Easy Pumpkin Simmer Pot

   

Equipment:

 

• • Slow Cooker,  small crock pots, or a large pot  

• • Glass measuring cup

• • Tbsp, measuring spoon

• • Cutting board

• • Sharp knife

 

Ingredients:

 

• • Apple Cider, apple juice, or water (I highly recommend the cider, TRUST ME!)

• • Pumpkin pie  spice

• • Canned Pumpkin

• • Whole Cloves  (whole allspice  is an option)

• • Cinnamon sticks

• • Vanilla extract

• • Star Anise  (optional — highly recommended)

• • Ground nutmeg (optional — highly recommend an extra tsp.)

• • Apple, dried  apple slices, or  apple peels

 

Best  Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot Perfect for Thanksgiving

 

Let's get started making the best pumpkin spice simmer pot recipe and enjoy the scents of the season, the natural way. I'm telling you this fall simmer pot recipe will be on a gentle boil in a crockpot all day. This is one of the best ways to have the whole house smell of fall scents with apple slices, whole cloves, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg. This homemade potpourri was on a low simmer and burning in our home for two days. (No, it wasn't on overnight) I'm telling you, trust me and make this because it screams fall scents at their best! This would be the perfect addition for Thanksgiving. The whole house smells of holiday scents will blend with the food and get everyone more excited for Thanksgiving dinner!  

Cindy's Simmer Pot Tip: A slow cooker and small crock pots are the best ways to make this fall stovetop potpourri recipe. I let this simmer on low heat all day. I unplugged it before bedtime. Removed the apple. Added the sealed lid. In the morning, I used a new apple, brought the crockpot to a gentle boil, and simmered on low heat the entire day. It smelled amazing! I don't recommend doing this any longer than the next day. The apples will begin to get too soft. In this blog post, I will share this pumpkin spice simmer pot recipe with directions for a regular-size crock pot.    

Spice Up the Holidays With an Easy  Homemade Potpourri

 

• • 2-6 or 16 cups (see my simmer pot tip below)"‹ cups  apple cider  -substitute apple juice, or water (if you are using  small crock pots  2 cups cider) (normal size crockpot 16 cups)

• • ½ or 1 15oz. cup of canned pumpkin (not  pumpkin pie  filling)

• • 3-6 cinnamon (6 for a normal size crock pot

• • 1 tbsp or 2 tbsp.  whole cloves  (Ground cloves 1 ½ tsp.)

• • 1 tbsp. or 2 tbsp.  pumpkin pie  spice

• • 1 tbsp. or 2 tbsp.  vanilla extract

• • ½ an apple, apple peels, or dried apple slices or 1 apple cut in half  

• • 1 tsp. or 2 tsp.  ground nutmeg

• • 1  star anise  or 2 anise stars
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Cindy's Simmer Pot Tip: I used my regular-size crockpot. Because it's large, I added 16 cups of cider. You can do this, or add 8 cups of cider and 8 cups of water. Our grocery store and farmers market sell cider in gallon sizes. If you can add this much cider to your fall simmer pot recipe, you can simmer this for 2 days on low heat. Trust me, you will have no regrets! It truly takes the aroma to the next level!        

• Add the canned pumpkin, apple,  cinnamon sticks, star anise,  whole cloves, pumpkin pie spice,  vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and apple cider to a large pot of water. For pictures, I share ingredients in a saucepan. I felt it was easier to see; however, in the finished pictures, you will see my regular-size crockpot. Begin your small crock pots on high, and let the lid fill with heavy steam. This is how you know it comes to a gentle boil. Turn it down to a low heat and enjoy!

• Cindy's Simmer Pot Tip: Check the water level in a fall stovetop potpourri recipe every 30 minutes, especially if you are using the stovetop. I check my crockpot once in a while. Trust me, I have done a simmer pot this way many times. It will not need to be filled; however, check on it to be safe. Add fresh water as needed to the pot to prevent the ingredients from burning.

The best part about making simmer pot recipes is that there's no food waste. You can save orange peel and lemon peel in the freezer. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. Take them out to defrost overnight and add them to a pot of water with bay leaves, cinnamon, and cloves for a bright citrusy scent.  Simmer pot recipes are also great because everything can be found at the grocery store. You also probably have most spices in your spice cabinet.        

• Remember to check my blog post for additional simmer pot recipes and tips I share!