Recipe Wassail

Recipe Wassail

This is a wonderful punch to serve during the holidays!

It serves the dual purpose of filling your home with its spicy fragrance and providing a delicious warm drink for your family and friends!

Click here for a printable copy of this recipe.

Wassail

1 gallon apple cider

1 can frozen orange juice

6 Cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon Allspice, whole

1/2 teaspoon Cloves, whole

1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)

Instructions for Recipe Wassail

(1)Add cider and orange juice to a stockpot.

(2) Tie up spices in cheesecloth and add to the juices.

(3) Simmer for an hour or until desired taste.

(4) Add a bit of brown sugar, if more sweetness is desired.

(5) Serve piping hot with orange slices to garnish.

More than a seasoning

It turns out that cinnamon is about more than just making your wassail taste good. Recent studies have shown that cinnamon may help regulate your blood sugar and lower your cholesterol.

I suggest Indus Organics Ceylon Cinnamon.

The best cinnamon is real cinnamon with the aroma, flavor and health benefits that go with it. Much of the "cinnamon" sold in grocery stores is a variety called cassia that is not true cinnamon. If you are looking at cinnamon as a health food, you should buy real Ceylon cinnamon.

Other ways to use cinnamon

In addition to using it in the warm punch shown above, here are some other great ideas for using this popular spice:

-Consider sprinkling cinnamon on your oatmeal, cold cereal or yogurt. 

-Add cinnamon to baked goods recipes such as muffins, breads and pancakes. 

-Sprinkle some in your favorite smoothie, coffee or hot chocolate.

-Some people even add cinnamon to chili recipes.

-For a quick and nutritious snack, combine 1/2 cup cottage cheese with a diced apple and a pinch of cinnamon.

-Need an easy fall or winter dessert? For Baked Apples, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.; core one apple for each person, keeping the bottom of the apple intact and peeling it halfway down. Fill cavity with cinnamon sugar and a top with a small dab of butter. Bake in a covered dish for 30 minutes or until apple is just tender. Serve warm with a bit of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, vanilla yogurt or Half and Half.

What about cloves?

The clove is a sweet, aromatic spice native to Indonesia that, in its whole form, is the dried buds of the clove tree. Its name is derived from the Latin word for nail, and it may be purchased whole or ground. From a nutrition standpoint, cloves are a good source of manganese, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Enjoy this delicious warm punch with its healthy and aromatic spices!


Click here to from Recipe Wassail to Spices and Herbs page.