How to make a Christmas simmer pot.

How To Make a Christmas Simmer Pot

Have you made a Christmas simmer pot before? There’s no better way to make your house smell amazing and festive. A simmer pot bubbling on the stove fills the air with the warm, sweet scents of the season, and it’s the easiest, most natural way to set the perfect holiday mood. It’s non-toxic, budget-friendly, and incredibly simple. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re in for a real treat!

A Christmas simmer pot with orange slices, apple slices, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks simmering in a clear pot on the stove.

What I Love About a Christmas Simmer Pot

When I want my home to feel cozy and festive, I think beyond décor—I want it to smell welcoming, too! A Christmas simmer pot is perfect for creating that comforting holiday aroma. Unlike synthetic candles, which can contain toxic chemicals, a simmer pot uses all-natural ingredients from your kitchen. It’s quick, affordable, and instantly makes your home feel warm and inviting.

Are you a visual person? Here’s a quick video tutorial of me making my Christmas simmer pot.

What You Need to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot

One of the best parts about Christmas simmer pots is how customizable they are. Fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, lemons, and cranberries add fruity sweetness, while spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise bring that cozy, holiday vibe.

Sliced apples and oranges with cloves, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks on a wooden cutting board for a Christmas simmer pot."

Don’t worry if you don’t have whole spices—you can use ground cinnamon, ginger, or allspice instead. The beauty of a simmer pot is its flexibility. If it smells good, it’ll work in your simmer pot!

How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot

Start by filling a pot two-thirds full with water. I love using a clear glass pot, as it makes it easy to monitor the water level, and the colorful ingredients look beautiful simmering away on the stove.

Hand turning on a brass pot filler above a glass pot of water on a stove.

Once the water is ready, add your ingredients. My favorite Christmas combination includes apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and whole cloves. Cover the pot, set the heat to low, and let the magic happen as your home fills with the most wonderful holiday aromas.

It’s important to keep an eye on the water level. A quick tip: set a timer to remind yourself to check the water level every hour or so. If the water gets low, just top it off, and you’re good to go for several more hours of delicious seasonal scent.

Glass pot with water, apple slices, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks simmering on a stove beneath a brass pot filler with a herringbone tile backsplash.

I love starting a Christmas simmer pot early when I’m hosting a holiday party. While I’m busy prepping, the house fills with the warm scents of apples, oranges, and cinnamon—it gets me into the festive spirit and makes the kitchen an inviting, cozy place.

It’s also the perfect way to welcome guests, instantly setting a comforting mood as soon as they walk in.

Close-up of a Christmas simmer pot with cinnamon sticks, apples, and oranges simmering on the stove.

Have you made a simmer pot before? What ingredients do you love to use? Let me know in the comments—I’m always experimenting with new combinations. For me, the essentials are apple slices and a citrus like orange or lemon, but beyond that, the possibilities are endless!

Sliced apples, oranges, and cranberries with cloves and cinnamon sticks arranged on a wooden board for a Christmas simmer pot.

Looking for more holiday tips? Christmas is a BIG DEAL in my house, and I love sharing how I decorate everything — like my staircase and fireplace mantel. I even make my own dried orange slice garlands. There’s lots of Christmas inspiration on my website. To see it all click here.

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