Let’s talk about 7 easy Christmas simmer pot recipes.

And the best thing about making a Christmas simmering pot is to have a festive scent flowing through our homes.

But first, let me answer some questions you may have regarding homemade Christmas simmering pots.

When Should I Begin My Simmer Pot?

What Time Should I Begin My Pot?

After experimenting with these simmering pots I highly recommend beginning to let them begin to simmer early. For example, I used my crock pot for my simmering pot.

I also began on high to get this nice and hot. Also, remember this is a simmer pot so they take time to get the combination of the ingredients warm.

Then when you begin to see the steam fill the lid well take it off and take a smell. The scents will begin to blend and combine. Leave the setting on high and right before your family and guests arrive turn the temperature to low. And the pot of water will last throughout the day!

So, for Christmas, I will begin mine in the morning. This way when my family arrives to celebrate Christmas Day our home will be filled with a beautiful Christmas scent.

I also recommend using a crock pot or buying a small potpourri simmer pot. Why? Because with the home filled with company checking a pot on the stovetop every 2 to 3 hours can be a problem. After all, we want to savor every moment we have on Christmas with our loved ones.

What Can I Use for a Christmas Smell?

Items to Use for a Christmas Smell

Items to get the Smells of Christmas:

• cinnamon sticks
• whole cloves
• apple
• pear
• citrus fruits
• star anise
• bay leaves
• orange slices
• lemon slices
• pine needles TIP: save the scraps of fresh evergreens when decorating for the holiday season
• Rosemary
• vanilla extract
• cardamom pods
• essential oils can also be used

Can I Reuse Simmer Pots?

Can You Reuse Simmer Pots?

A simmering pot is also a great way to use orange peel and lemon peel or other fresh fruit skin. Such as green apples, red apples, and pear skins. Also, wrap and refrigerate fresh ingredients and reuse your homemade Christmas simmer pots for a second time.

What especially makes this a great idea is you can find all these items in the grocery store. Let’s face it we are all there more often during the Christmas season anyway, right?

What else I like about these is it’s a natural way and inexpensive way to give the whole house smell of Christmas!

Jump to Recipe

Can I Use a Crockpot?

Can a Crockpot be Used?

In fact, the answer is yes! A slow cooker or small crock pot is a super easy way to make a simmer pot. First, add enough water to fill the pot 3/4 of the way from the top. Next step, add the natural ingredients, place the lid on and turn the simmering pot to high.

After there’s steam forming inside the lid set the slow cooker to low heat and in a couple of hours the entire house will smell like Christmas. The best thing about using a crockpot at low temperature for a simmer pot is it will safe for the whole day.

By the way, have you ever wanted your home to smell like Williams Sonoma for Christmas? Well, you can achieve this by adding other ingredients such as:

• fresh cranberries
• whole spices like nutmeg
• warm spices from the spice cabinet such as ground spices like clove and a bit of ginger

Traditional Simmer Pot on the Stove

Traditional Simmer Pot on the Stove

For this simple simmer pot recipe fill a large saucepan with fresh water to completely cover your ingredients and add it to the stove top.

Also if you have no leftover evergreens, you can always cut a small piece from pine trees in your own backyard or even ask a neighbor if they have any leftover real greens to add the woodsy smells of the holidays to your home.

Another great idea, stop by your local real Christmas tree lot and grab scraps from the ground from garlands and fresh Christmas trees.

During this time of year, everyone is in the Christmas spirit so I’m sure it will be fine. However, to be respectful I’d highly recommend mentioning this to the tree lot owner or asking an employee if it’s okay.

Now add the evergreen to your homemade Christmas simmer pot and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat and make sure to check the water level every 2-3 hours to see if you need to add more water to the pot. Remembering to do this is important because you will not want to ruin a pot.

If you want add the ingredients to a mason jar with a lid and store it in the refrigerator because this can be used for up to 2-3 days. Isn’t this great?

I also think these particularly make fantastic gifts.

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Gift Giving Ideas

Gift Giving Ideas

These also make a wonderful gift. As an example, these are perfect to give as neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, to your girlfriends, and coworkers, so they can have a potpourri pot for a seasonal scent for their own home. Also how perfect would this be in cellophane bags with a pretty ribbon? Think of velvet or a pretty satin ribbon or even use jute or twine and add a gift tag.

For another gift idea give this homemade Christmas potpourri with a plate of cookies. I’d be thrilled if I received this as a gift, especially with Christmas cookies, my favorite thing! And a great addition is adding their favorite hot cocoa, coffee, or tea.

By the way, my home tour may inspire you in getting your home ready for Christmas. I also share many quick craft ideas that make wonderful gifts and are perfect for family time and to make memories.

Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes

Holiday Season Simmer Pot Recipes

Below you will find some easy DIY Christmas simmer pot recipes.

Here’s a fantastic recipe idea:

Recipe 1: Traditional Christmas Recipe

• Peels from 1-2 oranges or 4 orange slices
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 Star Anise
• 3 evergreen branches, pine needles, or even 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 Whole nutmeg chopped
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

By the way, this simmering pot recipe will smell like the holiday season and it will be beautiful with the combination of rich colors. Not to mention how pretty this combination will be to see on Christmas as everyone walks by, right?

Recipe 2: Juniper Citrus Christmas Simmering Pot Recipe

• 3-4 slices of orange
• 2-3 lemon peels or ½ lemon cut into quarters, with the peel on
• 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries
• This recipe is amazing, especially because of the scent of the juniper berries.

And how about this as a stovetop Christmas potpourri?

Recipe 3: Cinnamon, Clove Citrus Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe

• orange slices
• lemon slices
• cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp. dash of nutmeg
• 1 tsp. cloves
• a handful of cranberries
• a handful of fresh pine needles

Recipe 5: Lemon & Orange Simmer Pot

• Peel from 1 lemon or lemon slices
• Peel from 1 orange or orange slices
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 Tablespoons whole cloves

Lastly, this will be a great pick-me-up during the cold days of winter. Think about using this to add a pleasant aroma during the colder dreary months to the home to add a comfy and cozy feel by the fire while eating soup.

Recipe 6: Winter Months Simmering Potpourri Recipe

• 2 sliced apples
• 3 large cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary sprigs

This recipe is absolutely the best way to enjoy winter scents in a pot!

I hope you enjoyed this idea for 7 easy Christmas simmer pot recipes and ideas I shared for your own holiday home. I’d love to know if will try one of these or which is your favorite. I love connecting with my readers and growing a relationship with all of you!

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