Few things make a house feel cozier than the smell of warm apple cider, cinnamon, orange, and whole spices slowly simmering for hours. This Slow Cooker Wassail is the kind of drink you can start in the afternoon and let quietly fill the kitchen with the scents of fall and Christmas while you get everything else ready.

The cider develops a deep apple flavor with bright citrus, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and star anise. A little brown sugar rounds everything out without turning the drink syrupy. Best of all, the slow cooker does nearly all the work. Add everything, let it warm slowly, strain out the spices, and serve it straight from the crockpot.

This version is also completely non-alcoholic and family-friendly, making it easy to serve at Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, fall gatherings, or cozy nights at home. If you enjoy the apple-and-spice combination in our Spiced Apple Cider Cake, this drink brings those same comforting flavors into a warm mug.

Easy Slow Cooker Wassail with Apple Cider

Wassail has a long history as a warm celebratory drink, and there are many versions of it. Some traditional recipes contain ale or wine, while modern American versions frequently center on apple cider or apple juice with citrus and warming spices.

For this recipe, we’re keeping things simple and family-friendly.

The base is unfiltered apple cider, which already has more body and apple character than ordinary apple juice. Fresh orange adds citrus without overwhelming the apple, while whole cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and star anise slowly infuse the cider.

Using whole spices rather than large amounts of ground spice is important.

Ground cinnamon and cloves can leave sediment floating throughout the drink and create a slightly gritty texture. Whole spices give us plenty of flavor while remaining easy to strain out before serving.

The result is a deeply aromatic hot apple cider that’s perfect for serving directly from the slow cooker.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Wassail

Almost effortless. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker and let time do most of the work.

Makes your kitchen smell incredible. Apples, orange, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise create a naturally cozy aroma.

Perfect for a crowd. Guests can serve themselves directly from the slow cooker.

Family-friendly. This recipe contains no alcohol.

Easy to adjust. Make it sweeter, more citrusy, or more heavily spiced according to your preference.

Ideal for fall and Christmas. It works just as naturally at Thanksgiving dinner as it does at a Christmas party.

Make-ahead friendly. Prepare it earlier in the day and keep it warm until guests arrive.

If you’re serving it during fall, it pairs beautifully with our Cinnamon Apple Galette. Later in the holiday season, bring it out with Quick Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies for an easy Christmas drink-and-cookie combination.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Apple Cider

Use unfiltered apple cider rather than apple cider vinegar.

That distinction sounds obvious, but it’s worth mentioning.

You want the sweet, cloudy apple beverage typically sold during fall—not vinegar.

A good cider gives the wassail much more apple character than standard filtered apple juice.

Orange

Fresh orange adds acidity, sweetness, and citrus aroma.

We’ll use orange slices directly in the slow cooker.

Wash the orange thoroughly because the peel will be simmering with the cider.

Cinnamon Sticks

Whole cinnamon sticks slowly infuse the drink without filling it with ground cinnamon sediment.

Three or four sticks provide plenty of flavor for a standard batch.

Whole Cloves

Cloves are powerful.

A relatively small amount goes a long way, especially when they’re simmering for several hours.

Whole Allspice Berries

Despite the name, allspice isn’t a mixture of different spices.

Whole allspice berries have warm notes reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and work beautifully in wassail.

Star Anise

Star anise gives the drink another layer of warm spice and a subtle licorice-like aroma.

We only need a small amount.

If you dislike anise flavor, you can simply leave it out.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar rounds out the tartness of the cider and citrus.

How much you need depends heavily on the cider you buy.

Taste the cider before adding all the sugar.

Fresh Ginger

A few slices of fresh ginger give the cider gentle warmth.

This isn’t meant to become a ginger drink, so don’t add too much.

Cranberries

Fresh cranberries are optional, but they’re particularly nice when serving wassail around Thanksgiving or Christmas.

They add subtle tartness and look beautiful floating among the orange and cinnamon.

Nutmeg

A tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds warmth.

Because we’re already using several strong spices, a little is enough.

How to Make Slow Cooker Wassail

1. Prepare the Orange

Wash one large orange thoroughly.

Cut it into relatively thick round slices.

Remove any obvious seeds.

There’s no need to remove the peel.

2. Prepare the Ginger

Cut a small piece of fresh ginger into several thin slices.

You don’t need to peel it perfectly, although you can if you prefer.

3. Add the Apple Cider

Pour 8 cups of apple cider into a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.

Leave enough room for the fruit and spices.

4. Add the Orange

Place the orange slices into the cider.

Separate them slightly rather than leaving them stacked together.

5. Add the Whole Spices

Add:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• Whole allspice berries
• Star anise
• Fresh ginger

For easier removal later, you can place the small spices inside a spice bag or tied piece of cheesecloth.

6. Add the Brown Sugar

Start with approximately 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

You can always add more later.

Some apple ciders are already extremely sweet, so automatically adding a large quantity of sugar isn’t necessary.

7. Add the Cranberries

If using fresh cranberries, add them now.

They’ll soften as the wassail cooks and provide a festive red accent.

8. Add Nutmeg

Grate a very small amount of nutmeg directly over the cider.

A pinch is plenty.

9. Stir

Give everything a gentle stir.

The slow cooker should now contain deep golden cider with floating orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and whole spices.

10. Cover and Cook on Low

Cover the slow cooker.

Cook on LOW for approximately 3–4 hours.

The goal is to slowly infuse the cider rather than aggressively boil it.

11. Check the Flavor

After approximately 3 hours, carefully taste a small spoonful.

At this point, decide whether you’d like:

• More sweetness
• More cinnamon
• More citrus
• A longer infusion

If the spice level is already where you want it, there’s no reason to keep extracting flavor indefinitely.

12. Adjust the Sweetness

If needed, stir in another tablespoon or two of brown sugar.

Let it dissolve completely.

You can also use pure maple syrup instead.

13. Remove the Spices

Before serving, remove the cinnamon sticks, star anise, orange slices, ginger, and loose whole spices.

A fine-mesh strainer works well if you didn’t use a spice bag.

14. Switch to Warm

Once the wassail tastes right, switch your slow cooker to WARM.

This is particularly useful for parties because guests can serve themselves over several hours.

15. Prepare the Mugs

Ladle the hot wassail into heat-safe mugs.

Don’t fill them completely to the rim.

16. Garnish

For presentation, add a fresh orange slice or cinnamon stick to individual mugs.

A few fresh cranberries can also be used decoratively.

Avoid placing lots of whole cloves or allspice berries directly into drinking mugs.

17. Serve Warm

Serve immediately while comfortably hot.

Because this is served from a slow cooker, remind children that both the liquid and the cooker itself can become very hot.

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Equipment You’ll Need

This recipe requires very little equipment:

• 5- to 6-quart slow cooker
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Ladle
• Fine-mesh strainer or spice bag
• Heat-safe mugs

A spice bag isn’t essential, but it makes removing cloves and allspice much easier.

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Variations & Substitutions

Cranberry Apple Wassail

Replace 2 cups of the apple cider with unsweetened cranberry juice.

This creates a more tart, ruby-colored holiday drink.

Orange Apple Wassail

For stronger citrus flavor, add approximately 1 cup of orange juice.

Reduce the apple cider by the same amount so the overall volume remains similar.

Maple Wassail

Replace the brown sugar with pure maple syrup.

Start with a small amount and adjust after the spices have infused.

Extra-Spiced Christmas Wassail

Add an additional cinnamon stick and another star anise pod for a more aromatic Christmas version.

Don’t dramatically increase the cloves—they can become overpowering.

Ginger Apple Wassail

Add a few extra slices of fresh ginger for a stronger warming ginger note.

No Star Anise

Simply leave it out.

The wassail will still have plenty of flavor from cinnamon, cloves, allspice, orange, and ginger.

Apple Juice Version

If apple cider isn’t available, you can use good-quality cloudy apple juice.

The flavor may be slightly lighter, but the recipe will still work.

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Pro Tips for the Best Wassail

Start with good cider. Since apple cider is the primary ingredient, its flavor matters.

Use whole spices. They provide cleaner flavor and are much easier to remove.

Don’t overdo the cloves. They’re much stronger than cinnamon.

Taste before adding lots of sugar. Some commercial ciders need almost none.

Cook on LOW. Gentle heat gives the spices time to infuse.

Don’t boil it for hours. Excessive heat can flatten the fresh apple and citrus flavors.

Use a spice bag. This is especially useful if you’re serving directly from the slow cooker.

Switch to WARM for parties. Once the flavor is developed, you don’t need to continue cooking aggressively.

Use fresh garnish. The orange slices that have cooked for several hours won’t look as attractive as fresh ones.

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How to Make Wassail Ahead

This is an excellent make-ahead drink.

Prepare the wassail completely, remove the spices and fruit, cool it, and transfer it to an airtight container.

Refrigerate overnight.

The following day, return it to the slow cooker and heat on LOW until hot.

Then switch to WARM for serving.

In fact, the flavor can be even more cohesive the following day because the spices have had time to settle into the cider.

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How to Store Slow Cooker Wassail

Remove the whole spices and cooked fruit before storing.

Allow the wassail to cool, then transfer it to airtight containers or jars.

Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Don’t leave the cider sitting at room temperature for extended periods after serving.

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How to Reheat Wassail

Slow Cooker

Pour the refrigerated wassail back into the slow cooker.

Heat on LOW until hot, then switch to WARM.

Stovetop

Pour it into a saucepan and heat gently over medium-low heat.

Avoid a vigorous boil.

Microwave

Individual mugs can be reheated in the microwave.

Use short intervals, stir, and check the temperature before drinking.

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Can You Freeze Wassail?

Yes.

After removing the spices and fruit, allow the cider to cool completely.

Transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving enough room for expansion.

Freeze for up to approximately 3 months for best quality.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently.

Fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks can be added when serving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Wassail?

Wassail can refer to both a historic tradition and the warm spiced drink associated with it.

Recipes have varied considerably over time and by region. Modern versions often contain apple cider or juice, citrus, and warming spices, while historical versions could include alcoholic bases.

This recipe is a modern non-alcoholic apple cider wassail designed for easy slow-cooker preparation.

Is Wassail the Same as Apple Cider?

Not exactly.

Apple cider is the base drink.

Wassail takes cider and infuses it with ingredients such as citrus, cinnamon, cloves, and other warm spices.

Is This Wassail Alcoholic?

No.

This Yummizer version is completely non-alcoholic.

Can Kids Drink It?

Yes, this recipe contains no alcohol.

However, adults should make sure the cider has cooled to a safe drinking temperature before serving it to young children.

Can I Use Apple Juice?

Yes.

Cloudy apple juice is the closest alternative when traditional apple cider isn’t available.

Can I Use Ground Cinnamon?

Whole cinnamon sticks are strongly preferred.

Ground cinnamon doesn’t dissolve completely and can leave sediment in the finished drink.

How Long Can Wassail Stay on Warm?

For a party, you can keep it on the slow cooker’s WARM setting while serving.

Check it periodically and don’t allow it to aggressively simmer.

Why Is My Wassail Bitter?

Too many cloves, too much citrus peel, or excessively long cooking can introduce bitterness.

Remove the spices once the drink has reached the flavor you want.

Why Is My Wassail Too Sweet?

Different apple ciders contain different amounts of natural and added sugar.

That’s why this recipe starts with only a modest amount of brown sugar.

If your cider is already very sweet, you can omit the added sugar entirely.

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What to Serve With Slow Cooker Wassail

Warm wassail is made for fall and holiday baking.

For an autumn afternoon, pair it with our Cinnamon Apple Galette or Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. The warm spices in the cider work especially well with apple and pumpkin desserts.

At Christmas, serve mugs alongside Quick Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies or Best Easy Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies.

And if you’re planning a holiday drink station, our Kid-Friendly Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Bar gives guests a creamy chocolate option alongside this fruitier spiced cider.

Nutrition Information

Approximate nutrition per 1-cup serving:

Calories: 145
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fat: 0g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 31g
Sodium: 12mg

Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary significantly depending on the apple cider and amount of added sugar used