Crockpot Hot Apple Cider (Wassail)

A large slow cooker with hot apple cider, spices, sliced apples, sliced oranges, and a whole orange studded with cloves, next to two glass mugs of cider

The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 8 to 12 Servings
Yield: 12 cups

This easy crockpot hot apple cider, based on wassail, is more than just a delicious and warming winter beverage. It also fills the house with the most irresistible aroma of apple and spice, making it an ideal party drink.

What is Wassail?

Traditionally served at Christmastime and often accompanied by wassailing, which means going door to door singing carols, wassail is a hot drink made with wine, beer, or cider, plus spices, sugar, and apples.

How Should I Serve Hot Apple Cider?

This nonalcoholic apple cider version can be enjoyed by everyone. It's perfect for a cold winter day when you come back after sledding or skating and want to be warm and cozy. But it’s also great for entertaining. If you have a pretty crockpot, you can serve it directly from there, so it stays warm for your guests. Be sure to supply a heatproof ladle and sturdy mugs with handles. When hosting, serve this cider with some easy appetizers, such as a cheese ball, hot artichoke dip, or an easy cheese fondue.

Tips for Making the Best Crockpot Hot Apple Cider

  • Take advantage of your slow cooker: You can keep this beverage warm for about 2 hours after it is done cooking. Just turn the slow cooker to "keep warm."
  • Customize the recipe: Experiment with the spices in the recipe, adding more or less to suit your palate, or even adding different spices.
  • Spike your cider: Serving nonalcoholic cider makes it friendly to party guests of all ages, as well as nondrinkers, but for those who want to add a little kick to their hot beverage, you can place a bottle of rum or bourbon nearby. Try adding a splash to each serving.

"I was excited to try this drink, because I love the spiced apple cider sold at cider mills in the fall. It was easy to put together, and I used spices I already had in my pantry. I let it simmer in the crock pot while we shoveled and sled. Everyone loved this, even the picky kids." —Carrie Parente

Crockpot Hot Apple Cider Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 12 cups apple cider

  • 1/3 cup brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 3 (3-inch) sticks cinnamon

  • 1 small orange

  • 5 whole cloves

  • Optional garnishes: whole star anise, cinnamon sticks, orange slices. and/or apple slices

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make crockpot hot apple cider

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  2. Combine 12 cups apple cider, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, and 3 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Press 5 whole cloves into 1 small orange, then add it to the slow cooker.

    A crockpot with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground allspice, and an orange studded with five whole cloves

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  3. Cover the crockpot and cook on low, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 hours.

    A hand placing a glass lid on a crockpot with spiced hot apple cider

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  4. Serve in mugs, garnished with whole star anise, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and/or apple slices, if desired, and enjoy.

    Two glass mugs of hot apple cider, garnished with star anise, sliced apples, and an orange slice

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
189 Calories
1g Fat
47g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 13mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 38g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 157mg 784%
Calcium 74mg 6%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 447mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)