How to Make Holiday Wassail

Wassail is a hot, spicy beverage drunk mostly during Christmas celebrations. The wassail served nowadays usually resembles mulled cider, but an alcoholic version made with ale or wine and flavored with spices, is also popular. The term "wassailing" refers to carolers going door-to-door singing and receiving hot wassail in return. If you are cooking a Christmas feast, consider serving some wassail as an after-dinner treat.

Things You'll Need

• 1 qt. water
• 2 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 1 lime
• 1 tbs. whole cloves
• 1 tbs. allspice berries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 gallon apple juice or cider
• 1 cup sugar
• Strainer or slotted spoon
• 2 pints plus 1/4 cup brown ale
• 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
• Zest from 1/2 lemon
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 apples
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, divided
• 1 cup port
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• Baking dish

Instructions

Nonalcoholic Christmas Wassail

1. Heat the water to boiling. While the water is heating, cut the oranges, lemons and lime in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl, reserving the rinds. Set aside.

2. Add the rinds to the boiling water, along with the cloves, allspice and cinnamon sticks. Continue cooking the mixture on low for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour.

3. Remove some of the cloves and allspice berries, and the cinnamon sticks from the water with a slotted spoon or strainer, and set aside. Remove the citrus rinds and the rest of the spices and discard.

4. Pour the apple juice or cider into the water, then put the reserved spices back into the pot.

5. Return the wassail mixture to a boil, then add the reserved citrus juices and the sugar. Simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the warm in festive glasses or Christmas mugs.

Alcoholic Christmas Wassail

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Pour 2 pints of the ale into a large pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Add the cinnamon sticks, lemon zest and whole cloves.

3. Core the apples and place them in a baking dish. Fill each with 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Pour the remaining ale and the port into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

4. Add the remaining brown sugar, and the ground cinnamon, allspice, cardamom and ginger to the ale, and mix well.

5. Place the contents of the baking dish into the ale mixture when the apples are done baking. Continue cooking the wassail on low heat for 30 to 40 minutes. Serve the warm in festive glasses or Christmas mugs.

Tips & Warnings

• Both recipes make enough wassail for six to eight people.

• Wassail should be the temperature of hot tea when serving.

• Remove the wassail from the heat before serving to prevent overcooking.