Wassail
Toast the holiday season with a traditional wassail recipe! This spiced wassail is a beloved tradition and cozy with or without alcohol!
Servings 10 people
Calories 206kcal
Ingredients
- 4 sweet apples (medium firm varieties, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 2 oranges halved
- 12 whole cloves
- 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 2-inch piece ginger peeled and sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ gallon apple cider
- 1 individual bag hibiscus tea optional
- 1 cup ruby port or cranberry or cherry juice
- Garnishes: thinly sliced apples or oranges cranberries, cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a melon baller, scoop out cores from centers of apples (don’t go all the way through the bottom, to help keep apples intact as they bake). Place apples, cored sides up, in a medium-size baking dish. Fill each with 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Pour ¾ cup water into bottom of baking dish, then bake until apples are tender but still have structure, 45 to 55 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stud outsides of orange halves with 3 cloves each, and place, cut sides up, in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Add cranberries, ginger, and cinnamon sticks. Pour apple cider over oranges and cranberries.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. If using, add tea bag the last 10 minutes of simmering. Carefully strain mixture into a heatproof bowl, gently pressing with a spatula to release some of the liquid from fruit; discard strained solids.
- Return strained liquid to pot. Stir in port. Transfer baked apples to pot, carefully tipping them on their sides to release the brown sugar. Gently stir. Serve wassail with desired garnishes.
Notes
Recipe reprinted from permission from
Notes from author Melissa Knific:
"Since it opened its doors in 1927, the Ahwahnee in California’s Yosemite National Park has entertained presidents, royals, and other notable figures. The lodge’s magnificent dining room is also known for exclusive events, and one of its biggest is the Bracebridge Dinner, held every December. The Yuletide celebration features a show—famed photographer Ansel Adams was one of the first cast members—and an extravagant dinner. While the menu has evolved over the years, some of the original dishes remain largely unchanged. One mainstay is the wassail, a warm cocktail that’s sure to take the chill off a brisk Yosemite winter night."
If not serving immediately, keep warm and covered either in pot over very low heat or in a slow cooker on warm. When the wassail is finished, the warm apples can be halved, served in bowls, and topped with ice cream for a decadent dessert. You can make this ahead for easier day-of serving; just gently reheat over medium heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
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