This Easy 30 Minute Sparkling Wassail is a bubbly and refreshing variation on a traditional holiday beverage and can be easily served as a mocktail or blended with rum. Fresh orange slices, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves and ginger are steeped in cranberry juice and finished with sparkling apple cider.
If you’re looking for an easy beverage that you can easily prep in a few short minutes, one that will carry you throughout the holiday season, this one is for you.
Jump to RecipeTable of Contents
What is Wassail?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered a time or two about the contents and tradition of wassail. Wassail, a traditional holiday beverage with deep roots in English and Norse traditions, has a rich history steeped in centuries-old customs. The word “wassail” itself is derived from the Old English phrase “waes hael,” meaning “be well” or “good health.” The origins of wassailing can be traced back to medieval England, where it was an integral part of winter celebrations, particularly during the Twelfth Night and Christmas seasons.
Wassail was more than just a drink; it was a communal ritual symbolizing prosperity and good wishes for the upcoming year. The beverage, often a spiced and mulled ale or wine, was central to a practice where villagers would gather, move from house to house, and offer toasts to the health and success of their community.
Over time, variations of wassail recipes emerged, incorporating regional ingredients and reflecting the diverse cultural influences on this festive drink. As time progressed, wassailing evolved beyond its medieval roots, finding its way into Victorian-era Christmas traditions and, eventually, influencing the modern resurgence of interest in historical and seasonal beverages. Today, wassail continues to be a cherished part of holiday celebrations, embodying the spirit of communal joy and well-wishing that has characterized this festive beverage throughout its long and storied history.
Reviving Wassailing
In recent years, there has been a notable resurgence of interest in historical and seasonal beverages, with wassail reclaiming its place in festive celebrations. This revival can be attributed to a growing fascination with traditional and authentic experiences, as well as a renewed interest in rediscovering cultural practices from the past.
One driving force behind the modern resurgence of wassail is the popularity of historical reenactments and period-themed events. Enthusiasts and cultural preservationists have embraced the opportunity to recreate historical wassailing traditions, complete with period-accurate recipes and ceremonies. These events not only provide a tangible connection to the past but also offer a unique and immersive way for people to experience the customs surrounding wassail.
Additionally, the craft beverage movement has played a significant role in the revival of interest in traditional drinks like wassail. As consumers increasingly seek unique and artisanal experiences, craft brewers and cider makers have embraced the challenge of reimagining and reinventing wassail recipes. This has led to the creation of modern interpretations of the classic beverage, often using locally sourced ingredients and innovative flavor profiles.
Moreover, the desire for meaningful and authentic holiday experiences has fueled the interest in reviving old traditions, and wassail, with its historical significance and warm, spiced flavors, fits perfectly into this narrative. Whether enjoyed at historical reenactments, craft breweries, or in the comfort of your own home, wassail has become a symbol of reconnecting with the past and celebrating the holiday season with a touch of nostalgia and authenticity.
What’s in a Wassail Recipe Anyway?
Historically, traditional wassail recipes varied across regions and time periods, but they typically shared common ingredients that reflected the availability of seasonal and local produce. Here are some of the key ingredients commonly found in traditional wassail recipes:
- Ale or Wine: The base of traditional wassail was often a fermented beverage like ale or wine. In some variations, particularly in medieval England, mead was also used.
- Spices: A blend of spices was a hallmark of wassail, contributing to its warm and aromatic profile. Common spices included cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. These spices not only added flavor but also played a role in preserving the drink.
- Apples or Apple Cider: Apples were a popular ingredient in wassail, either in the form of whole apples or as apple cider. In some traditions, a carved apple might be floated in the wassail bowl as a decorative element.
- Sugar or Honey: Sweeteners like sugar or honey were added to balance the spiciness of the drink and enhance its overall flavor. The sweetness could be adjusted based on personal preference.
- Citrus Fruits: Some wassail recipes included citrus fruits such as oranges or lemons, providing a hint of brightness and acidity to the beverage.
- Toasted Bread or Roasted Apples: In certain versions of wassail, toasted bread or roasted apples were added to the mix. This not only added texture but also absorbed some of the flavors from the spiced liquid.
- Ale-soaked Sippets: Sippets were small pieces of bread or toast that were soaked in the wassail. This added a unique texture to the drink.
- Spirits: In some recipes, additional spirits like brandy or sherry were added for extra depth and complexity.
- Eggs: While not a universal ingredient, some wassail recipes included beaten eggs, creating a richer and more custard-like consistency.
It’s important to note that the exact ingredients and proportions could vary widely, and different regions had their own unique twists on wassail. As the beverage evolved over time, households and communities adapted the ingredients based on what was locally available and culturally significant to them.
Easy 30 Minute Sparkling Wassail: A New Twist on a Classic
Whereas traditional versions of this festive drink were thicker, more heavily spiced and served hot, this Easy 30 Minute Sparkling Wassail is a bubbly and refreshing variation. Food this time of year often runs a bit heavy, so I opted to keep this beverage fresh and light. It’s served cold, not hot. Finally, the base recipe is alcohol free, which means it can be served as a mocktail or blended with rum for a spirited drink.
The recipe is quite simple, which I personally like around the holidays. There’s no sense in over-complicating things when life is busy enough. In essence, fresh orange slices, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves and ginger are steeped in cranberry juice for 15 minutes. The spiced cranberry juice is then removed from the heat and allowed to cool to room temperature. While cooling, the fruit and spices will continue to release their essence into the juice.
Once the spiced cranberry juice has finished cooling, simply strain out the fruit and spices and blend with sparkling apple cider when ready to serve. At this stage, the beverage is complete and ready to enjoy as a mocktail. However, if you’d like to give it a little something extra, add one shot of spiced rum to 1/2 cup of the blended sparkling cider mixture.
If you choose to add rum, one emerged my personal favorite while developing this recipe. I loved Old Monk Rum for its vanilla notes. It just paired so nicely with the sparkling apple cider and spiced cranberry juice mix. However, Captain Morgans or another good spiced rum will do nicely as well. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice or orange or other festive topper.
If you’re looking for other great holiday mocktail recipes to serve throughout the season, I invite you to try my recipe for this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail. Raise a cup of kindness to yourself with this aromatic beverage. In this recipe, fresh grapefruit juice is lightly sweetened with a rosemary and juniper berry simple syrup and topped with black walnut bitters and sparkling soda. Crisp, light and elegantly delicious!
I love serving this drink throughout the holidays, and I especially like how this Tempting Grapefruit Evergreen Mocktail holds up to bold holiday flavors found in dishes like a roasted turkey made with myย 5-Minute Homemade Herb Rubย orย Chive & Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. Delicious!
However you choose to celebrate this season, I raise a glass of this Easy 30 Minute Sparkling Wassail and hope your holidays are filled with joy, laughter, friends and family. Blessings and enjoy!
Easy 30 Minute Sparkling Wassail
Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings5
minutes15
minutes10
minutesA bubbly and refreshing variation on a traditional holiday beverage and can be easily served as a mocktail or blended with rum. This recipe serves eight, but is easily adjusted for a larger group.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups cranberry cocktail juice
2 Cinnamon Sticks
2 Star Anise
4 Clove spikes
One 3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
2 orange slices, reserve the rest of the orange for garnish
2 cups sparkling apple cider
rum (optional)
Directions
- In a small saucepan, combine the cranberry juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise pods and ginger. Bring the mixture to the boil. Immediately reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- When spiced cranberry juice has finished simmering, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Leave the fruit and spices in the juice while it is cooling. The liquid will reduce slightly. You should have approximately 2 cups of liquid after cooking and cooling.
- Once the spiced cranberry juice has cooled, strain out the fruit and spices. At this stage, you can store the spiced cranberry juice in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, combine the spiced cranberry juice with 2 cups of sparkling apple cider. Serve sparkling wassail over ice as a mocktail and garnish with a slice of orange.
- If you wish to serve as a cocktail, add one shot of rum to an ice filled glass and top with 1/2 cup of the sparkling wassail and garnish with an orange slice.
Notes
- Where can I find sparkling apple cider? Most major grocery stores or specialty wine or liquor stores will carry sparkling cider. Martinelli’s and Welch’s are both good options and easy to find.
