Holiday Apple Wassail

This is a family recipe that I played with year after year until it's just perfect. This year's version will be made from apples picked from our own orchard! This recipe is famous at our family Christmas party.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 179 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon anise seed
• ¼ teaspoon ground mace
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 6 apples, cored and cut into 1 inch chunks
• 4 (2 inch) whole cinnamon sticks

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine the cider, apple chunks, and cinnamon sticks in a large kettle and bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn the heat down to low and add the mace, anise seed, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and brown sugar. Stir to combine, and simmer for 20 minutes until the spices have developed their flavor.

Step 2

Drop in the orange and lemon slices, simmer for 5 more minutes, and turn off the heat. Ladle the wassail punch into mugs and serve hot. Include a few pieces of cooked apple or a cooked orange or lemon slice in each mug.