Easy Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot

Do you enjoy fall scents? You know the comforting smell of pie baking in the oven? Now imagine adding the warm aromas of cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and warm cider. I look forward to those comforting smells every fall. Today I have a treat for you: an easy pumpkin spice simmer pot that will bring those cozy fall aromas into your home.

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Do you enjoy fall scents? You know the comforting smell of pie baking in the oven? Now imagine adding the warm aromas of cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and warm cider? I look forward to those comforting smells every fall. Today I have a treat for you: an easy pumpkin simmer pot spice that will bring those cozy fall aromas into your home.

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Easy Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot

Imagine enjoying a good book by the fire with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee while this fall simmer pot recipe gently simmers nearby. Or gather the family for a puzzle or movie night and let the cozy aroma fill your home.

Doesn’t this sound like the perfect addition to creating cozy vibes on a chilly weekend? You don’t have to fuss over it while it simmers. So ditch that room spray and make this large fall stovetop potpourri recipe to have your whole house smell amazing with fall scents.

Equipment:

• Slow Cooker, small crock pots, or a large pot 
• Glass measuring cup
• Tbsp, measuring spoon
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife

Ingredients: Easy Homemade Potpourri

The first time I made this fall simmer pot recipe, I used a 4-quart pot. Since then, I’ve made it in different sizes, so I wanted to share the ingredient amounts for each size.

• Apple Cider or water – (4-quart crockpot = 2 cups cider or water; 8-10-quart crockpot = 16 cups) (subtitute apple juice; you will not get the same scent)
• 1 – 2 tbsp. Pumpkin pie spice
• Canned pumpkin – 1/2 cup or 1 (15 oz. can) – not pumpkin pie filling
• 8 or 15 whole cloves (or 1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves) – you can substitute whole allspice
• 3 or 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp. or 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 star anise or 2 anise stars 
• 1 tsp. or 2 tsp. ground nutmeg (optional — highly recommend an extra tsp.)
• 1/2 apple, dried apple slices, or apple peels, or 1 whole apple cut in half

Cindy’s Tip: Our grocery store and farmers market sell cider in gallon sizes. If you are using a large crockpot and can add 16 cups of cider, you can simmer this fall simmer pot recipe for 2 days on low heat. Trust me, you will have no regrets! It truly takes the aroma to the next level.

How to Make This Low Heat Simmer Crockpot Recipe

Add the canned pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, star anise, whole cloves, pumpkin spice, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and cider to your regular-sized slow cooker.

For the photos, I used a saucepan because I felt it was easier to see all of the ingredients. In the finished photos, you’ll see this pumpkin fall simmer pot recipe in my regular-sized crockpot.

If you’re using small crock pots, start them on high and let the ingredients heat until you see plenty of steam. This is how you know it’s reached a gentle boil. Then turn the heat down to low heat and let it simmer while you enjoy the cozy scent.

Cindy’s Tip: Check the water level in a fall stovetop potpourri recipe every 30 minutes, especially if you’re using the stovetop. I check my crockpot from time to time as well. A regular-sized crockpot doesn’t need extra water or cider, which is the reason I use one for a simmer pot.

How to Customize Your Simmer Pot Recipe

This simmer pot has become a favorite in my home, filling the entire home with fall scents in a natural way. But I have to admit, when I make my traditional Christmas simmer pot, the combination of orange peel, anise stars, cinnamon, and woodsy notes of fresh pine smells amazing too.

This homemade potpourri is the perfect addition to our home during the holiday season! So, why not mix things up? Try different combinations of fresh fruits, dried fruits, herbs, and rich spices to create your favorite scent in your slow cooker.

It’s a great way to naturally fragrance your home without relying on overpowering room spray. You can easily change the ingredients to create different holiday scents throughout the season.

Autumn Orchard Simmer Pot Recipe

This combines apples, oranges, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon, and warm spices for a fresh, cozy scent that feels like a walk through a fall orchard. This fall simmer pot is an easy way to make your whole home smell amazing with ingredients you can find at the grocery store.

• 2 cups apple cider or water for small crock pots. An 8-quart crockpot – 16 cups apple cider (substitute apple juice)
• 1 or 2 apple slices with apple peels
• 1 small orange sliced or 2 orange slices with orange peels
• 2 or 5 cinnamon sticks (if you are using ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. or 1 tsp.)
• 3 or 5 rosemary sprigs. (For Christmas, add anise stars, fresh pine needles, or small pine branches
• 2 tsp. or 1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Cindy’s Tip: Add 1 cup of fresh cranberries. The best part? It’s a great way to make the entire house smell festive! Fresh cranberries are the perfect addition to a simmering pot. They add a pop of color. They also have a mild tart aroma when heated. Their subtle scent is why they blend well with rich spices.

Fall Spicy Simmer Pot Recipe

This warm and spicy blend combines fresh citrus, apples, rosemary, and cinnamon for a classic fall scent.

• 4 or 8 orange slices with peel
• 1 or 2 small Granny Smith apples, sliced with apple peels
• 1 or 3 lemon slices with lemon peel
• 3 or 6 cinnamon sticks
• 3 or 6 star anise
• 2 or 5 rosemary sprigs
• 6 or 12 cups of water or apple cider

This blend is filled with warm, comforting spices and fresh citrus to make your whole house smell like fall. Using cider instead of water adds a richer, cozier scent that’s a perfect addition for the season.

Bright Citrusy Simmer Pot

When you want something fresh, this combination of grapefruit, lemon, ground ginger, rosemary, and fresh cranberries is an amazing choice. It adds a bright citrusy scent to your entire home.

• 1/4 grapefruit sliced with peel or 1/2 grapefruit sliced with peel
• 1 apple or 2 apples, sliced with peel
• 1/2 or 1 lemon, sliced with peel
• 1/2 or 1 tbsp. ground ginger
• 3 or 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 or 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 4-6 or 8-12 cups water

Cindy’s Tip: Add red grapefruit for a pop of color. This is also a great way to add a bright citrusy scent after the holidays are over, when you need a pick-me-up during the winter months. This recipe works in a 4-quart pot or an 8-quart crockpot.

Cider & Spice Potpourri Pot

Cider, cinnamon, cloves, and anise stars come together in this cozy blend that’s especially good on a chilly fall or winter day.

• 6 or 12 cups – cider (apple) or water
• 1 or 2 apples, sliced with peel
• 4 or 6 cinnamon sticks
• 8 or 13 whole cloves
• 2 tsps. or 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 or 1 tsp. ground ginger

Fill your home with the comforting scent of cider, sweet spices, and vanilla. This blend creates that classic fall feeling we all love and makes any day feel warm and cozy.

Simmer Pot Gifts to Cozy Up Any Home

Simmer pots make great gift items for neighbors and teachers. Give them a gift that makes their whole home smell wonderful the natural way. When gifting a simmer pot, add a tag with the best ways to use the ingredients. Let friends and neighbors know how to bring their simmer pot to a gentle boil, then enjoy this fall stovetop potpourri recipe at a low simmer. It’s the perfect way to make their homes smell like fall or the holidays.

Create Simmer Pot Gift Items with Dried Fruits and Spices

When using simmer pots as gift items, be sure to add dry ingredients to a cellophane bag or mason jar. Include dry orange peel, apple slices, or dry orange slices, along with spices like bay leaves, cloves, whole allspice, anise stars, or cardamom pods.

What is a Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot, also known as homemade potpourri, is a large pot on a stovetop or a slow cooker filled three-quarters of the way with water, cider, herbs, fruits, and rich spices. This is a natural way to have your whole home smell cozy while creating a natural air freshener. There’s no need to spend money on overwhelming room spray. These recipes are a simple way to fill your home with holiday scents.

Can You Use a Crockpot as a Simmering Pot?

A simmer pot can be made in a crockpot, too! I use a large crockpot as my simmer pot. Small crock pots are a great way to have your whole home smell of holiday scents.

How Long Do You Leave a Simmer Pot On?

The best part about simmer pot recipes is that you can enjoy them throughout the day. I recommend simmering your pot for up to 24 hours. It can last a few days if you’re using orange peel, apple peels, and spices.

If you’re using the stovetop, a large pot or Dutch oven, check the water level every 30 minutes. If the water level has gone down, add fresh water. This way, your homemade potpourri will keep your whole house filled with fall scents and the aroma of pumpkin pie.

Again, this is why I encourage you to use a regular crockpot!

Spice Up Fall with an Easy Pumpkin Simmer Pot

As we wrap up, I hope you’re feeling inspired to spice up fall with an easy pumpkin spice simmer pot! There’s nothing like having your whole house smell of warm cider, rich spices, and cozy vibes. I enjoy encouraging others to take time to enjoy the best time of year. Trust me, your home will smell amazing, and you’ll enjoy the cozy vibes and holiday scents all weekend long.

Take one project at a time and enjoy the moment.

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