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Easy Slow Cooker Wassail: Best Spiced Apple Cider Recipe

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This Easy Slow Cooker Wassail Spiced Apple Cider is the kind of recipe that makes you look like a hero with almost zero effort. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and fragrant, and it disappears fastest at parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (64 oz) apple cider (not apple juice)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 large apple, cored and sliced (Honeycrisp or Fuji)
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup or honey
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) bourbon, brandy, or dark rum (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange and apple thoroughly. Slice the orange into 1/4-inch rounds. Core the apple and slice it into thin wedges. Put the fruit slices in the bottom of your slow cooker.
  2. If using a cheesecloth bundle, tie the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and star anise in a square of cheesecloth. If not, toss them directly into the slow cooker.
  3. Pour in the 8 cups of apple cider. It should cover the fruit and spices completely.
  4. Drizzle in the maple syrup or honey. Add the fresh lemon juice. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to combine.
  5. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 3-4 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors meld.
  6. After 3 hours, taste the cider. Adjust sweetness or spiciness as desired.
  7. If you used a cheesecloth bundle, remove it. If you tossed spices in directly, you can strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot or another slow cooker. Or just ladle it carefully, avoiding the big spice pieces.
  8. Stir in the bourbon, brandy, or rum right before serving (optional).
  9. Ladle into mugs and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick or an orange slice if desired.

Notes

Don’t rush it; low and slow is key. Beware of the clove bomb—start with 1/2 teaspoon if sensitive. Make a spice sachet for easy removal. Double for parties. Keep warm on the warm setting. Don’t boil the cider.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker wassail, spiced apple cider, wassail recipe, apple cider, holiday drink, slow cooker drink, winter beverage

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/easy-slow-cooker-wassail-best-spiced-apple-cider-recipe/