Simple simmer pots are a lovely way to make our homes smell good naturally without dodgy synthetic fragrances.
Seasonal spices simmering on the stove top on cold days smell good enough to eat but usually they're NOT edible which is horribly sad!!
So I have here the very best edible simmer pots that taste as good as they smell. They are all deliciously fragrant recipes you can slot in meal plans, pop on as a cosy evening treat or whip up to make your home smell great fast.
And all these edible simmer pots are tried-and-tested recipes you can make easily from what you've got in your cupboards. Take your pick from :
- Mulled Drinks & Punch
- Hot Chocolates With A Twist
- Flavoured Lattes
- Fragrant Soups
- Aromatic Teas
- Spicy Stove Top Fruit
With ideas for everything from mulled wine and pumpkin spice latte to ginger bread hot chocolate, roast chestnut soup and brandy cherries ... enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Mulled Drinks & Punch
Mulled drinks and punch are a lovely way to fragrance your home with a combination of citrus or fall fruit PLUS seasonal spices including ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves etc.
Simply simmer gently for 20 minutes or so then strain out spices and fruit and pop back on a low stove to keep warm for your party or a hygge evening in.
Viennese Christmas Punch
This hot Christmas punch recipe is for real traditional Viennese Christmas market punch and is a perfect way to get your home smelling great in advance of parties throughout the holiday season from Halloween on.
Simmer Time : steep for 10 minutes, simmer for 5 to 10.
Ingredients : black tea, orange juice, sugar, rum, cointreau, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise.
Hot Mulled Winter Punch
This hot mulled winter punch is somewhere between a classic punch and traditional mulled wine. It is red wine rather than tea based but given the extra punch kick with Grand Marnier or Cointreau.
Simmer Time : simmer gently 15-20 minutes before removing zest & spices. Keep warm on gentle heat.
Ingredients : red wine e.g. claret, orange & lemon zest, demerara sugar, cinnamon stick, fresh ginger, cloves, Grand Marnier / Cointreau or similar.
Mulled Wine
This mulled wine has the extra fragrant twist of apple cider - NOT apple cider vinegar - PLUS too often forgotten cardamom which has a lovely sweet-but-spicy aroma for fall and winter.
Simmer Time : gently for 30 minutes.
Ingredients : fruity red wine e.g. Merlot, apple cider, orange zest, orange slices, honey, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, star anise, brandy.
If you do love cardamom check out this delicious apple cardamom cake recipe for some fragrant fall baking.
Mulled Cider
This simple mulled apple cider is the perfect simmer pot on a crisp autumn day after a long hike or some apple picking and would be a great addition to a grown up Halloween party.
Simmer Time : 30 minutes+
Ingredients : apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, orange peel.
This alternative mulled cider recipe is very similar but has the added fragrance of lemon and ginger plus - if you like - a splash of brandy!
Mulled Apple Juice
Simple mulled apple juice is a delicious alternative to mulled cider for kids and again perfect after autumn outdoor adventures or for a Halloween party ...
Simmer Time : simmer quickly until warm but not for kids too hot
Ingredients : apple juice, orange, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, honey.
This mulled apple juice is very similar but gives you a longer simmer time ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes+
Ingredients : apple juice, orange zest, cinnamon stick, nutmeg
Both the mulled apple juice recipes would be delicious with one of these super easy homemade apple cakes.
Spiced Cranberry Juice
As we hit holiday season you can get your home guest ready fast with a quick speed clean and a simmer pot of mulled cranberry juice ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : pure cranberry juice, lemon & orange slices, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, raw ginger, cloves, star anise.
This similar very simple mulled cranberry recipe can be made with cranberry cocktail juice and gets an extra zing from some rum or gin.
Simmer Time : 5 minutes+
Ingredients : cranberry cocktail juice, orange juice, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, honey, rum or gin.
This spiced cranberry infusion is a bit different but will still make your home smell great. The recipe basically creates a spiced cranberry syrup you can add chilled to cocktails.
Simmer Time : 45 minutes
Ingredients : cranberry juice, fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg.
Spiced Pear Cider & Juice
Spiced pear juice is a great alternative to mulled apple juice in autumn but also works wonderfully at Christmas ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes + 10 minute steep.
Ingredients : pear juice, clementines, lemon juice, cloves, cardamom, fresh ginger.
If you like the idea of Christmas pear flavours check out this pear & ginger trifle in my Christmas Dessert Guide.
For an alcoholic kick to your pear juice try this mulled pear & ginger recipe from Jamie Oliver ...
Simmer Time : simmer until sugar dissolved
Ingredients : apple juice, ripe pears, fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, light brown sugar, lime juice, Bacardi Oro or other rum.
Mulled Orange Juice
Oranges are of course another top Christmas fragrance and this super simple mulled orange juice is perfect for children.
Simmer Time : 10 minutes or so
Ingredients : orange juice, cinnamon stick, cloves.
This spiced orange juice with chai tea is almost an alcohol free alternative to Austrian orange punch ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : orange juice, chai tea, chai spice mix, sliced orange
Both drinks would make a lovely fragrant accompaniment to an evening making your own pretty dried orange Christmas decorations for rustic Christmas decor.
Hot Chocolates With A Twist
Classic hot chocolate made with real chocolate - not just cocoa powder - can make your whole home smell amazing fast and you can easily make it even more amazing with a few fragrant seasonal twists including gingerbread, peppermint, orange and cinnamon.
Classic Hot Chocolate
This classic is a classic hot chocolate recipe if you haven't got one ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, sugar, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, whipping cream, powdered sugar
This recipe is obviously full of sugar but you can make stunning hot chocolate with barely a teaspoon of sugar by pouring heated milk over smashed up 70-85% dark chocolate and topping with whipped cream.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
I adore baking gingerbreads at Christmas and this gingerbread hot chocolate is the perfect partner for snaffling them down on a cosy December afternoon ...
Simmer Time : 12 minutes
Ingredients : milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, fresh ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, thick cream, powdered/icing sugar.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint is another Christmas fragrance that gets us in a wonderfully nostalgic mood and this peppermint hot chocolate is perfect for fragrancing your home before snuggling down to watch a Christmas movie ...
Simmer Time : 8 minutes
Ingredients : milk, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, whipping cream, peppermint candies.
The hot chocolate would be scrumptious with this easy white chocolate candy cane bark or candy cane Christmas fudge.
Hot Orange Chocolate
Orange chocolate is another beloved Christmas tradition in my family that can easily be extended to super smelling hot orange chocolate ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, orange juice, orange peel, sugar, vanilla extract.
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
If you want to get your home smelling sweet for holiday season breakfasts make this cinnamon hot chocolate to go with straight from the oven - but made ahead - Scandinavian style Christmas breakfast buns ...
Simmer Time : 5-10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, cocoa powder, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla extract.
Flavoured Lattes
Coffee shops lure us in every autumn with the scent of sweet-smelling lattes in every more glorious flavours but we can make our own homes equally fragrant for a fraction of the price with these easy stove top recipes.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
If you come all over pumpkin spiced latte every October you must master this recipe. It needs pumpkin puree which you can buy but it is incredibly easy to make your own to freeze in ready to use ice-cube sized blocks ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : coffee/espresso, milk, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar or maple syrup, whipped cream.
Peppermint Mocha Latte
This peppermint mocha latte is - like the peppermint hot chocolate - perfect for Christmas afternoons watching movies or playing games as you much homemade fudge or candies ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, granulated sugar, mint leaves or extract, chocolate syrup.
For quickness you can use bought chocolate syrup but this freezable homemade chocolate syrup is deliciously simple to make.
Hazelnut Latte
This recipe for hazelnut latte is incredibly easy made with bought syrup but for even more fall fragrance you can roast hazelnuts to make your own simple hazelnut syrup ..
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, hazelnut syrup.
Orange Cardamom Latte
This sweet and spicy orange cardamom latte recipe can be made in a flash but for even more flavour and simmer pot fragrance you could infuse the milk with cardamom pods - rather than powder - and orange zest ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, cardamom powder, orange zest, maple syrup.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Copycat chestnut praline latte can be made super quickly with chestnut syrup but for even more fragrance you can roast chestnuts to make your own chestnut syrup which will keep sealed in the fridge for 2 weeks ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, chestnuts, pecans, dark brown sugar, cane sugar, vanilla extract, whipping cream
Vanilla Latte
This vanilla latte is perfect when you are short on time and the cupboards are a bit bare but you still want a delicious drink that will make your home smell great ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract.
Spiced Apple Cider Latte
If you want full on fall fragrance in your morning coffee, this spiced apple cider latte is the one for you!!
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, apple juice, honey, pumpkin spice (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves), nutmeg, star anise, whipped cream.
Chai Latte
A simple chai latte is a lovely calming way to scent your kitchen without quite such a cortisol kick of caffeine as the espresso recipes ...
Simmer Time : 15 mins
Ingredients : black tea, milk, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, fresh ginger, maple syrup.
Fragrant Soups
Fabulously fragranced fall and winter soups make fantastic edible simmer pots. They will keep your home smelling good for hours and deliver deliciously stomach warming meals into the bargain - what's not to like?
Classic Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin soup is a wonderful edible simmer pot as soon as pumpkins appear at the market in September and nights start drawing in. This classic pumpkin soup recipe couldn't be easier.
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : pumpkin, onion, garlic, vegetable/chicken broth, cream.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup
For a spicier scent try this roasted pumpkin soup which is richly fragranced with fall spices and apple cider vinegar ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes + 1 hour roasting pumpkin
Ingredients : pumpkin, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, coconut or other milk, vegetable broth, apple cider vinegar.
Roast Chestnut Soup
If you love chestnut lattes and the fragrance of chestnuts you have to try these French style chestnut soups.
This first recipe uses pre-roasted and peeled chestnuts that are quicker and easier to cook with ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : cooked & peeled chestnuts, shallot, carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, vegetable broth, heavy cream, nutmeg.
This second chestnut soup made with skillet roasted and peeled chestnuts is a bit more effort but the chestnuts roasting in a stove top skillet will smell unbelievably good ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : chestnuts, mushrooms, garlic, onion, vegetable stock, bay leaves, thyme.
Ginger & Carrot Soup
The lovely fall fragrances of ginger and cinnamon work wonderfully in this simple carrot soup ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes
Ingredients : carrots, onion, garlic, fresh ginger, cinnamon powder, vegetable broth, bay leaf.
Caraway Seed Soup
The sweet-spicy aroma of caraway in this traditional Czech potato soup is a lovely traditional alternative to classic cinnamon and ginger ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : potatoes, onions, caraway seeds, flour, egg, vegetable broth / stock, parsley greens.
Apple & Cheddar Soup
If you adore cheese as much as I do try scenting your kitchen with this apple & cheddar soup on the stove top. It smells and tastes scrumptious ...
Simmer Time :
Ingredients : apples, apple cider, cheddar, cream, sweet potato, onion, garlic, flour, chicken stock, thyme, bay leaves, brandy, bacon (optional).
Rosemary White Bean Soup
For a fresh take on fall fragrances copy the Italians and scent your kitchen with a classic rosemary & white bean soup given an extra tahini twist ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : white beans, rosemary, thyme, lemon, parsley, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, vegetable broth, tahini.
Rosemary Squash Soup
Rosemary combined with sage also makes a great fragrant addition to this butternut squash soup ...
Simmer Time : 35 minutes
Ingredients : butternut squash, rosemary, sage, ginger, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, parsley, pumpkin seeds
Spicy Stove Top Fruit
Seasonal fruit poached, stewed or caramelised on the stove top with spices, and perhaps red wine or brandy, taste delicious and smell divine.
Red Wine Poached Pears
These red wine-poached pears are elegant enough for a dinner party dessert but are so simple you can get on with a pre-guest speed clean whilst they simmer away scenting your kitchen ...
Simmer Time : 1 hour
Ingredients : pears, Pinot Noir, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, granulated sugar, yoghurt, cranberries.
Honey Spiced Quince
Quinces are one of those forgotten fruit you need to discover if you haven't and this fragrant poached quince recipe brings out their flavour and aroma perfectly ...
Simmer Time : 25 minutes
Ingredients : quinces, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, lemon peel, cloves, vanilla extract, honey, granulated sugar.
Honey Spiced Figs
These honey spiced figs will naturally fragrance your home with an amazing deeply sweet aroma ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes.
Ingredients : figs, white wine, honey, cardamom pods, allspice berries, peppercorns, almonds, orange peel.
Figs In Port
Alternatively you can simmer beautifully caramelised figs in port for an even richer scent ...
Simmer Time : 10 mins
Ingredients : figs, sugar, port, peppercorns.
Cherries Jubilee
All sorts of cuisines have Christmas stove top cherry recipes that smell as good as they taste. This classic cherries jubilee recipe couldn't be easier :
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, orange, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, salt, kirsch / brandy / bourbon, vanilla extract, vanilla ice cream.
Brandy Cherries
Homemade brandy cherries will fill your home with holiday season fragrances and are perfect for popping in Christmas party cocktails ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, brandy, rum, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry juice, turbinado sugar.
Kirsch Cherries
This cherries in kirsch recipe which actually preserves the cherries so they will keep for up to 6 months would make a wonderful homemade Christmas preserve gift ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, Kirsch, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, granulated sugar, lemon juice.
Cinnamon Stewed Plums
These cinnamon stewed plums are a super simple and speedy way to make an autumnal dessert and make your home smell lovely ...
Simmer Time : 8 minutes
Ingredients : plums, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange juice.
Rosé Poached Apricots
These rosé poached apricots are lovely delicate way to scent your home with simmering apricots and vanilla. Simple Christmas shortbread would be the perfect partner for the fruit ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes
Ingredients : apricots, rosé wine, vanilla pod, sugar.
If you can't find good apricots, you could also use the recipe to make a peach dessert.
Aromatic Teas
Simple aromatic teas are a lovely way to calm your nerves and scent your home when the holiday season is getting hectic ...
Lemon & Ginger Tea
This lemon & ginger tea recipe could not be simpler and the lemon is actually a natural odour eater which neutralises stinks and pongs in the air whilst releasing fresh lemon vapours ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : lemon, fresh ginger, turmeric, honey.
Lemon & Thyme Tea
The simple thyme in this lemon & thyme tea is actually a natural antibiotic with all sorts of benefits for our health and it's natural fragrance can help lemon gently shift unpleasant smells that may be lingering ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : lemon, thyme, honey.
These simple lemon teas also work as very effective homemade cough and sore throat remedies.
Peppermint Tea Latte
A peppermint tea latte is a lovely, calming way to get into the holiday season spirit with all the fragrance of peppermint minus the caffeine kick of peppermint latte ...
Simmer Time : 3 minutes
Ingredients : milk, peppermint extract, maple syrup.
Rosemary Tea
The rosemary in this rosemary tea is another natural antibiotic and natural odour eater that can help see of musty smells whilst making your home smell deliciously seasonal ..
Simmer Time : 4 minutes
Ingredients : rosemary.
And there you go, over 40 deliciously fragrant edible simmer pots that taste as good as they smell. I hope they help you make your home smell amazing naturally this year.
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