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.