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Horizontal image of two glass mugs filled with slow cooker wassail in front of a slow cooker. To the right is a plate black plate with sugar cookies on top.

Slow Cooker Wassail with a Kick

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: British
Keyword: cider, mulled wine, slow cooker, wassail
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
simmering time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 121kcal
Author: Marta Rivera
This easy-to-make drink recipe is full of oomph and spice.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • slow cooker
  • tea strainer or cheesecloth

Ingredients

  • 1 large apple honey crisp or gala, cored
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 inch orange peel (or 1 medium navel orange, sliced)
  • 1 inch nub of ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 5 allspice berries
  • 4 cardamom pods cracked with the heel of your knife
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 750 milliliter bottle riesling wine or dry white wine
  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 1/2 cup Irish whiskey
  • 1 tablespoon dry vermouth optional
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Optional Garnishes

  • apple slices
  • cinnamon sticks
  • star anise

Instructions

Roast the Apple

  • Wrap the cored apple tightly in aluminum foil, then place the apple on a sheet pan.
    Roast the apple for 35 minutes in a 400°F.
  • Once roasted, remove the apple from the oven and allow it to cool to the touch.
    Slice the apple or leave it whole once cooled.

Assemble the Wassail in the slow cooker

  • Add the cinnamon sticks, orange peel, ginger nub, and ground nutmeg to the slow cooker.
  • Fill a tea strainer or a square piece of cheesecloth with the allspice berries, cardamom pods, star anise, and cloves.
    Tie a string to the handle of your tea strainer or cheesecloth bundle, then tie that to the handle of the slow cooker. Set the tea strainer into your slow cooker. 
  • Pour the wine, apple cider, Irish whiskey, dry vermouth, and vanilla extract into the slow cooker with the spices. 
    Add the apple and any of its juice to the pot the liquid in the slow cooker. Stir to combine the liquids.

Simmer the Wassail

  • Turn the slow cooker to high and heat the wassail for 2 hours.
    You don't have to stir it, but every so often, wave the tea strainer with the spices through the wassail to make sure it's flavoring the entire batch. 
  • After the wassail has cooked for 2 hours, turn the slow cooker to warm.
    It's now ready for you to enjoy. Remove the tea strainer of spices, the cinnamon sticks, and orange peel, discarding them.
  • Ladle the Wassail into heatsafe mugs and garnish with cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and/or star anise.
    Enjoy responsibly.

Notes

Stovetop Wassail:

  1. Put all of the ingredients into a large dutch oven.
  2. Bring the mixture up to a simmer over medium heat and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. After 15 minutes, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the wassail heat for 45 minutes. 
  4. Serve warm. 

Make Ahead Instructions:

  • Leave the wassail heating on warm after the initial 2 hour cook time in the slow cooker.
  • Set out your mugs and any garnishes you want to serve them with, and allow your guests to dip into the "wassail bowl" to help themselves.

Storage Instructions:

  • Allow the wassail to cool to room temperature.
  • Once the wassail is cool, transfer it into bottles (or a large mason jar or pitcher) using a funnel to minimize spills.
  • Store the wassail in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Reheat the wassail over medium-low heat on the stovetop until warmed through. 
  • Serve as instructed.

Mocktail (Alcohol-Free) Wassail:

  1. Combine and simmer 1 gallon of apple cider with the spices and fruit as instructed.
  2. Omit the white wine, dry vermouth, and the whiskey.

For Virgin Wassail Punch:

  1. Heat the cider with the spices, then allow it to cool.
  2. Once cool, stir in 1 liter of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. 
  3. Add ice to chill.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg