Holiday Wassail Recipes

HOLIDAY WASSAIL

Steps:

• In a large kettle, combine tea and sugar. Add the juices, cinnamon sticks and 12 of the cloves. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Serve warm or cool. Garnish punch bowl with orange slices studded with remaining cloves.

CHRISTMAS WASSAIL

Steps:

• Pour apple cider, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice into a stockpot. Place orange slices, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and cloves in a muslin pouch or directly into the apple cider mixture. Bring apple cider mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove orange slices and spices before serving.

HOLIDAY CLASSIC WASSAIL

Steps:

• Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice in the center of a large paper coffee filter. Fold the ends over and roll up burrito-style. Tie closed with dental floss or thread, leaving long ends.
• Mix apple juice concentrate with water as directed on can (you should end up with 6 cups of juice).
• In a saucepan combine apple juice, cranberry juice, sugar, and bitters. Bring to a boil. Tie the ends of the "spice bag" string to the middle of a wooden spoon and lay the spoon over the top of the pot so that the "spice bag" hangs in the juice without touching the bottom of the pot. Reduce heat and simmer at least 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add rum.
• Once I've made the wassail and added the rum, I pour this into a crock pot on low temp so that the warm wassail can be served up throughout the evening!

HOLIDAY APPLE WASSAIL

Steps:

• Combine the cider, apple chunks, and cinnamon sticks in a large kettle and bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn the heat down to low and add the mace, anise seed, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and brown sugar. Stir to combine, and simmer for 20 minutes until the spices have developed their flavor.
• Drop in the orange and lemon slices, simmer for 5 more minutes, and turn off the heat. Ladle the wassail punch into mugs and serve hot. Include a few pieces of cooked apple or a cooked orange or lemon slice in each mug.

HOLIDAY WASSAIL WITH ALCOHOL

Steps:

• In one saucepan, heat: 1 gallon unfiltered apple cider and 2 cups baked (peeled apples) cut into medium small pieces
• In another saucepan, boil for 5 minutes: water, sugar, nutmeg, ginger, mace, cloves, allspice berries and cinnamon sticks.
• In another saucepan, boil: cream sherry and brandy.
• In a small mixing bowl, mix until firm - stiff but not dry: 3 egg whites.
• In a large mixing bowl - mix until creamy: 3 egg yokes - light in color.
• Now fold egg whites into egg yokes and add spice mixture a little at a time, stirring constantly.
• Next add booze
• Next add cider mixture.
• Serve warm. I've served it in a punch bowl and in a large pot on the stove. Right before serving, I usually take out the allspice berries and cloves so people don't choke on them. If I find out that the wassail has cooled down, I re-heat it.

HOLIDAY WASSAIL PUNCH

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, mix the first 6 ingredients. Place cinnamon sticks and allspice on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose seasonings; tie securely with string. Place spice bag and orange slices in slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours to allow flavors to blend., Discard spice bag and orange slices. If desired, top punch with apple slices and cranberries. Serve warm.

HOLIDAY WASSAIL

Steps:

• Bring apple juice, water, cinnamon sticks and orange slices to boil in large saucepan. Simmer on medium-low heat 10 min. Remove cinnamon sticks and orange slices; discard.
• Add drink mixes; stir until dissolved. Serve warm.

HOLIDAY WASSAIL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Put the teabags into a mug. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into the mug. Add the cranberries and raisins into the tea and set aside to steep and rehydrate.
• Meanwhile, put the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the egg and beat until just combined. Scrape with a spatula if needed.
• Whisk together the flour, apple cider mix, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, salt, coriander and ginger in a large bowl. Pour half of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients until a thick dough comes together. Strain the cranberries and raisins and discard the tea. Add the cranberries and raisins to the dough and beat just until evenly distributed.
• With a 3-tablespoon scoop, make mounds of dough and put onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of space between each cookie.
• Bake until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Serve warm.