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 RecipeCan 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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Traditional Christmas Simmering Pot Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot, small electric simmer pot, or large pot for the stovetop A crockpot allows you the flexibility of not checking on this every 2-3 hours
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 cutting board
Materials
- 1 orange 4 slices Orange slices or orange skin
- 3 cinnamon whole cinnamon sticks from the spice aisle in the grocery store
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 2 whole star anise
- 3 branches evergreen branches, pine needles, or 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary can be added to this simmer pot
- 1 whole nutmeg chopped
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Notes
Traditional Christmas Simmering Pot Recipe
Fill the crockpot, small simmering or large pot 3/4 with water Add the orange slices, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and pine needles to the water. Turn the crockpot or stovetop on high. I suggest that if you are using a crockpot begin it at a high temperature in the morning. Once the lid is filled with steam and you smell the aroma turn the simmering pot to low. This will last all day long so you can enjoy your Christmas Day with family and friends. Remember if you are using the stovetop method you MUST check the water level every 2-3 hours. Incidentally, there are 4 other Christmas simmering pot recipes I share in this post! ÂMORE ON THE BLOG
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This is so great Cindy. I love the crock pot idea and now they have those cute designs to put on your crock pot for the holidays so that makes it even prettier with the smells of Christmas. Have a great week. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much Kris! xo
Thank you for the simmering pot idea. I used to do this on the stovetop back in the 80s. But, then started to use candles. I am going to use the simmering pot this year. It smells much better then candles. Merry Christmas and have a healthy New Year!
Yes the aroma is amazing and so fresh!
I have never made a simmer pot, but I’ve been wanting to try it! I can only imagine how good your house must smell while doing this! Pinning now so I can try it!!
It truly smells like Christmas!
I love that you put cranberries in your simmer pot, Cindy! I bet your home smells amazing and I can’t to try this recipe. Hugs, CoCo
Oh the smell is amazing!
I wish my computer had scratch-n-sniff capabilities. I bet this smells heavenly!
Thanks Jen. It smells amazing
What great recipes!
Thank you so much Donna!