I love the smell of a burning Christmas candle, but what I don’t love is what scented candles might release into the air around me and my home. That’s why I opt for a lovely simmering pot of Christmas potpourri during the holiday season. A simmer pot is a great, natural way to replace the fragrant holiday scents from candles I enjoy so much with a non-toxic, non-burning solution.
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I remember my grandmother and my mom showing me when I was younger how they would make their own specific holiday simmer pots. They would often let me help put all of the fresh ingredients into the pot, and we would talk and laugh as the ingredients started to heat and release a natural and wonderful aroma into the air that made the entire house smell cozy and perfect for the holidays. Now, I have my own simmering potpourri recipe, made with ingredients like orange slices, cranberries, rosemary, pine branches, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, whole cloves, and nutmeg.
This combination of ingredients, when kept on a low simmer in a large pot, gives off the most beautiful aroma for all of my holiday and winter gatherings. It also reminds me of all the lovely holiday memories I have and gives a little extra joy to the moments I am sharing with my loved ones currently.
Recipe Highlight
This simple stovetop potpourri recipe is my go-to for many reasons. Here’s a basic rundown of why I can’t get enough of this holiday simmer pot:
- Fills my home with a beautiful spiced, cranberry-orange aroma, which is perfect for the holidays.
- Easy to make in just a few minutes and uses super simple ingredients.
- I love how easy it is to create my own unique fragrance by changing the ingredients to match the holiday or season. I can effortlessly adjust the scent by simply selecting different ingredients to simmer.
- It’s a safer and non-toxic way to make my home smell like my favorite Christmas scented candle.
- It’s a great way to use food scrapes, such as citrus rinds, fruit peels and cores, and fresh herbs, instead of just having to throw them out.
Ingredients To Make A Christmas Simmer Pot
This combination of simmer pot ingredients gives off the most beautiful aroma as it heats up on the stove. My whole house smells of Christmas and holiday cheer when it simmers. Here’s what I put in my Christmas stovetop potpourri:
- Fresh cranberries – can use frozen, too
- Oranges – fresh or dried slices
- Cinnamon sticks – may substitute ground cinnamon
- Whole cloves – may substitute ground cloves
- All spice berries – may substitute ground allspice
- Ground nutmeg
- Rosemary sprigs
- Fresh evergreen – an optional ingredient. If I have a fresh Christmas tree in my home, I have been known to even use some clippings from it for my simmer or fresh pine needles from trees outside
- Water – can substitute apple juice or apple cider
Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Change Up The Aroma
There are so many versatile options for simmering pots and stovetop potpourri scents. I use the list below to create unique combinations based on the holiday or season. As much as I love my Christmas simmer, I also enjoy a cozy fall simmer pot filled with classic autumn fragrances. I simply select the ingredients I want in my simmer, leave out what I don’t have, or add more of one specific ingredient if I want a particular note to really shine through.
- Cranberries
- Citrus fruits – fresh or dried slices of oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruit
- Apple slices or peels – dried or fresh
- Pear slices or peels – dried or fresh
- Spices – ground, fresh, or dried cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, cardamon, star anise, pumpkin pie spice
- Herbs – dried or fresh rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, bay leaves
- Pine or Evergreen
- Dried lavender
- Vanilla extract
- Essential oils
- Apple juice or apple cider
How to Make A Simmer Pot (Video)
For serving size and the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories (kcals), protein, carbohydrates/carb, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.
How To Store
The simmer pot will last 2-3 days on its own, covered and without refrigeration. However, I’ve found that I can refrigerate my pot of ingredients – after the liquid has cooled, of course – between my uses of heating it, and my holiday simmer pot will stay good for up to 7 days. I just always make sure I add fresh ingredients and water as needed with my longer-lasting simmer pot method.
Make Christmas Simmer Pot Gift Bags
I have found that Christmas simmering potpourri gift bags can make a great addition to any Christmas gift; I like to even pair them with some freshly baked Christmas cookies. Here’s how I go about making them:
- From my ingredients and aroma list above, I choose a combination of ones I love or the exact ones to make my Christmas simmer pot recipe.
- I make sure to use ingredients that are dried and/or have a long shelf life. If not all of the ingredients are shelf-stable, I simply add to the gift bag, “Simmer within 2 weeks.”
- I place the ingredients in a clear cellophane bag, a clear box, or even a glass mason jar. I’ll then add a bow or some pretty ribbon to make it a little festive.
Finally, on a gift tag or in a small card, I write the instructions for simmering. I then typically holepunch and tie the tag or card to the bag/box with some twine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe isn’t created for sipping, but rather as a natural fragrance to fill your home. However, as long as you use only food-based ingredients, you could drink the liquid from a simmer pot. If you do plan to drink it, I recommend using apple juice or cider as the base. You could then add food-based ingredients that produce a desirable flavor you would want to sip on, similar to a homemade simmering apple cider. You would also want to drink it during the first use.
Yes, you can make a simmer pot in a slow cooker! Simply follow the instructions as written but just use a slow cooker, instead. Turn your crock pot or slow cooker on high, and – when it starts to steam – remove the lid and switch the pot to the low heat setting. Make sure to add water as needed.
I would recommend using essential oils like vanilla, cardamom, and/or a Christmas-based oil blend for a holiday simmer pot. However, we all have our own individual preferences when it comes to scents, so I would suggest also considering oils like chamomile, bergamot, and/or spruce.
Simmer pots are something you can enjoy year round. By changing up the ingredients you can make a simmer pot that’s suitable for any seasons or occasion. For this particular simmer pot recipe, I like to make it during the holidays so my Thanksgiving and Christmas guests can enjoy the wonderful seasonal scent, too.
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Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe
Simmer simple ingredients for a natural, festive holiday scent — no candles needed. This Christmas potpourri will fill your space with a cozy, welcoming aroma.
Ingredients
- Water*
- 1–2 cups whole fresh or frozen cranberries (enough to cover the surface of the water)
- 1 large orange, sliced**
- 2–4 rosemary and/or pine
- 4–6 cinnamon sticks
- 1–2 tablespoons whole cloves
- 1–2 tablespoons allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and place over high heat.
- Add all of the ingredients to the pot.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on low for 2-3 hours. Add more water, as needed, so there is always some liquid in the pot.
- After simmering for a few hours, allow to cool, and then cover the pot and let it sit on the turned-off stove until the next day.
Note: If you do not want to keep the pot for another day and are done with it, simply strain out the liquid and compost or dispose of the ingredients after the pot has cooled.
Next Day Instructions
- When ready to heat it up again the next day, remove the lid and bring it to a simmer, adding fresh water as needed so there is always liquid in the pot.
- When you’re done with the simmer pot, strain out the liquid and compost or dispose of the ingredients.
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Notes
*May substitute apple juice or apple cider in place of water.
**May substitute dried orange slices or another citrus in place of a fresh orange.
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This sounds so festive!
The smell is unbelievable!
Wonderful, thank you so much! I have shared it with several friends.
This is great! Happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing with friends!
The simmer pot is beautiful but as a warning, do NOT drink it because drank it and got severe diarrhea and it turns out it’s because cranberry acts as a laxative.
Have mine going right now!!
Awesome Lou! Thanks for the 5-star review!
Off to get ingredients so I can make this for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Thank you for this recipe – can’t wait to make it.
Question – I have a glass Dutch oven – would that work instead of the enamel one?
Thank you again.
Should work just fine Louise, this will be so pretty!