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Cozy Spiced Wassail Punch: Easy Holiday Recipe

cozy spiced wassail punch with orange and cloves - featured image
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A warm, spiced punch made with apple cider, orange juice, and whole cloves, perfect for holiday gatherings. This simple recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes like a hug in a mug.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider (unfiltered, if possible)
  • 2 cups orange juice (fresh-squeezed or store-bought)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 cinnamon sticks (Ceylon recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves (about 15–20 cloves)
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 oranges (one for studding with cloves, one for garnish)
  • Fresh cranberries (a handful, for garnish, optional)
  • Extra cinnamon sticks (for stirring or decoration)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the oranges: Wash one orange thoroughly. Slice it into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Using the tip of a knife, make small slits in the peel of each slice and press a whole clove into each slit (about 3-4 cloves per slice). Set aside. Slice the second orange into rounds for garnish.
  2. Combine the base: Pour the apple cider and orange juice into a large pot. Add the honey and brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the honey and sugar begin to dissolve.
  3. Add the spices: Drop in the cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, ground nutmeg, and ground ginger. Place the clove-studded orange slices into the pot, pushing them down so they’re submerged.
  4. Heat gently: Place the pot over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer (small bubbles around the edges, not a rolling boil). Once it simmers, reduce the heat to low. Let it bubble gently for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Taste and adjust: After 15 minutes, taste the punch. Add more honey if needed, or let it simmer another 5 minutes for more spice. If too strong, add a splash of water or apple juice.
  6. Strain: Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl or another pot. Carefully pour the punch through the strainer to catch the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and clove-studded orange slices. Discard the solids.
  7. Serve warm: Pour the strained punch back into the pot or into a slow cooker to keep warm. Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh orange slices and a few cranberries. Add a cinnamon stick for stirring if desired.

Notes

Do not boil the punch, as it can make the spices bitter. For a deeper flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks and star anise in a dry skillet for 30-60 seconds before adding. The punch can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; flavors deepen after a day. For a vegan version, substitute maple syrup for honey. For a low-sugar version, reduce honey and brown sugar to 2 tablespoons each.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail punch, spiced punch, holiday punch, apple cider punch, orange and cloves, warm punch, non-alcoholic punch, Christmas punch

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/cozy-spiced-wassail-punch-easy-holiday-recipe/