Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate planeview.farm earns from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. For more information see Terms of Service.
If you love this season as much as I do then this cozy Autumn simmer pot recipe is just for you! This post is all about teaching you how to make a cozy Autumn simmer pot. I’m loving this recipe and it’s on repeat at my house.
Fall is my favorite time of year! I know, I know, they all say that. I will say that I’m not a pumpkin spice girl. I don’t wait in line for pumpkin spiced lattes. It’s all mocha all the way for me. Fall is more of the cozy ambiance and memory making. I could live outside in the crisp fall air.
When it comes to being inside, which is where I usually am, I want my home to have a certain ambiance. Having a space that is tidy, comfortable and cozy is important to me.
Simmer pots are one of my favorite ways to create that Autumn feeling in my home. They are a great and affordable option to fill your home with cozy scents and seasonal fragrance.
What is a simmer pot?
Maybe you are wondering, what is a simmer pot anyway? Well up until a few years ago, I had never heard of them.
Basically simmer pots are a lot like potpourri, only you simmer (hence the name) in water either on the stove or in a crock pot.
The water and heat work together to slowly release the fragrance of the spices and fruit in the simmer pot.
Do not put potpourri in water to boil.
Potpourri is dried plant material and is intended to be in a bowl to release fragrance overtime through room temperature air.
I have used Potpourri in my home for fragrance, however, I prefer simmer pots.
What I love about simmer pots is that I know the ingredients that go in them. I use fresh fruits and spices from my kitchen to create the scent I want.
Simmer pot cooking methods:
There are two main methods for simmer pots. One method is to put all the ingredients with water in a sauce pan on the stove and slowly boil for as long as you want it to release the fragrance.
Just be careful to not let the water level get too low. You will need to add water throughout the day.
The other method is to put all the ingredients with water in a small crock pot. This method is more hands off as the water will not evaporate out as quickly as it will on the stove. I usually do this method. I’ll start my crock pot on high and turn it down to low or keep warm and let it simmer all day.
With the crock pot method, at the end of the day you can put the lid on and put the crock pot in the refrigerator. Then you can use it again the next day. I have found that I usually get about 2 days worth of strong fragrance.
My cozy Autumn simmer pot recipe:
Here’s how I make my Autumn simmer pots. It is easy and very fragrant. I would recommend starting it early in the day so you can enjoy it all day.
I used two gala apples. 3-4 clementines (or mandarin oranges). A handful of cinnamon sticks. A handful of bay leaves. A whopping teaspoon of cloves, and a teaspoon of all spice.
Slice the apples and oranges into rings for that aesthetic simmer pot look. It really doesn’t matter how you slice the fruit, but the rings are pretty.
My apples and oranges had seen their better days, so this was a perfect way to use them up without throwing them out.
I put all my ingredients into my small crock pot. Then I added 3-4 cups of water. You’ll need enough water to cover all the ingredients.
Turn the crock pot on high and put the lid on. After it warms up, take the lid off and let it simmer all day without the lid. You may have to go back and add a little water throughout the day, but not much.
Not only does this simmer pot make my home smell amazing, but it makes me feel like quite the homemaker. (Speaking of homemaking, this bread recipe will also make you feel like you have super powers.) Simmer pots are aesthetic and appear like you have made a huge effort when in reality they are super easy and fun to put together.
Bonus tip:
They make great gifts. Put all your ingredients into a clear plastic bag and tie with some jute. You can also attach a small note for cooking instructions.
If you think your gift recipient will take a while to use the simmer pot ingredients, you will want to dehydrate your fruit as the apples and oranges will not last more than a few days.
In my opinion fresh fruit gives out a stronger fragrance, but dried fruit works great too.
I hope you give this recipe a try and thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy!