10 very small apples
1 large orange stuck with whole cloves
10 teaspoons brown sugar
2 bottles dry sherry or dry Madeira
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 cloves
3 allspice berries
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups castor sugar
12 to 20 pints of cider according to the number of guests
1 1/2 cups (or as much as you like!) brandy. Preferably aged
Preparation
1- Core the apples and fill each with a teaspoon of brown sugar. Place in a baking pan and cover the bottom with 1/8-inch of water.
2- Insert cloves into the orange about 1/2" apart.
3- Bake the orange with the apples at 350°
4- Wait about 30 minutes, remove the orange and puncture it in several places with a fork
5- Combine the sherry or Madeira, cider, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, sugar, apple and orange juice and water in a large, heavy saucepan and heat slowly without letting the mixture come to a boil.
Important- Leave this on very low heat.
6- Strain this mixture and add in your brandy.
7- Pour into a wooden punch bowl, float the apples and orange on top and ladle the wassail hot into punch cups.
Should make enough for around 15-20 people – but we always wish we had made more! (especially if Uncle Jack was around!)