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Easy to make and highly adaptable, this spring simmer pot recipe will fill your home with the refreshing scents of spring.
During the cold autumn and winter months, I love to make my own simmer pots, and often do so a few times per week. Stirred together in a stock pot and simmered on the stovetop, these homemade fragrance blends (basically a stovetop potpourri) offer a natural alternative to room sprays, candles, wax plug-ins, air fresheners, and other artificial scents.
Around the holiday season, my simmer pots often feature winter-appropriate combinations of nutmeg, cranberries, cloves, rosemary, cardamom, chestnuts, and pine. But as we head into warmer weather, I wanted to come up with a blend of scents to help me “think spring,” instead of making me feel like it’s still Christmastime.
An Easy Spring Simmer Pot Recipe
This DIY simmer pot recipe features blueberries, lemon, lavender, and mint. (Incidentally, this combo would make a tasty beverage, too!) It smells absolutely heavenly, and could not be easier to make.
To prepare, simply fill a large pot with water, add the ingredients (I’ve included measurements, but you can “eyeball it” if you wish!) and simmer on the stovetop over very low heat. Within minutes, you’ll be enjoying the lovely scents of spring.
Why Make This Blueberry, Lemon and Lavender Simmer Pot?
In addition to being super easy to make, this lavender and lemon simmer pot allows plenty of flexibility. You can double up on the ingredients you love (an extra tablespoon of lavender, for instance, or an additional cinnamon stick) or omit ingredients you don’t have on hand. You can also change things up by including other fruits, herbs, and spices—see my suggestions below.
Simmer pots are particularly great because they’re easy to reuse. Once you’ve finished enjoying the fragrance, remove the pot from the stovetop and cover it with a lid. When it’s time for another hit of lavender, cinnamon, and lemon, just top up the pot with additional water, return to the stovetop, re-warm, and enjoy. I usually get 2-4 uses out of each simmer pot.
Stovetop Potpourri Ingredients and Equipment
The only requirements for this recipe are a pot and a stovetop. I prefer to use a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, but you can also use a medium saucepan. (I make smaller simmer pots all the time—just reduce the ingredients and the amount of water, so everything fits in the pan with a few inches of room at the top.)
In this spring simmer pot recipe, I’ve used the following ingredients:
- Fresh blueberries
- Slices of fresh lemon
- Mint leaves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Dried lavender flowers
- Sliced fresh ginger
This combination of ingredients produces a light, lavender-focused scent with notes of citrus and spice. However, feel free to vary the ingredients, or add a little something extra to highlight your favorite smells.
Making This Recipe Your Own
Change up the berries
Substitute blackberries, cherries, blackcurrant, or redcurrant in lieu of (or in addition to) the blueberries.
Use different herbs
I love the smell of mint (and since it grows quickly, this simmer pot makes a great way to use up all of that extra mint from your windowsill herb garden) but fresh basil would be equally nice for spring.
Try different citrus
For a citrus simmer pot, substitute (or add) slices of orange, lime, or even grapefruit.
Re-Using Your Simmer Pot
After you’ve assembled and enjoyed your spring simmer pot, you can save and re-use it 2-3 more times. When not in use, place a lid on the pot (and obviously turn off the stove!) To re-use, just top up with additional water as needed, and enjoy.
DIY Simmer Pot Safety
Never leave the simmering pot unattended. I always stay in the same room so I can keep an eye on the stove, and can top up the simmer pot with additional water as needed. Don’t allow the pan to run dry, and avoid using it when there are kids or pets nearby.
Simmer pots are meant to be smelled, not eaten! Although the ingredients are natural, I don’t recommend eating or drinking the contents of the pot. Once you’re done enjoying the scent created by your DIY simmer pot, use a mesh sieve to drain the liquid, then dispose of the water-logged fruit, herbs, and spices with your regular trash, or add them to the compost bin.
Other spring recipes you might enjoy:
Lavender Lemon Latte Cookies
Lemon Daisy Cookies
Shortbread with Spring Flowers
Coconut White Chocolate Truffles
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!
Print
Spring Simmer Pot Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 simmer pot 1x
Ingredients
50 grams fresh blueberries (about 1/3 cup)
1 whole lemon, sliced
15 grams fresh mint (generous handful, or about 1 cup leaves)
1 4-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces (about 60 grams)
1 6-inch cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
Instructions
Fill a large saucepan or stock pot about 3/4 full with water, allowing a few inches of space at the top to add your ingredients.
Add all 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.
Notes
Do not leave simmer pot unattended on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Miscellaneous
- Method: Stovetop