Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe

If you love the cozy scents of Christmas, this easy Christmas simmer pot recipe is a lovely way to make your home feel festive. Orange, cranberries, cinnamon and cloves create a warm, gently spiced scent, while a sprig of rosemary adds a fresh, woodsy aroma.

A simmer pot is simple to make with a few ingredients and a pot of water. Let it warm on the stove while you decorate, wrap gifts or enjoy a quiet winter afternoon. You can also change the ingredients to suit what you have on hand.

Simmer pot ingredients also make a great gift. Just add the ingredients to a glass jar. Decorate the lid with ribbon and add a festive label. You can also add the ingredients into a plastic or cloth bag and tie them up with some Christmas ribbon. They make a great addition to a holiday gift basket.

A green crockpot with orange slices, cranberries and spices on a wooden table surrounded by Christmas lights and evergreen boughs.

Ingredients for a Christmas Simmer Pot

1 orange, sliced
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 star anise
1 small sprig of fresh rosemary
4 cups water, or enough to cover the ingredients

How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot

Add the orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and rosemary to a small pot.
Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients.
Bring the water to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
Leave the pot uncovered and check it often. Add more water as needed so the ingredients don’t dry out.
Enjoy the fragrance for a few hours, then turn off the heat.

For a slower, more hands-off option, put the ingredients in a slow cooker with enough water to cover them. Heat on low with the lid off, checking the water level regularly.

A pot containing orange and apple slices and spices on a wooden board surrounded by pine cones and evergreen boughs.

Christmas Simmer Pot Variations

It’s easy to adjust this recipe with ingredients you already have. Try one of these combinations:

Apple and Cinnamon

Replace the cranberries with a sliced apple. Add a pinch of nutmeg for a simple, sweet-spice scent.

Cranberry Ginger

Keep the cranberries and orange, then add 4 or 5 slices of fresh ginger. This gives the pot a brighter, gently warming aroma.

Vanilla and Orange

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. It goes well with the orange and cinnamon for a softer, bakery-like scent.

Rosemary and Citrus

Use lemon slices along with the orange and rosemary. Leave out the cloves and star anise for a fresh, less-spiced fragrance.

Cozy Spice

Add a few cardamom pods or a small piece of fresh ginger to the original recipe. Start with a little; you can always add more as it simmers.

Dried orange slices, cranberries, and cloves on a wooden table. The text reads holiday simmer pot recipe natural fragrance! — **Pin for Later**

Tips for Your Holiday Simmer Pot

Use fresh or frozen cranberries; dried cranberries won’t add the same colour or fragrance.
Add water whenever the level gets low. The pot should never be allowed to boil dry.
You can top up the water and reuse the ingredients later the same day, though the scent may become milder.
This simmer pot is for fragrance only. Do not drink the water or eat the ingredients.

Keep the pot on low heat and stay nearby while it simmers. Turn it off before leaving the house or going to bed.

This Christmas simmer pot is an easy, inexpensive way to bring a festive scent into your home. Make the recipe as written, or try a variation with the fruit and spices you have available.