Wassail is the perfect holiday drink to take the chill out of any day! A classic mulled holiday drink served hot full of homey warming spices. This mocktail recipe can be spiked too!
Have you ever wondered what the words of the classic Christmas carol ‘Here we come a-wassailing’ mean?
This long-time family Wassail recipe will warm your holiday season with comforting ingredients and homey spices.
I’ve served this recipe to hundreds of friends and family over the years and have handed out the recipe more times than I can count.
It’s a classic holiday drink that can be served as a mulled mocktail or with liquor too.
Hot Wassail is the perfect big batch drink for Christmas Eve.
What is Wassail?
Wassail, (pronounced ‘wah-sul’) is an old English mulled hot drink with mixed fruit juices, spices and usually some alcohol.
A ‘mulled’ drink is heated with spices and sometimes sugar. It’s served for autumn or winter.
This recipe is a non-alcoholic Wassail recipe but certainly can be spiked with liquor if desired! Suggestion included below.
What is Wassailing?
You’ve probably heard the popular Christmas carol about people wassailing, right? But what does it mean?!
It refers to a a specific type of holiday party!
What is a Wassail Party?
Groups of Christmas carolers being given a steamy mug of the drink Wassail in exchange for their songs.
The heady aroma of cider-based Wassail fills the cold winter nights with irresistible, homey smells.
These days it’s more likely to find families sipping around the holiday game table or at Christmas parties.
However you drink it, it’s a holiday winner and easy to make.
What is Wassail Made Of?
A combination of delicious fruit juices and spices make a sweet, slightly tangy drink.
Ingredients
- Apple Cider
- Pineapple Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Orange Juice
- Cinnamon Stick
- Whole Cloves
It simmers to blend the flavors into a warming holiday drink!
Variations:
Swap in some cranberry juice.
Consider adding some ginger and nutmeg to the spices.
Using mulled cider will automatically add rich warming spices to the recipe.
The SECRET Ingredient in this recipe
Our family recipe has a unique ingredient that not only makes it taste great but creates the pink hue: red hots!
Dissolved into the Wassail recipe they add a cinnamon taste that is delicious!
Cinnamon Imperials used for baking can be used too.
A recommended amount is provided in the recipe card below.
If you prefer it spicier, you can add more!
How to Make it – Step-by-Step
Like most punch recipes, it is easy to make.
- Combine all ingredients.
- Simmer for 20 minutes and it’s ready!
It’s perfect to leave on the stove top to stay warm and serve from there.
Alcoholic Wassail Recipe
Traditional Wassail included some type of liquor. Just enough to keep fingers and toes from tingling in the winter cold.
Most recipes today do not include liquor which allows anyone to drink it!
It’s an easy drink to spike if you wish. Try adding:
- Vodka (a neutral flavor that won’t change the Wassail flavor)
- Bourbon (will add some whiskey flavor)
- Rum (will complement the fruit flavors and taste a bit like a Mai Tai)
How to Add Liquor
You can spike the main Wassail batch if desired.
Adding liquor per serving instead of the whole batch allows children and teetotalers to enjoy it too!
Crockpot Wassail Recipe
Make this recipe in a Slow Cooker!
This is a great option if you want it out of the mainstream cooking.
Or if you want it hot and ready when you come home from chilly outdoor activities.
How to Make it in a Slow Cooker
Add all the ingredients to a large slow cooker and cook on:
- HIGH for 3-4 hours, or
- LOW for 6-8 hours.
How to Store it
If making ahead or having leftovers, store the sealed in the refrigerator. Warm before serving.
TIP: I store it in a glass jar with spigot. This makes it easy to draw a cup to heat in the microwave.
More Christmas Drink Recipes you’ll love:
- Glogg: Scandanavian Mulled Wine
- Designated Driver Required Egg Nog
- Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch
- Slow Cooker Mulled Apple Cider (non-alcoholic)
- Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Christmas Punch recipe (non-alcoholic)
More Recipes to Try
- Roasting Chestnuts: Everything You Need to Know
- Christmas Breakfast: Enchilada Casserole (an Easy Breakfast Casserole All Year Round!)
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: The Best Method Ever!
- Quiche: Quiche Lorraine (A Classic Cheesy Bacon Quiche)
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Recipe
Wassail
Ingredients
- 2 quarts (8 cups) Sweet Apple Cider
- 5 cups Pineapple Juice
- 2 cups No-Pulp Orange Juice
- 1 cup Lemon Juice
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 teaspoon Whole Cloves
- 2-3 ounces Red Hots or Cinnamon Imperials (Baking Decorations)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a low simmer and allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes for the flavors to blend.
- Strain into serving mugs and serve warm.
Notes
Quantity of Red Hots
The original recipe which is from the early 1970's called for '1/2 a small package' of Red Hots. Since then multiple sizes of Red Hots and cinnamon imperials are available. The estimated amount is 2-3 ounces, or half of a 5.5 ounce package in current sizing.Nutrition
Originally published December 11, 2011
Wassail is a sweet, spiced hot Christmas drink served as a mocktail or cocktail!
Toni (Boulder Locavore) says
Bananamondaes: It is a good recipe too! I was dubious before making but recommend it.
Carolyn: Truly, yes? How rare. AND the recipe was good. Agree on spiking though not is good too!
Curt: I hope you realize the 'fading' was merely an artistic dipiction. Maker's Mark is never in the background of any cocktail (sounds like I'm their Marketing Director; not but believe in the spirit wholeheartedly).
Kiri: Agree. I think pineapple can be overly sweet and dominate. I expected it to taste like fruit punch but it was really well balanced and just enough 'of the season' in the spices but not too much.
Pauline: Gosh I wish we would have sung the Wassiling song in elementary school when endeavoring to become rock stars. It would have sounded far better than what we did. All shades of 'horrible' I'm afraid still!
Ken Moorhead (@IndyCocktails) says
Looking forward to trying this out! Have you tried with different types of whiskies other than bourbon, say Irish or Rye?
Pauline says
Hope you sang a wassailing song too very popular here in the uk!
Tamyr says
It looks delish!
I love how you could find it in your brother's childhood writing. Definitely one to keep in a scrapbook of memories 🙂
The part about the band made me laugh. I've been there lol.
Curt says
Mmmm, making me thirsty! My Houston Texans just won again and clinched their division! That Maker's Mark faded into the background would be the perfect edition for the celebration!
Carolyn says
Wow, that recipe card from your brother, what a great find! And I will, of course, have my wassail spiked, please.
Lizzy says
Oh, I love the recipe in your brother's childhood handwriting…so precious! And what a beautiful cocktail….mmmmmm.
Toni (Boulder Locavore) says
Lizzy: Thanks, I agree completely on the handwriting. Makes you realize in this day of cyber everything how much something in someone's 'hand' conveys.
Kim Bee: I'm a girl so we did not want to be in a Boy Band but more a famous male/female duet I'm sure! The original recipe IS intended to be without alcohol so you will be drinking it as intended and I'm sure won't be disappointed.
Peggy: Thank you!
Tamyr: Thank you! We all have those memories where we were sure we were bigger than life.
Peggy says
Happy Birthday to your brother! This definitely sounds like a fitting drink to celebrate =)
Kim Bee says
This post made me laugh. I love that your brother wore purple and you guys wanted to be a boy band. Lol! I have some of these recipe cards with my writing on them. I should take a look and see what crazy recipes are there. This is really lovely. I'd have to do it sans alcohol but it looks tasty enough that I won't care it's missing.