Holly Jolly Wassail
Decided that one of my very favorite holiday family traditions deserved its very own spot on the blog 🎄 As far back as I can remember, my Mom has always made this wassail recipe (aka mulled wine) after we would get home from mass on Christmas Eve. She would even make it without the wine first for us kiddos to enjoy back before we were of age to imbibe! This is the perfect drink for the entire family to enjoy and would make a great mocktail this holiday season 🙌🏻
It seriously tastes like Christmas in a cup warming you from the inside out. Below I am sharing how to make our family wassail recipe on either the stovetop or a slow cooker. All you need are seven easy ingredients that can all be found at your local grocery store. P.S. If you live near a Hy-Vee, I snagged all the ingredients (including the wine!) at our local Hy-Vee. Linking their wine and spirits page HERE so you can see if there is a location near you/place an order online. We were pleasantly surprised at how great of a selection they have (and low prices too)! Definitely hit up their wine and spirits store this holiday season for some awesome finds.
P.S.S. If you end up giving this recipe a go, be sure to tag me over on Instagram Stories! Would love to see how y'all put a little spin on it to make this recipe yours as well. Hoping this warm and cozy cocktail makes it to your kitchens this holiday season. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
*please note this recipe makes one batch/around 8 servings*
1 bottle of dry red wine (I prefer Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
Side note on the type of wine: Don’t worry about getting the best or most expensive wine for your wassail! The flavors truly cover up a lot of lower-quality wines. Find something cost effective and you are golden. We got our cabernet from our local Hy-Vee wine and spirits store. Linking their website HERE.so you can place an order online/find a location near you.
2 cups original cranberry juice (you could even go the unsweetened route if you want less sugar, but I prefer just the original Oceans Spray brand)
½ cup sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
6 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
4 to 6 sliced oranges
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a crockpot/slow cooker set to low OR place it in a stockpot over low heat on the stove
Let steep on the stove for at least 20 minutes before serving. If using the slow cooker (shown in my Reel), let it steep for 2 hours.
Serve in festive holiday mugs! Be sure to leave the spices behind. All you need is the wassail.
Most importantly, sip it slow and enjoy with the people you love!
With love,
~Katie