Add another layer of festiveness to your home during the holidays. Create Christmas Simmer Pots for your stovetop to make your whole house smell like Christmas. Using a stovetop potpourri versus a scented candle is a natural way to create a festive-smelling house.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These
- Uses Only Natural Ingredients
- Flexible - Use What You Have
- Beautiful Gift Option
Featured Ingredients
- Fresh Cranberries - Bright red and beautiful berries.
- Orange Slices - Citrus adds the perfect scent.
- Cinnamon Sticks - Warm spice and a very popular smell for the holiday season.
- Whole Allspice - Another warm spice to add another layer of scent.
- Pine Needles - Cut a small sprig from a fresh Christmas tree or a pine tree outside.
- Water - Add as needed.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Grab a heavy-bottomed pot, like a Dutch oven or a stock pot. Toss in the cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, and pine needles.
Step 2: Cover with fresh water and place on the stovetop on low heat. The pot should have a low simmer all day long. If the water level gets low, additional water may be needed.
Step 3: Turn off the heat at night or when you are done simmering. Turn it back on the next day - up to three days.
Step 4: Discard or compost the ingredients once the pot has simmered on its last day.
Variations
Citrus Fruit Options: Use lemon slices, grapefruit slices, tangerines or clementines
Whole Spice Options: Use star anise, whole cloves, juniper berries, cardamom pods, and ground spices will work too
Herb Options: Use rosemary sprigs
Homemade Gift Idea
Need a great gift for someone who has everything? Or a teacher gift, a neighbor gift, or a hostess gift for a holiday party? Create a Christmas Simmer Pot In a Jar! Place the fresh cranberries, a whole orange, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, and pine branches into a large mason jar. Another great option to use is recycled, washed glass jars. It is an inexpensive way to find another use for an item that would otherwise end up at the curb.
Wrap the lid of the jar with a pretty fabric and tie it with a string. Create a tag with the instructions to complete the simmer pot. This includes slicing the orange, pouring the jar ingredients into a large pot, and adding water. It is important to include information about simmering over low heat and tossing out ingredients after 2-3 days.
FAQs
By all accounts all the ingredients are food edible, but I wouldn’t. Heat up a mug of cranberry juice with fresh orange slices instead.
Yes! If you aren’t looking for a pretty simmer pot, use the orange peels instead of whole orange slices. The citrus peels will work to infuse the scent, and you get to eat orange!
Yes. If your stovetop is needed to cook food, place the ingredients into a slow cooker and set it to the lowest setting. Keep the cover off and enjoy the aroma of Christmas.
Additional Christmas Recipes
Discover a new Christmas recipe or find something new. Below are a few of our favorites!
- Glazed Ham Steaks - Perfect for when you don't need to make an entire ham.
- Gluten Free Corn Pudding - A classic recipe in our house, not only for Christmas.
- Charcuterie Board Crackers - Great options, including gluten free crackers, budget friendly crackers and kid friendly options!
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Christmas Simmer Pot
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1 orange
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice
- 1 fresh pine needle sprig
Instructions
- Slice the orange with a sharp knife on a cutting board.
- Grab a large, heavy-bottomed pot like a Dutch oven or a stock pot and add the cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, and fresh pine sprig.
- Add fresh water to the pot so the ingredients are covered.
- Place the pot on the stovetop over low heat.
- Turn off the heat when the simmer pot is no longer wanted. The next day, add more fresh water if needed. The simmer pot can be used for up to three days or until it no longer smells good. If a longer timeframe is needed, refrigerate the cooled simmer pot between uses.
- Discard the ingredients after 2-3 days if kept on stovetop or after seven days when stored in the refrigerator between uses.
Leave a Reply