Wassail

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Every year my husband’s extended family gets together for the holidays. Over the years the location has changed from one house to another. When I first joined the family the celebration was held at Aunt Mary-Ann’s house. I remember the fist time I walked in, the aroma of this wassail filled the air! I grew up in Hawaii so we didn’t really drink warm drinks like this, ooooh it was so delicious! As the location of the party changed to various houses over the years this wassail was always sure to follow! We’ve hosted for the last several years so it has been our turn to make Aunt Mary-Ann’s famous wassail!

Sadly this year we are not able to host the big family gathering but we thought it would be fun to make a small batch of Wassail, pour it into our hot mugs, and drive around to our family’s houses to wish them a Merry Christmas from a distance! There’s just something about seeing someone in person even if you are 6+ feet apart!

Bonus, not only is this a tasty treat that will keep you cozy and warm, its also a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen! The kids always enjoy ‘decorating’ the orange 🙂 They can make whatever fun and creative patterns they want in the orange with the cloves 🙂 We hope you enjoy our little family tradition, may this treat warm you up for the holidays!

Preheat oven 300*

Ingredients:

75 – 100 cloves
1 large orange
2 quarts 100% apple juice or apple cider
5-6 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp brandy extract
1 tsp rum extract

Directions:

Poke the cloves into the orange about a 1/2 inch apart, fill orange completely. Then bake it on a tray in the oven at 300* for 30 minutes.
In a large pot bring the juice, cinnamon sticks and baked orange to a boil then add the brandy and rum extract.
Keep on low on stove-top or keep warm in a crock-pot during your gathering and enjoy!

Optional for adults only: Add in a little REAL rum or brandy – plain brandy is gluten-free but be careful of cognacs that add flavorings or other additives after distillation.