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Cozy Cranberry Clove Wassail: Best Winter Drink

cranberry clove wassail - featured image
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This isn’t your average holiday punch. This Cranberry Clove Wassail is the kind of drink that makes people stop mid-conversation and ask, ‘What is that?’ It’s bold, balanced, and has a story behind it. The cranberry adds a tartness that cuts through the sweetness, and the whole cloves infuse the drink with warm, aromatic depth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups cranberry juice (100% juice, not cocktail)
  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 large oranges)
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Fresh cranberries (for garnish, optional)
  • Thin orange slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Additional cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine the liquids. Pour the cranberry juice, apple cider, and fresh orange juice into a large pot. Add the maple syrup and whisk gently to combine. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer—not a rolling boil. This takes about 8-10 minutes.
  2. Add the whole spices. Drop in the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise (if using), and grated nutmeg. Sprinkle in the ground ginger. Stir once, then reduce the heat to low. Taste after 5 minutes to check the clove intensity; remove cloves early if desired.
  3. Simmer and infuse. Let the wassail simmer on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes. The liquid should barely be moving—just an occasional bubble. This slow infusion gives the drink its depth.
  4. Strain the spices. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl or clean pot. Carefully pour the wassail through the strainer to catch all the whole spices. If you used a spice bundle, just lift it out with tongs. Stir gently and adjust sweetness or brightness if needed.
  5. Serve immediately. Ladle the warm wassail into mugs. Garnish each mug with a few fresh cranberries and a thin orange slice. Use extra cinnamon sticks as stirrers. Serve piping hot.

Notes

Don’t overdo the cloves. Start tasting at the 5-minute mark and pull the cloves when the flavor feels right. Use a thermometer for the perfect serving temperature (160°F to 170°F). This recipe can be made ahead and actually gets better after sitting overnight. For a slow cooker version, combine all ingredients and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, then switch to warm. Remove whole cloves after the first hour.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail, cranberry, clove, winter drink, holiday punch, non-alcoholic, slow cooker, vegan, gluten-free

Find it online: https://morselora.com/cozy-cranberry-clove-wassail-best-winter-drink/