This post may contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase via our links. See our disclosure for more information.
This fall simmer pot will make your house instantly cozy! With apple, oranges, herbs, and spices, it’s simple to throw together, but with a long-lasting scent ideal for Thanksgiving, fall parties, or just because.
Disclaimer: I was anti-simmer pots for years. I thought they seemed wasteful since you were cooking food but then not eating it. Couldn’t I just make a batch of boiled apple cider syrup or apple butter or something?
But then, I tried one.
Wouldn’t you know that I LOVED it? It was so much more than apple cider or something because of the layers of flavors.
The slices of apples, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries…They are all great on their own, but then you add some fresh herbs.
The combination of different scents together – the sweet and the savory – is absolutely enchanting.
I’m hooked now and will be sharing more seasonal simmer pot recipes going forward, so stay tuned!
Want to make the most of the cozy season? My post, The Ultimate Guide to Slow Living in Fall, will give you plenty of activities, mindsets, and recipes to savor.
Why you’ll love this Simple Fall Simmer Pot Recipe
- Relies on basic ingredients, like apples, oranges, and various spices
- Long-lasting aroma that infuses the whole house
- Can be made on the stove or in the crockpot to take to parties
- Great way to use up aging produce that may not be desirable to eat fresh anymore
- Simple alternative to candles, air fresheners, or potpourri, especially for people who can’t tolerate fragrance
Fall Simmer Pot Ingredients
- Apple slices – Any type of apple will do. I had Cosmic Crisp on hand, and it worked great.
- Orange slices – You could use just the peel, but I had some mandarin oranges I sliced into rounds. This would also be a nice option for using dehydrated orange slices!
- Dried spices – You’ll want whole spices, like whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, star anise, etc. They have the longest lasting aroma.
- Fresh herbs – Try to use whatever you have available. My sage plant does great this time of year, but rosemary would be a great option.
Tips & Variations
- Adjust the fruit. Replace the apple with pears. Sprinkle some cranberries for more of a wintry vibe.
- Change the citrus. Replace the orange with fresh lemon or even a couple of limes.
- Change the spices. This recipe is flexible. Add a knob of ginger, black peppercorns, freshly grated nutmeg, a vanilla bean, or a few cardamom pods. Some homemade pumpkin pie spice would be nice, too.
TIP: This is a great time of year for a fall pantry reset! Get your pantry ready for all those fall soups and stews, plus, all the upcoming holiday baking.
More Cozy Fall Favorites
Want more recipes to fill your home with the scents of fall? Give these a go!
- Pecan Pie Cobbler
- Cinnamon Apple Blondies
- Maple Pecan Scones
- Apple Butter Thumbprint Cookies
- Pumpkin Pie Crumble
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
Get my FREE Homestead Kitchen Supply List to make it easier than ever to cook and bake from scratch.
Want more seasonal recipes? Subscribe for email updates or follow Milk Glass Home & Kitchen on social media. Join my Facebook Group Seasonal Slow Living to become part of the community!
Cozy Fall Simmer Pot
Ingredients
- ½ gallon water, two quarts
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1-2 oranges, sliced into rings
- 1-2 bunches of fresh sage
- 2 bay leaves
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- 5-10 cloves
- 3-5 allspice berries
- 1-2 star anise
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot and warm over medium low to low heat. I like to start over medium, bring it a boil, then drop the heat to low to let it steep a long time.½ gallon water, 1 apple, 1-2 oranges, 1-2 bunches of fresh sage, 2 bay leaves, 2-3 cinnamon sticks, 5-10 cloves, 3-5 allspice berries, 1-2 star anise
- Keep an eye on the water level throughout the day to avoid burning or scorching. Let it simmer for hours until you are done with it.
Did you try this recipe?
Post a photo and tag @milkglasshome!
🍂🍪 Want more cozy fall recipes?
My brand new recipe ebook, The Cozy Season Bakebook, has 20 seasonal bakes that taste like a love letter to fall!
You can expect all the most iconic fall flavors, like cinnamon apple, pumpkin spice, maple, pecans, and more.
It’s also intentionally low-tech and beginner-friendly, so anyone can bake along!
Pin this recipe for later!
More Fall Recipes
There’s no better time of year to bake, at least to me! These cozy fall recipes will make you want to preheat your oven ASAP.
