Holiday Simmer Pot Recipe

Today’s Advent surprise isn’t for eating, it’s for filling your home (or sewing room) with holiday magic.

This Holiday Simmer Pot is a simple, natural way to make your space smell like the holidays. A little citrus, a few spices, and suddenly your whole home smells like peppermint cocoa, fresh pine, or cinnamon sugar cookies — without lighting a single candle.

It’s the perfect background scent for a winter sewing day, and a lovely handmade gift idea, too.

Holiday Simmer Pot Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 2-3 hours  Makes: 1 simmer pot

Ingredients

• 4–6 cinnamon sticks, broken
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
• 1 thumb fresh ginger, sliced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 2-3 orange slices (fresh or dried)
• 1 sprig of rosemary or evergreen
• 3 cups water

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan or slow cooker.
2. Bring the mix to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
3. Simmer for 2–3 hours, adding water as needed to prevent burning.
4. Never leave it unattended — the water can evaporate completely if you forget it!
5. When finished, strain out the liquid and compost or dispose of the ingredients.

Download the Printable Recipe Card

Love keeping your recipes as cute as they are cozy? This printable matches the rest of the Campfire Recipe Collection from the Quilt Scouts Advent Calendar — designed to look just as charming pinned to your fridge or tucked into your planner.

Scout Challenge

Make your simmer pot, snap a photo, and share your favorite scent combo in the Main Chat space or tag #QuiltScoutsAdvent on Instagram. Bonus points for mixing up a few jars as Scout-style handmade gifts!

Scout Tip #1

Want to make your simmer pot even easier? Grab a mulling spice packet, like the Simply Organic Mulling Spice Mix, and you’re halfway there. It’s a perfect shortcut if you don’t want to track down every spice individually — and it even includes dried orange peel, so you’ll still get that bright, festive scent without extra prep. Just add a few cinnamon sticks, a sprig of rosemary (or evergreen), and water — your home will smell like you’ve been baking all day.

Scout Tip #2:

This recipe also makes a beautiful handmade gift! To turn your simmer pot into a giftable jar, simply swap the fresh orange slices for dried ones and replace any fresh ginger with a sprinkle of ground ginger.

Layer all the ingredients inside a clear mason jar or glass container, seal it with a lid, and tie on a bit of twine or ribbon. Add a handwritten tag with the simmering instructions, and you’ve got the perfect “from my cabin to yours” holiday gift — equal parts thoughtful, fragrant, and festive.

Not on the List Yet?

Not getting these cozy daily surprises in your inbox yet? 24 days of quilty cheer, straight to your inbox — no wrapping required.

Until tomorrow, Scout — keep it merry, keep it handmade, and may your home smell like cinnamon and creativity.

– Megan