Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (116 page)

My aunt lived with them and shared the recipe with our family. This year my 7 grandchildren continue the tradition of baking these cookies into the 5th generation. It’s not Christmas until those cookies are decorated.

Carol Findling, Carol Stream, IL

Beverages

Cider Snap

Cathy Boshart

Lebanon, PA

Makes 12-16 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

2 qts. apple cider,
or
apple juice

4 Tbsp. red cinnamon candies

at least 16 apple slices

at least 16 cinnamon sticks

1. Combine cider and cinnamon candies in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 2 hours, or until candies dissolve and cider is hot.

3. Ladle into mugs and serve with apple-slice floaters and cinnamon-stick stirrers.

Note:

This is a cold-winter-night luxury. Make it in the morning and keep it on Low throughout the day so its good fragrance can fill the house.

Variation:

Use cran-apple juice instead of apple cider or juice.

Anita Troyer

Fairview, MI

Maple Mulled Cider

Leesa Lesenski

Wheatley, MA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

½ gallon cider

3-4 cinnamon sticks

2 tsp. whole cloves

2 tsp. whole allspice

1-2 Tbsp. orange juice concentrate,
optional

1-2 Tbsp. maple syrup,
optional

1. Combine ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Heat on Low 2 hours. Serve warm.

Note:

Serve at Halloween, after Christmas caroling, or for sledding parties.

Matthew’s Hot Mulled Cider

Shirley Unternahrer
, Wayland, IA

Makes 12 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes • Cooking Time: 5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

2 qts. apple cider

¼ cup brown sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

1 cinnamon stick

4 cloves

1. Combine ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 5 hours. Stir.

Note:

Our kids just tried hot mulled cider for the first time this past Christmas. They loved it. It’s fun to try new old things.

Deep Red Apple Cider

Judi Manos

West Islip, NY

Makes 8-9 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

5 cups apple cider

3 cups dry red wine

¼ cup brown sugar

½ tsp. whole cloves

¼ tsp. whole allspice

1 stick cinnamon

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours.

3. Remove cloves, allspice, and cinnamon before serving.

Variation:

You can use 8 cups apple cider and no red wine.

Orange Cider Punch

Naomi Ressler

Harrisonburg, VA

Makes 9-12 6-oz. servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

1 cup sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp. whole nutmeg

2 cups apple cider,
or
apple juice

6 cups orange juice

fresh orange thinly sliced

1. Combine all ingredients except orange slices in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 4-10 hours or on High 2-3 hours, until heated through.

3. Float thin slices of orange in cooker before serving.

I like to sit down a couple of weeks before the holidays and write an outline of what needs to be done and how many days I need to do the work. I try to plan enough time so I don’t run out of time on the last day.

Jane Geigley, Honey Brook, PA

Wassail

Virginia Bender

Dover, DE

Makes 16-18 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

1 gallon cider

6-oz. container frozen orange juice concentrate

6-oz. container frozen lemonade concentrate

½-1 cup brown sugar, according to your taste preference

1 tsp. whole nutmeg