Golden Wassail

Warm up your holiday gatherings with the comforting allure of Golden Wassail, a spiced mulled cider drink that epitomizes festive cheer. This soul-soothing recipe blends apple cider, orange juice, and pineapple juice with an aromatic medley of cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and cardamom pods. Fresh ginger and citrus slices add a zesty brightness, while a touch of brown sugar and optional freshly grated nutmeg create a perfectly balanced sweetness. Ideal for cozy evenings by the fire, this wassail can be served as a family-friendly beverage or enhanced with a splash of dark rum or brandy for an adult twist. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s the ultimate seasonal treat for serving in mugs, garnished with a cinnamon stick or orange slice. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or winter celebrations, Golden Wassail is your go-to recipe for a warm and inviting holiday drink.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 10 whole cloves
• 2 star anise pods
• 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoons nutmeg, freshly grated (optional)
• 1 cup dark rum or brandy (optional, for adults)

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot, combine the apple cider, orange juice, and pineapple juice.

Step 2

Add the fresh ginger slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, and crushed cardamom pods to the pot.

Step 3

Stir in the lemon slices, orange slices, and brown sugar. If using nutmeg, add it as well.

Step 4

Place the pot on the stove over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 5

Taste the wassail and adjust sweetness by adding more sugar if desired.

Step 6

If serving for adults, stir in the dark rum or brandy just before serving.

Step 7

Strain the wassail through a fine mesh sieve to remove the spices and citrus slices. Discard the solids.

Step 8

Serve warm in mugs or heatproof glasses, garnished with a cinnamon stick or a fresh orange slice, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2963.2 grams (2963.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2021

Total Fat 8.70g	11%
Saturated Fat 1.50g	8%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.80g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 148mg	6%
Total Carbohydrate 358.20g	130%
Dietary Fiber 27.30g	98%
Total Sugars 274.90g
Protein 10.60g	21%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 557mg	43%
Iron 9mg	51%
Potassium 3656mg	78%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 5.0%

Protein: 2.7%

Carbs: 92.2%