Festive Holiday Simmer Pot Recipe To Enjoy And Gift

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The holiday season is here, and there’s no better way to share the warmth and joy of Christmas than with a handmade gift like a Christmas Simmer Pot in a Jar. Combining fresh ingredients, rustic charm, and the cozy scents of the season, this beautiful jar not only looks festive but fills the entire house with the comforting aromas of winter and the holidays.

This gift is simple, affordable, and flexible—you can use what you have on hand or what’s seasonal to your area. Tuck it into a basket with fresh bread or gift it solo. This is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season.

The Inspiration Behind This Simmer Pot

A simmer pot is the perfect way to naturally fill your home with the scent of the season, using a combination of fruit, whole spices, and fresh herbs. The layered look of orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and evergreen sprigs in these jars creates a lovely presentation while offering a wonderful smell once simmered in a pot of water.

How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot in a Jar

Why I Love This Gift Idea

1. Seasonal Scents: This combination of ingredients creates the perfect fall stovetop potpourri or Christmas simmer pot. The notes of citrus, spices, and evergreen fill your home with the kind of cozy fall and winter smells we all love.
2. A Great Way to Use What You Have: This is an excellent opportunity to use up extra fruit scraps like orange peels or apple slices, as well as herbs or spices you have on hand.
3. Safe and Natural Alternative: Unlike candles, essential oils, or synthetic air fresheners, simmer pots use only fresh ingredients and whole spices for a clean, non-toxic way to enjoy a fragrant home.

Tips for Success

• Best Place to Find Ingredients: I sourced the pine and juniper from my walk! You can dry your own orange slices and herbs at home, or look for them at local markets, bulk spice stores, or online.
• Seasonal Substitutions: Swap rosemary for pine or fir branches, or add bay leaves and vanilla extract for extra layers of scent.
• Safety Reasons: If using a stove top or dutch oven, never leave the simmer pot unattended. Make sure there’s always enough water in the pot to prevent it from drying out.

Variations to Try

1. Fall Simmer Pot Recipe: Apple slices, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon sticks, and dried citrus fruits for the fall season.
2. Winter Season Blend: Dried cranberries, lemon peels, and rosemary for bright, cheerful winter months.
3. Comforting Scents of Fall: Add cardamom pods and vanilla extract for a warm, dessert-like aroma that smells like hot apple cider or warm apple pie.

The Perfect Way to Spread Cheer

Handmade gifts like this holiday simmer pot are a wonderful way to make someone’s entire house smell amazing while celebrating the beauty of the season. Plus, they’re quick and easy to assemble with simple ingredients, making them an ideal last-minute gift.

Next time you’re looking for a thoughtful present or an alternative to store-bought room sprays, try this homemade simmer pot. It’s the kind of gift that fills not just a home, but a heart, with warmth and joy.

Christmas Simmer Pot in a Jar

erynwhalen

A festive blend of dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, fresh rosemary, and star anise—this Christmas Simmer Pot captures the warm, cozy scents of the holiday season. Perfect for filling your home with natural aromas or gifting to loved ones in a beautifully layered jar.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 hours hrs

Total Time 5 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Canning

Cuisine American

Servings 1 quart jar

Ingredients

  

• 2-3 dried orange slices or orange peels
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon allspice
• 1-2 sprigs fresh or dried rosemary or evergreen branches cedar, fir, juniper, or pine work great!
• 1-2 whole star anise pods
• 1 small handful of cranberries or goji berries for color
• Optional: 1 teaspoon cardamom pods or a pinch of pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

 

• Layer Your Ingredients: Begin with the larger items like orange slices and cinnamon sticks, then layer in the cloves, star anise, and cranberries for pops of color. Finally, tuck in the rosemary or evergreen branches for a festive, natural touch.
  
  Choose the Right Jar: Pint-sized jars or other clear glass jars with lids work best. They allow the beautiful ingredients to shine through, making the jar a gift in itself.
  
  Add a Label or Tag: Use a gift tag or label with simmering instructions:“Pour the contents of the jar into a large pot, stock pot, or slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the ingredients and simmer on low heat. Keep an eye on the water level, adding fresh water as needed. Enjoy the cozy, natural aroma!”
  
  Finish with a Decorative Touch: Tie twine or ribbon around the jar lid, and add a sprig of greenery, a mini cinnamon stick, or a dried orange slice to complete the look.

Notes

Water Level: Always keep enough water in the pot while simmering to prevent the ingredients from burning. Check periodically and add fresh water as needed.

Fresh vs. Dried Ingredients: While dried citrus slices and herbs have a longer shelf life, you can also use fresh ingredients like orange slices or rosemary. If using fresh ingredients, the simmer pot blend should be used within 1-2 days if stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to a week.

Customizations: Feel free to substitute ingredients based on what you have. Lemon peels, apple slices, bay leaves, or cardamom pods make great additions. You can also sprinkle in a pinch of pumpkin pie spice or add a splash of vanilla extract for a more dessert-like aroma.

Cranberries: If using fresh cranberries, note they should be refrigerated to keep them fresh and used within a week. Dried cranberries are a great alternative for longer-lasting jars.

Simmering Methods: This blend works well in a large pot, Dutch oven, small saucepan, or slow cooker. For hands-free simmering, a small crock pot set to the lowest heat setting is ideal.

Reusable Ingredients: After simmering, you can store the cooled mixture in the refrigerator and reuse it the next day by adding fresh water. However, the scent will gradually fade after 2-3 uses.

Safety Tip: Never leave a simmer pot unattended on the stovetop, as the water can evaporate quickly and cause the ingredients to burn.

Seasonal Variations: Customize the blend for the fall season with apple slices and pumpkin pie spice, or add evergreen sprigs for a wintry Christmas-time aroma.

Eco-Friendly Option: If you have leftover fruit scraps like orange peels or lemon peels, they’re a fantastic addition to a simmer pot and a great way to reduce waste.

Keyword Christmas gift, simmer pot

Always keep enough water in the pot while simmering to prevent the ingredients from burning, and check the water level regularly, adding fresh water as needed. You can use fresh or dried ingredients—dried citrus slices and herbs last longer, while fresh ingredients like orange slices or rosemary should be used within a week if refrigerated. For longer-lasting jars, opt for dried cranberries instead of fresh ones.

This blend works beautifully in a Dutch oven, slow cooker, or small saucepan, and you can even reuse it the next day by adding fresh water, though the scent will fade after a few uses. Feel free to customize with apple slices, lemon peels, bay leaves, or a splash of vanilla extract for your favorite seasonal scents. If you make this simmer pot, I’d love to see it!

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