Description
Christmas Stovetop Potpourri is a fragrant and festive simmering blend of cranberries, citrus, spices, and herbs that fills your home with the warm, inviting scents of the holiday season. Ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere, this easy recipe uses fresh and optional dried ingredients simmered gently on the stovetop to release their aromatic essence.
Ingredients
Scale
Basic Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 2-3 sprigs rosemary
- 1-2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 1 orange, quartered or sliced
- 4-6 cups water or apple juice
Optional Ingredients
- 1 apple, sliced or quartered
- 1 pear, sliced or quartered
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Whole allspice (quantity to taste)
- Whole anise (quantity to taste)
- Leftover vanilla beans from making homemade vanilla extract (quantity to taste)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Place all the chosen potpourri ingredients into a medium-sized pot. Use fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, whole cloves, quartered or sliced orange, and pour in 4-6 cups of water or apple juice.
- Simmer gently: Set the pot on the stovetop and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer over the lowest possible heat. Avoid boiling to preserve the delicate aromas.
- Maintain aroma: Keep the mixture simmering over low heat, periodically checking the water level and adding more water or juice as needed to prevent the pot from drying out.
- Enjoy scent: Allow the potpourri to simmer for several hours, filling your home with fragrant holiday scents. The aroma usually lasts up to four days before the ingredients should be replaced for best results.
Notes
- This recipe can also be prepared in a slow cooker set to low heat instead of using the stovetop.
- The simmering potpourri is technically edible but not intended for consumption.
- Check water levels regularly to ensure the mixture doesn’t burn or dry out.
- Feel free to customize with other fresh or dried fruits and spices based on aroma preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Not applicable
- Calories: Negligible
- Sugar: Negligible
- Sodium: Negligible
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Negligible
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
