Christmas Simmer Pot

Christmas simmer pot is a stovetop potpourri of sliced orange, lemon, fresh cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, simmered in water to fill a room with a cozy holiday scent. It is made for the smell, not for the table. Do not drink the liquid, and do not eat the fruit or spices from the pot. It is an easy way to scent a kitchen during the Christmas season, as long as you stay nearby and keep the water from boiling dry.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Simmer Pot

• A simple holiday scent: orange, lemon, cranberry, rosemary, cinnamon and clove go into one pot of water, and the smell spreads as the water barely simmers.
• Everyday ingredients: a sliced orange, a sliced lemon, a cup of cranberries, a few rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves are all you need besides water.
• Easy to start and to reuse: once the pot is at a low simmer, you only need to top up the water and stay nearby. After it cools, you can refrigerate it and use it again for 2 to 3 days.
• A gift in a jar: the same ingredients can be packed as a dry kit, then started with water when you want the scent at home.

What Is a Christmas Simmer Pot?

A Christmas simmer pot is just stovetop potpourri, not a candy cane Christmas punch. You add sliced citrus, cranberries, herbs and whole spices to a pot of water, bring it just to a simmer, and then keep the heat low so the water stays hot and fragrant. The pot in this version holds orange slices, lemon slices, fresh cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, which is the mix in the photo. The liquid is not a beverage. Keep children and pets away from the hot stove, and see this USFA guide to cooking fire safety for advice on staying with a pan on the burner.

Ingredients for a Christmas Simmer Pot

• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 2 to 3 fresh rosemary sprigs
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• Water, enough to fill the pot about 2/3 full

Ingredient Notes

This is a classic stovetop potpourri written to match a pot of citrus, cranberries, rosemary and whole spices. All ingredients are generic, with no brand names. Nothing in this pot is meant to be eaten or drunk.

• Orange and lemon: 1 orange and 1 lemon, sliced into rounds. A few cloves can be pressed into the citrus slices, as in the pot, or you can simply scatter the cloves in the water.
• Cranberries: 1 cup fresh cranberries, about a generous handful. They float in the water and add a bright red color as well as a tart, fruity scent.
• Rosemary: 2 to 3 fresh sprigs. They sit on top of the water and give the pot a woodsy smell that sits well with the citrus and spice.
• Cinnamon sticks: 3 sticks. Whole sticks hold up in the hot water and are easy to lift out when you are done.
• Whole cloves: 1 tablespoon. Use whole cloves, not ground, so the water stays clear enough to show the fruit and the scent stays clean rather than muddy.
• Water: enough to fill the pot about 2/3 full. Leave some space at the top so you can add more water as it evaporates, and so the pot does not splash on the burner.

How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot

1. Fill the pot: set a medium pot on the stove and pour in enough water to fill it about 2/3 full.
2. Add the fruit and spices: add the orange slices, lemon slices, cranberries, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves.
3. Bring it to a simmer: heat the pot over medium heat until the water just begins to simmer. Then turn the heat down to the lowest setting so the surface barely moves.
4. Keep the water topped up: stay in the kitchen and add more water about every 30 minutes, or sooner if the level drops, so the pot never boils dry.
5. Turn it off when you leave: if you need to leave the kitchen, turn the burner off. Never leave a simmer pot unattended, and never let the water run out.

The pot can stay at a low simmer as long as you are nearby and the water stays in the pot. When you are finished, turn the burner off and let it cool before you move it.

Tips for the Best Christmas Simmer Pot

• Stay with the pot: a simmer pot is still a pot on a live burner. Keep the heat low, keep towels and paper away from the stove, and turn the burner off if you leave the room. The NFPA cooking safety page also reminds you to check a simmering pot regularly and to stay in the kitchen.
• Do not let it boil hard: a gentle simmer is enough for the scent. A rolling boil uses up the water faster and can make the fruit break down more quickly.
• Do not drink it or serve it: this is potpourri. The liquid, fruit and spices are for scent only, even though the ingredients started as food.
• Keep children and pets away: the pot is hot, and the cloves and citrus are not a snack. Set the pot where it cannot be pulled down, and keep space around the stove.
• Use a timer: set a timer for about 30 minutes as a reminder to add water, even if you are already in the kitchen.

How to Use This Christmas Simmer Pot

Start a Christmas simmer pot for a citrus and spice scent, or light citrus and pine candles. Keep the pot on low heat, and keep the stove clear. While it simmers, serve cranberry Christmas cake, chocolate cinnamon rolls, or cranberry orange glazed turkey breast. The same ingredients make a simple gift: pack the cranberries, cinnamon, cloves and rosemary in a jar, add a note to slice one orange and one lemon and add water, and tell them it is for scent only, not for drinking.

Variations

• Slow cooker, lid off: add the same ingredients and enough water to fill the slow cooker about 2/3 full. Set it to LOW with the lid off so the scent can rise. Stay nearby, and top up the water as needed so it does not dry out.
• A little less clove: if you prefer a milder spice smell, start with 1 teaspoon of whole cloves and add more only if you want a stronger scent.
• Extra citrus: another orange, or a few extra lemon slices, makes the pot smell brighter. Keep the water at about 2/3 full so the fruit can float freely.
• Dried gift kit: if you are packing a jar to give, use dried orange slices and dried cranberries with the cinnamon, cloves and rosemary, then add fresh water and fresh lemon when the pot is started.

Storage

When you turn the burner off, let the Christmas simmer pot cool, then transfer the fruit, spices and liquid to a covered container and refrigerate it. You can reuse this mix for 2 to 3 days. Each time you start it again, add enough fresh water to fill the pot about 2/3 full, bring it back to a gentle simmer, and then keep it on low heat, topping up the water as before. Discard the mix if it no longer smells fresh. Do not leave the used pot sitting out at room temperature for long.

FAQ

What is a christmas simmer pot?

A christmas simmer pot is a stovetop potpourri. Sliced orange, lemon, cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves simmer in water to scent a room. It is not a soup, and it is not a drink.

Can I drink a christmas simmer pot?

No. A christmas simmer pot is made for scent only. Do not drink the liquid, and do not eat the fruit or spices from the pot. Keep it away from children and pets.

How long can I leave a christmas simmer pot on the stove?

You can keep it at a low simmer as long as you stay nearby and the water never runs low. Top up the water about every 30 minutes. If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off. Follow the USFA and NFPA safety guidance linked above.

Can I reuse a christmas simmer pot?

Yes. Let it cool, then refrigerate the fruit, spices and liquid in a covered container and reuse it for 2 to 3 days. Add fresh water each time you bring it back to a simmer, and discard it if it no longer smells fresh.

Can I make a christmas simmer pot in a slow cooker?

Yes. Use the same ingredients and fill the slow cooker about 2/3 full of water. Set it to LOW with the lid off, stay nearby, and top up the water as needed so the pot does not dry out.