider (or substitute apple juice)
Please NO! Do not use apple cider vinegar. Apple cider is similar to apple juice. You would not be able to drink a glass of apple cider vinegar.
We made this for an autumn camping trip and the wife absolutely loved it.
Wonderful! We made 2 crockpots full for our church handbell party, thinking we would have leftovers. Folks loved it so much they asked to take some home. So we’re making another batch just for us!
Will make this for United Methodist Church Ladies group in Lebanon Missouri for Thanksgiving Missionary Meeting
I made this for a ladies brunch & it was a big hit!! Thank you for the recipe. It brought back memories!!
Happy New Year!! 2019
this sounds great, I can’t wait to make this for the fam. Would you use brandy or rum in this?
I’ve never tried, but I’m sure you could.
Can this be done in a slow cooker?!
Hi Megan,
You can definitely make wassail in the slow cooker. I would place everything in your slow cooker and cook for about 3 hours on high.
What kind of apples to find best to use for this? I’m probably wrong, but in your video it looked to be Honeycrisps perhaps?
Any apples will work! 🙂
My grandson and I started making wassail during the Christmas holidays several years ago when he would make mountains of brown sugar cinnamon on his plate of toast. He is 16 now and still remembers making wassail at Grandma’s as a toddler☺️
I made this for a baby shower I hosted during the holidays. Theme was “Baby it’s cold outside”. It was a big hit. Everyone kept coming back for more. My daughter-in-law who doesn’t even like apple cider loved it. And it made the house smell wonderful! I will definitely make it again, probably making it a new holiday tradition.
I have all ingredients except cinnamon sticks…can I use cinnamon instead of the sticks? If so …how much?
Hi Jerry,
You could substitute a few teaspoons of cinnamon but it may just sort of float in your drink and not blend in well.
Is it bad that I celebrated the first day of fall a few days early and made this tonight? With the leaves already starting to change where we live, I wanted a little fall treat. The was perfect! Not only was it delicious, but it made our house smell like fall! Yum! I can’t wait to try more of your fall recipes.
This must sound silly, but every year, we celebrate half-Christmas and throw a party with our friends. This year, I was assigned drinks. I brought this wassail and it was easily the party favorite. I received so any compliments, and so, my compliments to you.
I made this for my Christmas party today and it is so yummy! I added about 1/4 cup of brown sugar to sweeten it up.
Yumm! Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting 🙂
I’m glad that I came across your comment, as I took your advice & did the same of adding 1/4 cup of brown sugar & it was wonderful!! I also added 5 star anise & 1 teaspoon of allspice, with all of the powdered spices tied in a cheese cloth which I tied to the pot handle & allowed it to bob in the wassail while it simmered. I would occasionally stir the wassail, squishing the cheese cloth against the side of the pot as I stirred. It turned out incredible!! I also added about 1.5 cups of brandy to it afterward, & it is still amazing with the brandy.
Snowed here last night and I could definitely use a warm mug of this!