Our Hopeful Home: How To Make A Christmas Stovetop Simmer Pot Recipe

Whipping up a Christmas holiday stovetop simmer pot is a great way to welcome the Christmas holidays into your home. It's surprisingly easy to make, and I can't wait to share my own Christmas holiday stovetop simmer pot recipe with you.

vintage French copper pot filled with Christmas simmer pot fruits and spices

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I believe that a stovetop simmer pot, or potpourri of sorts, is the best way to create a warm and inviting holiday scent in your home, second only to scented candles. You might think of potpourri as a dried mix of flowers and other natural materials that gives off a pleasant scent which usually hangs around for quite some time. But let me tell you, even better than that is its cousin -- the stovetop simmer pot version.

rosemary cinnamon and cranberries simmer pot ingredients

There's nothing like entering a home and feeling enveloped by a warm, cozy scent that instantly puts you in the holiday mood. That's the feeling I try to recreate when I whip up my holiday stovetop simmer pot recipe, and you can, too -- in no time flat and with only minimal ingredients.

copper pot filled with oranges and lemons with whole cloves and cinnamon sticks

CHRISTMAS SIMMER POT INGREDIENTS

1. ORANGES

2. LEMONS

3. CRANBERRIES

4. WHOLE CLOVES

5. CINNAMON STICKS

6. ROSEMARY

Optional: ginger, cardamom, star anise, nutmeg, apple slices, vanilla bean, allspice

copper pot filled with sliced oranges cloves cranberries and rosemary

CHRISTMAS SIMMER POT HOW-TO

1. Choose and gather all your ingredients

2. Slice your citrus fruits (and/or apples if using)

3. Fill pot starting with a layer of cranberries

4. Add layers of sliced fruit

5. Add cloves

6. Toss sprigs of rosemary on top

7. Add tap water to the pot, filling it as high as possible without overflowing

8. Add cinnamon sticks, poking them down into the liquid

9. Place the pot on the stove and set it to simmer

SAFETY NOTES

BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SIMMER POT CONSTANTLY.

THE WATER WILL EVAPORATE FAIRLY QUICKLY, EVEN IF THE POT IS ONLY ON SIMMER.

SO WATCH IT CLOSELY, AND ADD WATER TO THE POT AS NECESSARY TO KEEP IT AS CLOSE TO FULL AS POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES.

NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH A SIMMER POT ON THE STOVE. BE SURE TO TURN IT OFF IF AND WHEN YOU LEAVE.

fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks on cutting board

Some bloggers tell you to place the stovetop simmer pot in the fridge overnight and reuse it again the next day. However, this has not been my experience, especially when using citrus fruits.

The flesh from the citrus fruit disintegrates (for lack of a better word) pretty quickly, especially when sliced in traditional "slices". I made my second simmer pot with oranges and lemons cut into wedges and they seemed to hold up to the heat much better than the slices.

Even so, I would not plan on using the stovetop simmer pot for more than two days, assuming you add some fresh ingredients to it on day two.

lemon and orange slices with cranberries and cinnamon in copper pot

Lastly, a secret: the cranberries don't really add any scent to the mix -- they're only included, more or less, for their beautiful and festive red color. That's definitely a plus if you decide to "gift" some friends and family with prepackaged Christmas stovetop simmer pot ingredients.

bokeh Christmas lights simmer pot ingredients in bag on cake stand

For gifting, you can place all the ingredients in a clear Christmas gift bag, tied up with cinnamon sticks, and include simmer pot instructions for a unique and personalized Christmas gift.

Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you enjoyed reading about

How To Make A Christmas

Stovetop Simmer Pot Recipe

and that I've inspired you in some way.

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