California Wassail Recipes

BOOZY HOT WASSAIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove core of apples with a small knife or melon baller. Place in a 4-quart or larger dutch oven or other oven-proof pot. Fill the cavity of each apple with 1 tablespoon of brown or demerara sugar. Stud the orange with the whole cloves and place in the pot. Add the water.
• Bake until apples are tender but still maintain their shape, 35-45 minutes.
• Remove pot from the oven and place on the stove. Cut orange into quarters and return to the pot. Add hard cider, wine, brandy, lemon, cinnamon sticks, and whole allspice.
• Barely bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.

WASSAIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spoon the sugar into the center of each apple, then place in a 9-inch square baking dish with 1 cup water. Bake until the apples are very tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the hard cider, pale ale, apple cider and Madeira to a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Put the cloves, allspice, cinnamon sticks, orange zest and lemon zest in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed. Add to the pot along with the ginger and nutmeg. Reduce the heat to low and steep the mixture until the liquid is well spiced and fragrant, about 1 hour.
• Add the cooked apples and any of their juices to the pot and stir to combine. Remove the cheesecloth. Serve warm in individual mugs with an orange wedge and cinnamon stick.

WASSAIL

Steps:

• In a medium pot set over medium heat, add the apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
• Ladle the wassail into mugs spiked with brandy or cognac, and garnish with spices and apple slices or orange wheels.

RITTENHOUSE INN WASSAIL PUNCH

Steps:

• To make the wassail, wrap the cloves, allspice, ginger, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns in cheesecloth and tie with kitchen string. Combine the cider, cranberry juice, brown sugar, and spice bag in a large pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
• For each serving, put one ounce of the bourbon into a mug and fill it with hot Wassail. Garnish with a dusting of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

EASY HOMEMADE WASSAIL

Steps:

• In a large pot on the stove or in a slow cooker, add all of your ingredients.
• Cook on low heat for 45 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh orange and lemon slices.
• Serve your hot wassail and toast!

WASSAIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the apples into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Spoon the brown sugar into the center of each apple, dividing the sugar evenly among them. Pour the water into the bottom of the dish and bake until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Pour the ale and Madeira into a large slow cooker. Put the cloves, allspice, and cinnamon into a small muslin bag or cheesecloth, tied with kitchen twine, and add to the slow cooker along with the ginger and nutmeg. Set the slow cooker to medium heat and bring the mixture to at least 120 degrees F. Do not boil.
• Add the egg whites to a medium bowl and using a hand mixer, beat until stiff peaks form. Put the egg yolks into a separate bowl and beat until lightened in color and frothy, approximately 2 minutes. Add the egg whites to the yolks and using the hand mixer, beat, just until combined. Slowly add 4 to 6 ounces of the alcohol mixture from the slow cooker to the egg mixture, beating with the hand mixer on low speed. Return this mixture to the slow cooker and whisk to combine.
• Add the apples and the liquid from the baking dish to the wassail and stir to combine. Ladle into cups and serve.