Christmas Simmer Pot
A Christmas simmer pot is the perfect way to fill your home with cozy holiday scents. Learn how to make an easy stovetop potpourri with natural ingredients.
Ingredients
- 4 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon Whole cloves
- 4 to 5 Star anise
- 1 large Orange (sliced)
- 1 large Grapefruit (sliced)
- 1 cup Fresh cranberries
- 3 to 5 Fresh rosemary sprigs
- 6 to 8 cups water
Instructions
Stovetop
- Slice the orange and grapefruit into thin rounds. Rinse the cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, orange slices, grapefruit slices, cranberries, and rosemary to a medium-sized pot.
- Fill the pot with water about ¾ full, ensuring the ingredients are fully submerged. Leave some space at the top to prevent overflow.
- Place the pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer.
- Let the simmer pot release its festive fragrance, adding water as needed to keep the ingredients covered.
- If you want to reuse the simmer pot, allow it to cool, refrigerate, and reheat it within 2 to 3 days. Make sure to top up with water as you simmer.
Slow cooker method
- Fill the cooker about ¾ full with water, add the ingredients, and set it to high. Cook uncovered for 2–3 hours, adding water as needed to maintain the water level.
- Alternatively cook on low for 6 to 8 hours replenishing the water as needed.
Making a Mason Jar Simmer Pot Gift
- Fill a 32-ounce mason jar with sliced oranges, grapefruit, cranberries, rosemary sprigs, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
- Pour cool water into the jar, filling it to the top, then tightly seal with a lid.
- Tie a festive ribbon around the jar and attach a gift tag. Include simple instructions like:“Place contents in a pot, add water, and simmer for 2–3 hours. Enjoy the festive aroma!”
- Be sure to keep the jar refrigerated until ready to gift to ensure freshness.
Making Dehydrated Citrus for Gift Bags
- Cut oranges and grapefruit into 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick slices to ensure they dry faster.
- Preheat the oven to 200°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the citrus slices in a single layer and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place the sheet in the oven and bake for 2–3 hours, flipping the slices every 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Let the citrus slices cool completely before assembling into gift bags with other dried ingredients.
- This method creates long-lasting, beautiful components perfect for creating dry Christmas simmer pot bags!
Notes
- For a stronger fragrance, you can add a few drops of essential oils, ground spices, or even flower petals to the mix.
- While cranberries don’t contribute much scent, they add a festive, decorative touch. Feel free to omit them if desired.
- Try Other Fruits: Sliced apples or other citrus fruits make excellent additions to this simmer pot.
- If you’d rather not slice the orange and grapefruit, you can use just their peels. Both fresh and dried peels work well, and any citrus fruit can be substituted.
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