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Cozy Crockpot Wassail with Orange and Cloves (5 Ingredients)

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This cozy crockpot wassail with orange and cloves is a happy accident that turned into a winter favorite. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, it fills your home with a warm, inviting aroma and delivers a comforting, flavorful drink that’s perfect for chilly evenings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 64 ounces (about 8 cups) apple cider
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the orange (5 minutes): Wash your orange thoroughly under warm water to remove any wax. Slice it into 1/4-inch thick rounds. You should get about 6-8 slices depending on the size. Stick 2-3 whole cloves into each slice, pushing them through the peel into the flesh.
  2. Combine in the crockpot (2 minutes): Pour the 64 ounces of apple cider into your slow cooker. Add the clove-studded orange slices and the 2 cinnamon sticks. If you’re using honey or maple syrup, drizzle it in now. Give everything a gentle stir with a wooden spoon—don’t break the orange slices.
  3. Set it and forget it (3-4 hours): Cover the crockpot with the lid. Set it to LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 1.5-2 hours. I prefer LOW because it gives the flavors more time to meld without the cider reducing too much. Pro tip: Don’t peek! Every time you lift the lid, you lose heat and extend the cooking time.
  4. Check the flavor (10 minutes before serving): After 3 hours on LOW, taste a small sip. The cider should be warm, aromatic, and slightly tangy from the orange. If it tastes too mild, let it go another 30 minutes. If it’s too strong (unlikely), add a splash of water or more cider.
  5. Serve warm (immediately): Ladle the wassail into mugs, making sure each cup gets an orange slice and a cinnamon stick for garnish. Discard any loose cloves—they’re not pleasant to bite into. Serve immediately while the steam is still rising.

Notes

For best results, use unfiltered apple cider for a richer mouthfeel. Toast cinnamon sticks in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding to enhance flavor. If serving guests, strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove stray cloves or seeds. The wassail can be kept on WARM for up to 4 hours, but remove orange slices after 2 hours to prevent bitterness.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, crockpot wassail, slow cooker wassail, apple cider, orange, cloves, cinnamon, holiday drink, winter drink, cozy drink

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/cozy-crockpot-wassail-with-orange-and-cloves-5-ingredients/