Cranberry Simmer Pot
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For Christmas, I love making this festive cranberry simmer pot. Just pour cranberry juice and water in a big stock pot; toss in fresh cranberries, star anise, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, thyme, and whole allspice; and finish with a few slices of fresh lime for a citrus-y note. This stovetop potpourri is super simple to make, and a great natural alternative to air fresheners and artificial sprays. It only takes a couple of minutes for everything to warm on the stovetop, filling you kitchen with the best scents of the holiday season as it simmers.
Key Ingredients
- Cranberry Juice – While I recommend 100% cranberry juice for recipes like cranberry candy and cranberry punch, you can make this simmer pot with cranberry juice, cranberry cocktail, or even a cranberry-apple blend. The juice adds color and scent, but flavor doesn’t matter since you won’t be drinking your simmer pot anyway!
- Cranberries – Fresh or frozen cranberries both work nicely. This recipe is especially perfect for using up cranberries or juice left over from cranberry candy, compote, or punch. But there really aren’t any rules here. Simmer pots are highly flexible with lots of room for creativity, so just toss in whatever berries you have, and let it simmer!
- Whole Spices – I’ve added whole allspice, cinnamon sticks, and whole star anise to my simmer pot. Juniper berries, whole cloves, or whole nutmeg would make nice additions, too. The best part about this simmer pot is its flexibility; you can toss in more of your favorite spices, or omit anything you don’t have on hand. It’s also a good way to repurpose older dried spices that are just slightly past their prime; they might not add enough flavor to a cooking recipe, but they’ll still smell lovely when simmered on the stovetop.
- Fresh Herbs – I used sprigs of fresh rosemary and fresh thyme. If you don’t have both of these fresh herbs, you can use more of one or the other. Fresh sage makes a good choice, too. Do not use dried herbs.
- Citrus – I added lime to my simmer pot; feel free to add slices of lemon or orange, either instead of or in addition to the lime. You can also add a few drops of pure citrus oil, or slices of dried citrus fruit for visual appeal.
Safety Tips
Never leave a simmer pot unattended, and do not allow the pot to run dry. And while this simmer pot recipe contains edible ingredients, it is not meant to be eaten. After simmering, allow the contents to cool then pass everything through a fine mesh strainer. Dispose of the waterlogged spices and berries with food waste or regular household trash.
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Cranberry Simmer Pot
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield1 simmer pot 1x
A festive cranberry simmer pot with cranberries, whole spices, citrus, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
480 milliliters cranberry juice (2 cups)
150 grams fresh or frozen cranberries (about 1 1/2 cups)
10 whole star anise
3 cinnamon sticks
3 6-inch sprigs fresh rosemary
3 6-inch sprigs fresh thyme, or a small bundle
1 tablespoon whole allspice
1 lime, thinly sliced
Instructions
Add the cranberry juice to a large stock pot. Fill the rest of the pot with water, allowing a few inches at the top for other ingredients. Add all remaining ingredients to the pot.
Bring to a gentle simmer on the stovetop. Simmer over low heat for as long as desired, topping up with additional water as needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Simmer Pots
- Method: Stovetop
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
After you’ve assembled and enjoyed this simmer pot, you can save and re-use it 1-2 more times. To save for later, remove the pot from the stove and cover with a lid, then top up with fresh water (or cranberry juice) when ready to re-use.
Other Seasonal Simmer Pot Recipes You Might Enjoy
Gingerbread Simmer Pot
Vanilla Simmer Pot with Chai
Star Anise and Orange Simmer Pot
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
