There's nothing like walking into your home on a crisp fall or winter evening, and the air is filled with the enchanting scents of the season. Whether you're preparing for a Thanksgiving feast or trimming trees for Christmas, a simmer pot can transform your home into a cozy wonderland. Cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and cranberries gently bobbing along with sprigs of rosemary, whole cloves, and star anise will make your space smell like a scene straight out of your favorite holiday movie.
Video: Holiday Simmer Pot
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Things You'll Need
Orange slices
Apple slices
Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Fresh Rosemary
Star Anise
Whole Cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Water
Large pot or Dutch oven
1. Slice the fruit
Sliced fruit provides a base for your simmer pot fragrance. For a vibrant, refreshing scent, use sliced oranges. Your can toss in some sliced lemons for a zesty twist. If you're after a hint of tartness, use sliced apples. And for a splash of color and sweetness, sliced grapefruit adds a lovely pink hue and fragrance. Dried fruit works, too, if you don't have any fresh on hand.
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2. Fill the pot with water
Start by filling your simmer pot about two-thirds full with water, leaving enough space for all those delicious ingredients without causing a spill. As your pot bubbles away, keep an eye on the water level since you'll likely need to top it up now and then.
Thanksgiving or Christmas Simmer Pot
For a Thanksgiving twist, start with a base of apple cider and add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and slices of fresh apples to fill your home with a comforting fall aroma that could even double as a delicious hot drink.
For a Christmas simmer pot, switch to cranberry juice as the foundation to add a festive, tart sweetness. To smell as if you've brought a bit of the forest indoors, mingle some pine trimmings with the cranberries and orange slices.
3. Add aromatic ingredients
Here's where the magic happens—it's time to add those vibrant, aromatic goodies to your simmer pot! For our simmer pot recipe, we threw in sliced apples, some frozen cranberries, star anise, cinnamon sticks, fresh rosemary, and a few whole cloves into the water.
Here are some other simmer pot ingredients to consider:
- Aromatic herbs like rosemary, mint, or thyme
- Whole bay leaves for an earthy touch
- Loose-leaf chai tea for a spicy hint
- Sprigs of pine or cedar for a woodsy aroma
- A pinch of nutmeg or fresh ginger slices
- A splash of maple syrup or pumpkin spice seasoning
- Vanilla beans or a drop of vanilla extract for sweetness
- Whole cloves or a bit of ground clove spice
- Exotic cardamom pods or star anise
- Fresh peppermint leaves or lavender buds for a floral note
- Chamomile flowers for a calming scent
4. Simmer away!
Set your simmer pot on the kitchen stove over medium-high heat to get those scents bubbling away, filling your home with delightful aromas. Or, if you have a wood stove, simply place a trivet or rack on top, then set your simmer pot there, and let the magic of the simmering scents weave through the air.
Happy simmering!
