Holiday Potpourri Simmer Pot

A slow cooker filled with sliced oranges, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, and cloves on a marble surface.

5 from 4 votes

Holiday Potpourri Simmer Pot

🎄🍊🍋 Just a few ingredients simmering together will make your house smell BETTER than any holiday scented candle! Either your STOVETOP or SLOW COOKER are fine. It's super EASY and the wonderful scent lasts all day long to perfume your home and puts everyone in the holiday spirit!

Prep Time2

Cook Time8

Course: Christmas, Holiday, Thanksgiving

Cuisine: American

Keyword: holiday simmer pot, potpourri, simmer pot

Servings:

Calories: 197cal

Equipment

1 large stockpot or saucepan
1 6-quart slow cooker (any size ranging from 4 to 8 quarts is fine) OR

Ingredients

1 cup cranberries fresh preferred but frozen are fine
1 large orange sliced thin
1 large lemon sliced thin
4 to 5 cinnamon sticks 1 to 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon may be substituted
1 tablespoon whole cloves 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cloves may be substituted
2 to 3 fresh rosemary sprigs 1 teaspoon dried rosemary may be substituted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract using essential oils is also an idea here
2 cups water

Instructions

Stovetop - Add all ingredients to the pot, cover with water, bring to a boil uncovered over high heat, and once boiling, reduce the heat to low so that it just barely simmers enough to create steam which is what creates the aroma. Tips - Make sure to remember to turn off your stove if you're leaving the house. I also like to place this on a back burner that's far from anyone's hands who may be in and out of the kitchen since it'll be there for hours. If the water level drops, add additional water, as needed.
Slow Cooker - Add all ingredients to your slow cooker insert, place the lid on top, and slow cook on HIGH heat for 1 hour. Crack the lid (or remove it completely if you want the steam to escape more rapidly), turn the heat to LOW and let it simmer for 6-8 hours, or as desired. Tips - The keep WARM setting may also be useful, all slow cookers vary, so you'll need to be the judge if it's warm enough, or if low is better. If the water level drops, add additional water, as needed.
Discard - Discard the liquid and ingredients after you're done with your simmer pot. Do not consume them.

Notes

How long will it last? About 6 to 8 hours, but you're welcome to shut off or stop earlier. Your house should be nicely fragranced after about 3-4 hours and the fragrance should last 8+ hours, of course it depends on the size of the house, insulation, ventilation, etc.

Can I recycle or reuse the ingredients? Potentially, you can get away with saving the ingredients in your pot or Crockpot overnight, and simmering again the next day. Although it won't be as aromatic the second time.

Nutrition