It’s so wonderful to have a delicious, warm drink to sip when the weather gets cold! This popular holiday wassail, a tangy recipe is an old favorite of mine that I get out whenever we’re getting together with family at holiday time. I make it at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many times in between. It’s a big hit and is becoming a firm family tradition.

Holiday Wassail

1/4 C evaporated cane sugar, or brown sugar
2 C water

6 cloves, whole
4 allspice berries
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 inch slice ginger root (or 1 tsp powder in a teabag) (or you can use essential oils for these spices)

2 C orange juice (And 5 drops wild orange essential oil if you have it. I’m sorry if you don’t. It’s divine!)
1 C cranberry or grapefruit juice (optional)
1/4 C lemon juice or 5 drops lemon essential oil
1 quart (4 C) apple juice
dash pure stevia extract (optional)

Combine sugar, water and spices in a large pot.
Bring to a simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Strain out spices and add juices.
Bring to a simmer again.
Remove from heat and serve, or keep the pot on low and serve for a few hours.
Double to quadruple this recipe for a crowd (see below).

 

I’ve made some batches with 1 drop of my essential oil immune blend, or 1 drop cinnamon, ginger, clove, wild orange and several drops lemon essential oil. It’s soooooo good!

 

 

If you already drink wassail, please share your favorite variation with me.

If not, you will LOVE this!

Here are the measurements for a quadruple batch, which I make for my extended family:

1 C evaporated cane sugar, or brown sugar
8 C water

24 cloves, whole
16 allspice berries
4 cinnamon stick
4 slices, 1/2 inch ginger root (or a heaping TB of powder in a teabag)

8 C orange juice (And 5 drops wild orange essential oil if you have it. I’m sorry if you don’t. The essential oil is divine!)
4 C cranberry or grapefruit juice (optional)
1 C lemon juice or 5 drops lemon essential oil
1 gallon apple juice or cider
4 dashes pure stevia extract (optional)

UPDATE – The last couple holiday seasons, when I didn’t have all the juices or ingredients for this recipes, I just added essential oils of lemon, orange, grapefruit, ginger, clove, cinnamon for a delicious substitute, that supports everyone’s immune systems! I add more drops of the citrus oils, like 10-20 for the big recipe and less of the others (like 1-3 drops each).

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