Wassail Recipe – A Beautiful Mess

Wassail is a traditional drink that is warm and comforting during the fall and holiday season. The sweet and spicy scent of apples and fresh oranges mixed with spices such as clove and cinnamon will warm your body from the core. You can also make it alcoholic or kid-friendly if you wish.

This hot wassail recipe is the perfect drink to serve at a holiday party or pour into mugs before going caroling, tree lighting, or any outdoor holiday activity. It’s easy to make, so you can make a lot and serve it to a large number of people. Check out the video below to see how easy it is to make.

Related: Mulled wine (German mulled wine), hot chocolate bar ideas, Nutella hot chocolate, how to make mulled wine, classic hot toddy, apple cinnamon hot toddy, cranberry spice hot toddy

“Now, let’s make a fuss.”
Among the very green leaves.
Here comes the wandling
It looks very fair. ”

What is Wassail?

Wassail is a more complex, layered version of apple cider with notes of other citrus and spices, and is often paired with a shot of alcohol. Traditional wassail was a warm mulled cider made with spices, hard liquor, apples, and brandy. It is slowly simmered on the stove to bring out the flavor and is piping hot, warming you from the core.

What is the history of Wassail?

The word ‘Wasail’ comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word ‘waes hale’, meaning ‘health’. This hot, spiced cider usually had dark rum or sherry added to it, and the cider had cloves studded with fruits like roasted apples and oranges. I added a fortified egg to the mixture and placed a small piece of toast on top. This is still the tradition of raising glasses to “toast” to each other or to the occasion.

The tradition of making wassails dates back to medieval England and was done on Twelfth Night (January 17th) to ensure a bumper apple harvest. The villagers brought wassail and surrounded the largest apple tree and sang songs in the orchard to drive away evil spirits that would interfere with the harvest. As Christianity began to spread to the region, the drink was moved to the Christmas holidays and has remained there ever since, becoming associated with drinking Christmas carols as they go from house to house.

What is the best alcohol to use in Wassail?

Which alcohol to add is up to personal preference, but the most popular choices are brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon.

Why you’ll love Wassail:

Nostalgic: Drinking this classic drink allows you to remember how people have celebrated this holiday for centuries and take part in the famous ritual.

scent: There’s nothing like a fresh wassail warmed on the stove for Christmas candles. It smells amazing.

Crowd-pleaser: It can be served with alcohol or non-alcohol, so there is no need to make party drinks for each age group, just add shots if you want to drink!

Wassail material:

Apple cider: This drink is primarily based on apple cider, so if you’re an apple cider fan, you’ll love it! Some wassail recipes call for whole apples or apple slices to be added to the pot during simmering, so feel free to add those as well.

Oranges and orange juice: The juice adds a sweet citrus note to the wassail, the halves and slices of a whole orange bring out the oils in the tangy rind, and a plunge of whole cloves gives it something to offer.

Lemon juice: Adding a small amount of lemon juice adds acidity and gives it a slightly tangy taste.

spices: Whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise give this drink a wonderful taste and aroma, while ground nutmeg and ginger add even more depth. Feel free to omit the spices if you are missing them, or use the ground option if you don’t have whole spices available.

sugar: You can use regular sugar, but brown sugar gives it a caramel-like sweetness.

Hard alcohol (optional): For adult guests, choose a shot of brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon with your wassail to warm you to the core.

How to make wassail:

How to make wassail

Add ingredients: Combine all ingredients (except alcohol, if using) in a large pot and bring to a gentle boil. You can stick whole cloves into the orange halves, or you can leave them floating in the pot.

Boil on low heat: Reduce heat to wassail and cook gently for 30-45 minutes.

serve: Strain any floating spices or fruit from the drink and pour into a heatproof cup (you can also pour through a fine-mesh strainer). If desired, spike the drink by adding a shot of alcohol.

Tip: You can also put all your whole spices in a small cheesecloth bag and tie it with bread twine so you can remove everything at once when you’re ready to eat.

Tips for making Wassail:

• Try substituting some of the brown ale cider for an alcoholic option or cranberry juice for a kid-friendly variation.
• Serve with plenty of whipped cream on top and enjoy!
• Garnishes for drinks can also become works of art and add a hint of spice while sipping, such as large whole spices like cinnamon sticks or star anise, or halved oranges, apples, or whole cranberries. Consider floating fruit.
• The longer you leave the spices in the wassail, the stronger the spices will become, so if you don’t want the flavor to get stronger and stronger, but still want to keep it warm on the stove, remove the spices after the first cooking time.

Can you make wassail in a clay pot?

yes! It is very easy to make wassail in a clay pot as a pre-made dish. Simply add all ingredients (except hard alcohol, if using) to the slow cooker, stir well, and leave on high for 2.5 hours or low for 4 hours. If you’re not ready to serve yet, then leave on the warm setting (remove the spices if you don’t want the flavor to continue to get stronger) and add a shot of liqueur if desired when serving. Add.

Can I create Wassail in advance?

Wassail can be made 1-2 days before the party. Make Wassail according to instructions (skip if using hard alcohol) and let Wassail cool to room temperature. Strain the fruit and whole spices and place the wassail in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to reheat, use a large pot or slow cooker to warm to desired temperature.

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