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Easy Cranberry Clove Wassail Recipe: Best Cozy Drink

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This light and cozy cranberry clove wassail is a quick and easy holiday drink made with simple ingredients like cranberries, oranges, honey, and cloves. It’s the perfect crowd-pleaser for potlucks, cookie swaps, or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 large oranges (one juiced, one sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 apple, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1/4 cup bourbon or rum (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and prep the cranberries and oranges. Rinse cranberries and pick out any shriveled ones. Juice one orange and slice the other into thin rounds.
  2. In a large pot, combine cranberries, water, honey, orange juice, and a pinch of salt. Stir well.
  3. Add whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and sliced orange rounds. If using, add star anise or apple slices.
  4. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
  5. After 15 minutes, mash the cranberries gently with a wooden spoon against the side of the pot. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  7. Strain the wassail through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or pitcher. Press on solids to extract liquid.
  8. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice as desired.
  9. Serve warm, garnished with a cinnamon stick or orange slice.

Notes

Don’t skip the mashing step—it releases pectin and natural sugars for a richer flavor. Be careful with cloves; too many can make the drink taste like potpourri. For a crystal-clear drink, strain twice. This wassail gets better after a day in the fridge.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry wassail, clove wassail, holiday drink, cozy drink, easy wassail recipe, winter beverage, potluck drink

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-cranberry-clove-wassail-recipe-best-cozy-drink/