Learn to make a holiday simmer pot using the slow cooker or the stovetop with some water and a handful of fresh, aromatic ingredients. Enjoy deliciously fragrant and nontoxic aromas as the citrus and spices simmer away for hours, all while bringing the smell of the holidays into your home!
They say scent is the strongest sense to evoke memories, which is why so much of what we associate with the holidays are smells.
One of my favorite things about holiday baking things like cinnamon sugar pumpkin donuts, apple pie dump cake, and gingerbread cookies is the cozy vibes they deliver just from baking in the oven!
What if we could deliver all of that delicious aroma without having to do the baking?!
A simmer pot is a great way to evoke those memories and bring the smells of the Christmas season to life. Enjoy the smell of Christmas wafting throughout your home without any artificial perfumes or scents. Instead of candles or plug-in air fresheners, putting together a holiday simmer pot is an easy, healthy, and non-toxic way to keep your house smelling amazing!
This one is made with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, along with orange slices, cranberries, and fresh herbs. The beauty of simmering potpourri is that you can switch up the ingredients for a completely different aroma.
Maybe you want more cinnamon during your Christmas parties, or more citrus when watching movies by the fire, or maybe you want a more woodsy smell in the morning when you’re unwrapping gifts!
This simmer pot is a simple recipe that you can make on the stove or in the slow cooker. I’m going to show you how to do both!
Why you’ll love this idea
- It smells amazing as the aromas travel throughout your entire home.
- A natural, nontoxic way to bring in the scent of the holidays.
- Easy to make using a few simple ingredients.
- Can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
- Dry ingredients can be put together in an adorable potpourri bag and given as a gift.
Crock Pot Potpourri
Helpful Tools
- Mini Slow Cooker – you don’t need a full sized one for this; 2-4 quart is fine.
- Stock Pot – if you want to be cutesy about it, get this glass one
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Whole spices – Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice. If you do not have whole allspice, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice can be used.
- Ground nutmeg
- Cranberries – Use fresh or frozen. No need to thaw them; just toss them in frozen.
- Orange slices – I slice them to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
How to make a Holiday Simmer Pot
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
JumpStovetop Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a large pot with water 3/4 of the way.
- Step 2: Toss in all of the ingredients. Over medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3-4 hours. Add more liquid as needed to keep it going for up to 8 hours.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Step 1: Place all the ingredients into a 2-4 quart slow cooker – no need for a big crockpot.
- Step 2: Add water to the basin of your slow cooker, about 3/4 of the way full and set the crockpot to low. Simmer uncovered for 6-8 hours.
- Step 3: Add more water as needed.
Variations
An easy way to change the aroma of what you’re simmering is to simply swap the ingredients. You can also adjust the amount you use based on which smells you want more pronounced.
Below are just a few ideas:
- Fruit (peels, cores, dried, or fresh!): Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, apples, and pears.
- Herbs and spices: Pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, cardamon, star anise, basil, mint, thyme, pine, or dried lavender.
- Extracts: Orange extract, almond extract, mint extract, or vanilla extract.
- Add a splash of apple cider vinegar, apple cider, apple juice, or orange juice to the pot for extra goodness!
- Simmer pot ingredients will last on low heat for 6-8 hours on the stove or in a small crock pot.
- Liquid loss is approximately 1 inch per hour. Refill with additional water to extend the simmer time.
- Do not leave your pot unattended for too long.
- When you’re done with the simmer pot, strain the liquid and toss the ingredients into the compost.
- If you’ve got leftover rinds, peels, or cores from fruit, feel free to toss those in too.
FAQs
Can I reuse the simmer pot the next day?
Sure, you can! It can simmer away for a few hours one day, and once it has cooled back down, you can cover it and let it sit until the next day. Again, add more water as needed. You can do this for up to a few days. To keep it even longer, keep it refrigerated overnight.
How to make holiday simmering pot potpourri gift bags?
Go out and grab a clear jar, cellophane bag, or potpourri bag. Fill it with any combination of dried ingredients you like. Spices, herbs, dried orange peel, dried cranberries, etc. Anything that will last.
Once the bag/jar is full, add a pretty ribbon or twine and attach a gift tag. Along with your message and instructions, add a reminder to use it within a couple of weeks.
Need more holiday recipes? Try these:
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix with Printable Gift Tag
Slow Cooker White Hot Chocolate
Click here to view my entire collection of Christmas recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
Holiday Simmer Pot – Stovetop or Slow Cooker
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 Tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 Tablespoon whole allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup fresh cranberries or frozen
- 2 medium oranges sliced to ½ inch thickness
- 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Fill a large stock pot (5 quart) approximately 3/4 of the way full with water (approximately 4-6 cups) and add all the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.4 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 Tablespoon whole cloves, 1 Tablespoon whole allspice, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 cup fresh cranberries, 2 medium oranges, 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3-4 hours, adding more liquid as needed, for up to 6-8 hours. *On low, it will lose approximately 1" of water per hour.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small slow cooker (I recommend something small, like a 2-4 quart) and then fill approximately 3/4 of the way full with water.
- Set to LOW, uncovered, for 6-8 hours, adding more water as needed.
Notes
- A simmer pot is not meant to be consumed – you are making potpourri.
- Simmer pot ingredients will last on low heat for 6-8 hours on the stove or in a small crock pot.
- Liquid loss is approximately 1 inch per hour. Refill with additional water to extend the simmer time.
- If you do not have whole allspice, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice can be used.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
I seen this recipe and want to try it out. To get into the holiday spirit!! It was AMAZING it made hole house smell like holiday spirit. I would definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
Yay, you’re welcome! 🙂