10 Cozy Holiday Simmer Pot Recipes to Warm Your Home

The holiday season is the perfect time to make your home feel warm, cozy, and festive. One of the easiest and most natural ways to fill your home with beautiful smells is by using holiday simmer pot recipes.

These recipes use simple ingredients like fruits, spices, and herbs that you can simmer on your stove or in a slow cooker (BTW, I have some awesome slow cooker recipes here). You don’t need any fancy tools—just water, a pot, and a few basic ingredients.

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In this post, I will share 10 easy-to-follow simmer pot recipes that you can make during the holidays. No matter if you’re celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, or a winter gathering, these recipes will bring a natural holiday fragrance to your home.

Dont worry if you’re try this 1st time; I’ve kept the words and instructions very simple so everyone can enjoy these recipes.

What is a Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot (Affiliate link) is a simple way to make your home smell amazing using water, herbs, fruits, and spices. You heat the pot on the stove or in a slow cooker, and the steam spreads the natural scent around your house.

Simmer pots are healthier than candles, which can have chemicals, and they fill the room with a cozy smell more quickly. You can use any pot, like a Dutch oven, and keep adding water as it cooks.

Slicing fruits or spices into smaller pieces can make the scent stronger. It’s an easy and safe way to enjoy holiday smells.

How to Make a Holiday Simmer Pot

Making a simmer pot is very easy. Here are the simple steps:

1. Choose a recipe you like.
2. Add the ingredients to a pot.
3. Fill the pot with water, enough to cover the ingredients.
4. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
5. Keep the pot simmering on low heat for as long as you want (usually 1-3 hours). Add more water if needed.

10 Holiday Simmer Pot Recipes

I’ve put together 10 easy holiday simmer pot recipes to make your home smell warm and festive. Each recipe uses simple ingredients like fruits, spices, and herbs. They’re quick to make, natural, and perfect for the holidays. Just simmer and enjoy the cozy, inviting scents.

1. Classic Holiday Simmer Pot

This Classic Holiday Simmer Pot is my favorite because it makes the house smell warm and cozy, like a perfect holiday morning. The sweet orange, spicy cinnamon, and cloves mix beautifully with a hint of vanilla. It’s so simple to make, and the smell feels like a big holiday hug.

Ingredients:

• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Slice the orange into thin pieces.
2. Place the orange slices, cinnamon stick, cloves, and vanilla extract into a pot.
3. Add 2 cups of water (or enough to cover the ingredients).
4. Bring the water to a boil.
5. Lower the heat and let the pot simmer. Add water as needed to keep it from drying out.

2. Apple Cinnamon Simmer Pot

The Apple Cinnamon Simmer Pot is one of my favorites because it smells just like a warm apple pie baking in the oven. The mix of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg creates a sweet and cozy smell. It’s perfect for relaxing evenings or when family and friends come over.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Slice the apple into thin pieces.
2. Add the apple slices, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg to a pot.
3. Pour in 2 cups of water or enough to cover the ingredients.
4. Boil the water, then lower the heat to a simmer.
5. Let it simmer, and refill with water if needed.

3. Cranberry Orange Simmer Pot

This Cranberry Orange Simmer Pot is one of my favorites. It’s bright, colorful, and smells sweet with a little tangy twist. The mix of fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon creates a warm holiday feel. It’s so simple to make and fills the house with a cozy, festive scent.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Add cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks into a pot.
2. Pour in 2 cups of water.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
4. Boil the water, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
5. Let the pot simmer and enjoy the smell. Add water if needed.

4. Pine and Lemon Simmer Pot

The Pine and Lemon Simmer Pot is perfect for anyone who loves the fresh, woodsy smell of a Christmas tree. The mix of pine or cedar twigs, lemon slices, and rosemary gives your home a clean, natural fragrance. It’s simple to make and brings a refreshing holiday atmosphere to your space.

Ingredients:

• A handful of pine or cedar twigs
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 teaspoon rosemary (fresh or dried)
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Add pine twigs, lemon slices, and rosemary to a pot.
2. Cover the ingredients with 2 cups of water.
3. Bring the water to a boil.
4. Lower the heat to a simmer and let it release its beautiful smell.
5. Keep an eye on the water and refill when needed.

5. Gingerbread Simmer Pot

Gingerbread Simmer Pot smells just like fresh gingerbread cookies baking in the oven. With warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, this recipe fills your home with a cozy, sweet aroma. Simply simmer it on the stove, and your home will be filled with holiday cheer in no time.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Combine ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in a pot.
2. Add 2 cups of water.
3. Boil the mixture, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
4. Let it simmer and enjoy the spicy gingerbread aroma.
5. Add more water if needed.

6. Spiced Pear Simmer Pot

Spiced Pear Simmer Pot gives off a warm, sweet aroma with a hint of fruitiness. The combination of pear, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg creates a cozy holiday scent.

Ingredients:

• 1 pear, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Slice the pear into thin pieces.
2. Place pear slices, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg into a pot.
3. Cover with 2 cups of water.
4. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer.
5. Refill with water as needed.

7. Vanilla Almond Simmer Pot

Vanilla Almond Simmer Pot is sweet, nutty, and super comforting. With just vanilla and almond extracts, it creates a warm and inviting scent in your home. Simply simmer the ingredients, and let the delicious fragrance fill the air, making your space feel cozy and festive.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Pour water into a pot.
2. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
3. Boil the water, then reduce to a simmer.
4. Let it simmer and enjoy the lovely smell.

8. Orange Rosemary Simmer Pot

Orange Rosemary Simmer Pot is fresh, herbal, and citrusy, making it perfect for the holidays. The bright orange slices combined with fragrant rosemary create a refreshing scent that fills your home.

Ingredients:

• 1 orange, sliced
• 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Add orange slices and rosemary to a pot.
2. Pour in 2 cups of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer.
4. Refill water if needed.

9. Minty Holiday Simmer Pot

Minty Holiday Simmer Pot brings a fresh, clean, and festive aroma to your home. With peppermint extract and optional mint leaves, it creates a cool, refreshing scent that’s perfect for the holiday season. Just simmer the ingredients, and let the minty fragrance fill the air with a cozy, clean vibe.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2-3 fresh mint leaves (optional)
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Add peppermint extract and mint leaves to the water.
2. Boil, then lower to simmer.
3. Enjoy the clean, minty aroma.

10. Holiday Spice Simmer Pot

This recipe is a perfect blend of classic spices, creating a warm and festive scent. With cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, this recipe fills your home with a cozy, spicy aroma.

Ingredients:

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Add all the spices to the water in a pot.
2. Boil the water, then lower to simmer.
3. Let it fill your home with a beautiful smell.

Final Tips for Using Simmer Pots

• Never let the water dry out—keep refilling as needed.
• Use fresh or dried ingredients. Both work well.
• Store leftover ingredients in the fridge for later use.