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Best Slow Cooker Wassail with Cloves – Perfect Winter Drink

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This slow cooker wassail with cloves is a warm, spiced winter drink made with apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and whole spices. It’s effortless to make, fills your home with a cozy holiday aroma, and is perfect for parties or quiet nights by the fire.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple juice or apple cider
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple, sliced into rounds
  • Optional: 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Prep the spice bundle: Take your cheesecloth or spice bag and add the whole cloves and allspice berries. Tie it up securely with kitchen twine.
  2. Combine the liquids: Pour the apple juice (or cider), orange juice, and pineapple juice into your slow cooker. Give it a quick stir to combine.
  3. Add the sweetener: Stir in the packed brown sugar. If you’re using honey or maple syrup, add it now too.
  4. Add the cinnamon sticks: Drop the cinnamon sticks right into the liquid. I like to break one of them in half so it releases a little more flavor.
  5. Add the spice bundle: Place the spice bundle into the slow cooker, making sure it’s fully submerged.
  6. Add the fruit slices: Arrange the orange and apple slices on top of the liquid.
  7. Set it and forget it: Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for 4-6 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. I prefer low and slow.
  8. Check the flavor: After about 3 hours on low, give it a taste. Adjust sweetness or spice as needed.
  9. Remove the spice bundle: Before serving, fish out the spice bundle and discard it. Also remove the cinnamon sticks if you want—I usually leave one or two in for looks.
  10. Serve warm: Ladle the wassail into mugs, making sure to include a slice of orange or apple in each cup.

Notes

Don’t skip the spice bundle—whole cloves are potent and need to be removed before serving. Taste as you go to balance flavors. Keep the wassail warm, not hot, on the ‘warm’ setting. For best results, make it a day ahead and reheat. Avoid ground cloves; they make the drink murky and overpowering.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker wassail, wassail with cloves, winter drink, holiday drink, spiced apple cider, slow cooker drink, Christmas drink

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/best-slow-cooker-wassail-with-cloves-perfect-winter-drink/