Wassail Recipe

Bring an old English Yuletide tradition into your home this year with a simple, delicious recipe for Wassail.

It’s a warm apple cider drink, featuring orange and sweet warming spices, including cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger.

What is Wassail?

Wassail is a very old fashioned drink! The history of this spiced fruit beverage goes all way back to medieval England.

Wassail was typically enjoyed during a time called “wassailing” which takes place on the twelfth night after Christmas. On this day, medieval people would visit fruit orchards and sing to the trees, as a way to scare away evil spirits and ensure a good apple harvest the following summer.

Wassailing also refers to the act of going door to door, singing for neighbors and bringing gifts, in exchange for a warm wassail drink. It’s kind of like Christmas caroling.

The original bowl of wassail would have also included some tempered eggs and a piece of crispy toast floating on top. In fact, I think that’s where we get the term “toast” when it comes to raising a glass in celebration!

Back then, wassail may have been more of a spiced, mulled fruit wine, mead, or ale, but today we’re making a non-alcoholic version with fresh apple cider, orange juice, and sweet, aromatic spices.

Add a bit of whisky, brandy, or spiced rum if you’re so inclined!

Oh, and there are no eggs or bread in this recipe. I think we’ll leave those add-ins back in history!

Looking for more holiday drinks? Try my warm spiked eggnog, peppermint hot chocolate, or a fun Christmas vodka cocktail.

Wassail Recipe Highlights

1. Super Simple to Make – Just add all of the ingredients to a pot on the stove and simmer for about half an hour. Seriously, it’s that easy! If you need to keep it warm, transfer it to your crockpot until your guests arrive.
2. Smells Amazing – I’ve already told you that this drink is delicious, but you will be so happy with the way your house smells while your wassail is simmering away on the stove! With apple slices and orange slices, it’s kind of like one of those holiday simmer pots, but you can actually drink this one afterward.
3. Perfect for Entertaining – This recipe makes enough for 8 or 10 people, so it’s the best warm drink for holiday parties! You can make wassail with or without alcohol to suit the occasion.

Ingredients In Wassail

Here’s what you need to make this delicious warming beverage. The whole dried spices are the key!

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Apple Cider: Look for this in stores in the fall, when apples are in season. The best fresh apple cider comes directly from apple farms! In a pinch, you could make this with organic apple juice, or even apples that you’ve juiced at home.
• Orange Juice: Use freshly squeezed orange juice or a good quality store-bought kind.
• Lemon Juice: Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice. The kind from a bottle is always a bit too bitter and strong.
• Brown Sugar: We don’t need to add much extra sweetness, but a little bit of sugar helps to balance the acidic and earthy flavors.
• Whole Spices: These are beautiful and impart so much flavor! Pick up cinnamon sticks, whole star anise pods, and whole cloves for this recipe.
• Ground Spices: Ground ginger and ground nutmeg will mostly dissolve into the drink.
• Fruit: Slices of apples and oranges can be simmered with the punch, and make pretty garnishes for your mugs.

How To Make Homemade Wassail

This hot apple cider drink is truly so easy! Take a look:

Recipe Tips

• Make it a cocktail. Add an ounce of liquor to each mug before serving. Some good options include dark rum, bourbon, sherry, brandy, and whisky.
• Try hard cider. Swap out half of the apple cider with hard apple cider for a different type of boozy wassail.
• Some like to add cranberry juice to this recipe. Go ahead and try it!
• Make ahead. You can prepare your pot of wassail a few days ahead of time if you need to. When you’re ready to enjoy it, warm it on the stove.
• Slicing the fruit. Whole slices from apples that are cut across the middle will have a pretty star pattern in the center from the seeds! I didn’t add orange slices to this batch, but you can slice those into rounds as well.
• Serve in ceramic mugs or heat-tolerant glassware. Cinnamon sticks make perfect stir sticks, or you can garnish with fresh fruit. This recipe makes about 10 cups of cider, so you should be able to serve 8-10 people with it.

Storing Tips

If you have leftover wassail, it can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

You can also make this ahead of time, and reheat it when you’re ready to drink it!

More Holiday Party Recipes

If you are planning on entertaining guests this holiday season, I have you covered!

Be sure to check out all of my Thanksgiving Recipes and Christmas Recipes.

This wassail will go perfectly with some homemade holiday desserts! Try my classic Snickerdoodle Cookies, Red Velvet Brownies, or Homemade Chocolate Cherry Cordials.

Or maybe you need some Christmas appetizer ideas? I love making Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, Mini Quiche, and Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts.

Recipe FAQs

Should I serve wassail punch hot or cold?

This drink is traditionally served warm, and I think it’s best that way. That said, it’s pretty tasty chilled too! Enjoy your apple punch however you prefer.

Is Wassail only for Christmas?

That’s completely up to you! Yes, traditionally wassail was enjoyed 12 days after Christmas, but you can make this spiced apple drink for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s Eve if you want to.

What does Wassail Mean in Old English?

The word “wassail” comes from the old English, “hál wes þú”, which means “be in good health”.

Step back in time and be in good health with this classic old-fashioned Wassail recipe! It’s so delicious and perfect for parties, so be sure to save the recipe for your holiday entertaining.