My favorite wassail recipe, even better this year
- December 23, 2010
- 0 comments
- Posted in Family, Latest Posts
Here’s my killer wassail recipe again. This year, I substituted dry sherry for the usual sweet sherry or Madeira. We all liked it even better (if that’s possible). I also reduced the number of apples. The recipe serves 16. For smaller Christmases, I cut it in half. As usual, my grandchildren, Hallee and Elias, hung with me in the kitchen and helped make it. Christmas officially starts when we carry the steaming wassail to the crowd sitting around the tree. Be sure you have glasses that can take heat. Irish coffee glasses work fine.
You might wonder why I’ve already made wassail when it’s only Dec 23. It’s because my grown children have many commitments on Christmas Day — seeing in-laws, hanging Christmas stockings at home for their own kids, visiting other relatives. Why add to the rush? I declare Christmas on the closest weekend that theycan all come and have two clear days together. This year, Santa arrivedon the 18th and stayed for football on the 19th. Tree, gifts, wassail, turkey — we’ve had it all. On the 25th, I’ll take a long nap.
Bake 6 apples
Combine in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes: 1 cup water, 4 cups sugar, 6 allspice berries, 6 whole cloves, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground mace, 1 tbls grated nutmeg, 1 stick cinnamon.
Beat until stiff but not dry: 1 doz egg whites
Beat separately until light in color: 1 doz egg yolks
Fold whites into yolks, using a large bowl (this bowl will eventually hold the entire mix)
Strain the sugar and spice mixture into the eggs, combining them quickly
Bring almost to a boiling point: 4 bottles Madeira or sherry DRY SHERRY and 2 cups brandy
Slowly add the hot wine and brandy mix to the egg and spice mix, stirring each addition rapidly
Add the apples just before serving. I mash them up a little to form satisfying apple suds.
I bring water to a near-boil in a large saucepan on the stove, and park the bowl on the saucepan, to keep it hot. You want the seconds to be as good as the firsts.
Enjoy!
