The holidays are all about creating memories, traditions, and, of course, filling your home with the warm, welcoming scents of the season. One of my favorite ways to do this is with a simple yet effective holiday simmer pot.
This inexpensive, fragrant concoction not only makes your home smell like Christmas, but it’s also an easy DIY gift idea that everyone will love. Use this recipe and my free downloadable gift tags to make this recipe as a gift for neighbors, teachers, mail carriers, or anyone on your list!
Here’s how you can create your own holiday simmer pot, filled with the scents of citrus, spice, and fresh greenery.
Ingredients for Your Holiday Simmer Pot
- 1 orange
- Fresh cranberries (about 1/2 cup)
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- cloves
- star anise
- evergreen springs or rosemary
- 1 cellophane bag
- 1 ribbon or bow
- my instruction gift tags
- cellophane bags with a gusset
1. Oranges (or Lemons): The bright, refreshing scent of citrus is the backbone of this holiday simmer pot. I like to buy the large, inexpensive bags of navel oranges—no need to splurge since they won’t be eaten! You can also use lemons if you prefer a zesty, tart fragrance, but orange has a more traditionally festive aroma. Simply slice the oranges into rounds or wedges to release their oils.
2. Fresh Cranberries: For a pop of color and a sweet, tangy scent, fresh cranberries are the perfect addition. Be sure to use fresh, firm cranberries rather than frozen ones, as you want them to be dry and sturdy to hold up while simmering. If you have leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving, this is a great way to use them! Just toss them in with the rest of the ingredients, and as they heat up, they’ll burst and add an extra burst of fragrance.
3. Fresh Spices: The spices you choose for your simmer pot will truly set the mood. Cinnamon sticks are a must-have for that warm, sweet-spicy aroma we associate with the holidays. Whole cloves also add a nice depth of fragrance, so be sure to include those as well. My favorite special touch, though, is star anise—not only does it smell amazing, but its beautiful, star-shaped appearance makes it a festive touch for any simmer pot. You could also add a few whole allspice berries for an added layer of warmth and complexity.
4. Greenery: To capture the essence of a winter forest, I love snipping a few fresh evergreen sprigs from my yard. Pine or spruce work wonderfully, as they have that crisp, woodsy fragrance that is quintessentially holiday. If you don’t have access to fresh greenery, you can easily find bundles of greens at places like Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Trader Joe’s during the Christmas season. Rosemary is another great option, providing a fresh, herbaceous note that complements the citrus and spice beautifully.
Creating the Simmer Pot
Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to prepare your simmer pot! Add all your ingredients—orange slices, cranberries, spices, and greenery—into a pot on the stove and cover with water. Bring the water to a simmer over low heat and allow the ingredients to infuse the air with their fragrant oils. You can add water as needed to keep the pot from drying out, and the beauty of this simmer pot is that it can be reused a few times. As long as the ingredients are still fragrant, you can keep simmering them throughout the day.
Teacher or Neighbor Gift Idea: Gift Your Simmer Pot
If you’re looking for a simple but thoughtful gift, consider creating small simmer pot bundles. Use cellophane bags with a gusset (I prefer ones around 4” x 9.5” or 5” x 12” for the perfect size) to package the ingredients in a beautiful and functional way. Fill the bag with orange slices, fresh cranberries, a cinnamon stick, a few star anise pods, and a sprig of evergreen or rosemary. Tie it up with a festive ribbon, and you’ve got a perfect holiday gift that your friends and family can use to fill their homes with the same holiday magic you’ve created in yours.
If you’d like gift tags with instructions for your recipient, I’ve created custom tags for my email subscribers. Sign up here to instantly download them!
