Christmas Simmer Pot Gift Jar
I love homemade Christmas gifts that are pretty, useful, and don’t require a long list of supplies. This Christmas Simmer Pot Gift Jar checks all three boxes. It is filled with dried oranges, apples, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks that can be simmered on the stove to make the whole house smell like Christmas.
I especially like this one for neighbors, teachers, hostesses, or those little gifts you want to have ready during December. Add one of the printable instruction tags, tie on a ribbon, and it is ready to give.
Why I Love These Simmer Pot Gift Jars
These are simple gifts, but they don’t feel like an afterthought.
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- Most of the ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find.
- You can dry the fruit ahead of time.
- The jars look pretty enough to leave sitting out before they’re used.
- Everything inside the jar creates the fragrance naturally as it simmers.
- They’re easy to make several at one time for Christmas gifts.
- I’ve included a free printable tag with the simmering instructions.
And, of course, you don’t have to give every jar away. I like the idea of keeping one for the house too.
What Is in a Christmas Simmer Pot?
I keep my basic Christmas simmer pot very simple. Orange and apple give it that warm fruit scent, the cranberries add a pretty Christmas red, and cinnamon is what makes the whole thing smell especially cozy.
Ingredients and Suppies:
- Quart-size mason jar with lid
- Dried orange slices
- Dried apple slices
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
- Ribbon or twine
- Free Printable Gift Tag & Instructions
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Wire cooling rack
- Oven or food dehydrator
- Scissors
- Glue or adhesive for the printable tag
- Optionally, a simmer pot designed especially for Potpourri
You can add cloves, star anise, rosemary, or other whole spices if you’d like, but I don’t think you need a dozen ingredients to make a lovely simmer pot.
How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot Gift Jar
The jar comes together quickly once the fruit is dry. The fruit takes the longest, so I usually take care of that first and assemble the jars after everything has completely cooled.
Step 1: Slice the Apples and Oranges
Wash your fruit and slice the apples and oranges into even rounds.
I prefer slices around ¼ inch thick. Keeping them fairly even helps everything dry at about the same rate.
Try not to make the slices too thick. Thick fruit can look dry on the outside while still holding moisture in the center, and you don’t want that moisture sealed inside your gift jar.
Step 2: Dry the Fruit
Arrange the fruit slices in a single layer on wire racks placed over baking sheets. Leave a little room between the slices so air can circulate.
For a dehydrator, dry the fruit around 135°F to 140°F until the pieces are completely dried through. Apples will usually take several hours, and oranges may take longer depending on how juicy and thick they are.
If you’re using your oven, use the lowest temperature your oven allows and check the fruit regularly. A convection setting is especially helpful because the moving air helps carry away moisture.
The important part isn’t an exact number of hours. The fruit needs to be thoroughly dry before it goes into a sealed jar.
Let all of the slices cool completely before assembling your simmer pot gifts.
My tip: Don’t rush the drying step. If you see any moisture or condensation after the dried fruit has been placed in a covered container, it needs more drying time.
How to Assemble the Simmer Pot Jar
Once everything is dry and cool, this part takes just a few minutes.
Step 1: Add the Orange Slices
Stand several dried orange slices upright around the inside edge of the jar.
I like doing this first because the orange slices show through the glass and give the jar such a pretty stained-glass look.
Step 2: Add the Apples and Cranberries
Tuck the dried apple slices around and between the orange slices.
Then add the dried cranberries, letting some fall into the open spaces between the fruit.
There’s no exact way to layer these. I move things around until the jar looks nice from all sides.
Step 3: Add the Cinnamon
Nestle 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks into the center of the jar.
If they’re too tall, you can break them into shorter pieces. I actually like having a few different heights because the jar doesn’t look quite so arranged.
Step 4: Add the Lid and Gift Tag
Screw the lid onto your mason jar.
Print and cut out the free simmer pot labels snag the free printable gift tags here). The tags include the basic simmering instructions so the person receiving the gift will know exactly what to do with it.
Attach the tag to the lid, then finish the jar with ribbon or twine tied around the rim.
That’s it. One sweet homemade Christmas gift finished.
Instructions to Include With Your Simmer Pot Gift
Using the Christmas potpourri is just as simple as making it.
Empty the contents of the jar into a saucepan and cover the ingredients generously with water. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
Let it simmer uncovered and add more water as needed.
Never allow the pot to simmer dry, and don’t leave it unattended on the stove.
You can also use the mixture in a simmer pot or small slow cooker intended for this purpose.
I like this because you can keep adding water and enjoy the fragrance for quite a while.
Expert Tips
- Dry the fruit completely. This is the one part I wouldn’t shortcut. Any moisture trapped inside a sealed gift jar can spoil the ingredients.
- Use dried ingredients for gifts. Fresh cranberries and fresh herbs are fine when you’re making a simmer pot to use that day, but I don’t put them into jars I’m giving away or storing.
- Keep the ingredients fairly large. Whole cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fruit slices, and rosemary look nicer in the jar and are much easier to work with than ground spices.
- Make several at once. Once I have the oven or dehydrator running, it makes sense to dry enough fruit for several jars. Then I can line them up and assemble everything at one time.
- Don’t overcrowd the jar. You want it full enough to look pretty, but you don’t have to pack every inch. The layers show better when they have a little breathing room.
Make the Jars Ahead
If you’re making several of these for Christmas, the fruit can be dried ahead of time.
Make sure it is thoroughly dried and completely cool before sealing it in a jar. I also like to let my dried fruit sit in a covered container for several days before assembling gifts so I can make sure there isn’t any hidden moisture.
If condensation appears inside the container, the fruit needs to go back into the dehydrator or oven.
Once everything is properly dried, keep the finished jars tightly covered in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to give them.
I recommend using dried cranberries rather than fresh cranberries in gift jars that will sit at room temperature. Fresh fruit adds moisture, which defeats the purpose of carefully drying everything else.
Christmas Simmer Pot Variations
You can change the fragrance by adding a few whole cloves, star anise, dried rosemary, or a little dried ginger. I prefer keeping the orange, apple, cranberry, and cinnamon combination for Christmas gifts because the colors look so pretty through the glass. Just remember to use completely dried ingredients if you’re making the jars ahead of time.
The rosemary gives this one that fresh evergreen scent without overwhelming the citrus and cinnamon.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can let it gently simmer for several hours as long as you keep checking the water level and adding more water before it gets low. Never leave a simmering pot unattended.
Not if the jar will be stored at room temperature before gifting. For a gift jar, I use properly dried fruit and dried cranberries so there isn’t fresh moisture trapped inside the sealed jar. If you’re preparing a simmer pot to use immediately at home, fresh orange slices, cranberries, apples, and herbs are perfectly fine.
No. A regular saucepan works just fine. Just keep the heat low once the water begins simmering and check the water level often.
I have always liked gifts that are useful but still feel thoughtful, and this is one of those little projects. A jar of dried fruit and spices doesn’t take much to put together, but once it’s simmering on the stove, the whole house smells warm and Christmasy.
These are lovely for neighbors, teachers, hostesses, coworkers, or anyone you’d like to remember with a small homemade gift. Add the printable instructions and a pretty ribbon and you’re done.
If you’re making homemade gifts this year, you might also enjoy my Triple Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar Gift, Personalized Wine Glass Charms, or Wine Cork Wreath. And my Christmas Mason Jar Centerpieces are another simple way to put those extra jars to work during the holidays.
If you make one of these Christmas Simmer Pot Gift Jars, I’d love to hear which combination you used. Leave me a comment and a star rating below and share yours with me on social media.
✂️ Tutorial
Supplies
- 1 wide-mouth pint-size jar
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- Printable Instructions tag
- Christmas Ribbons
Instructions
How to Dry the Apple and Orange Slices:
- Slice both the apples and oranges into even ⅓-inch thick rounds (any thicker and they won’t dry properly).
- Arrange the slices in a single layer on a wire rack set over a baking sheet (this allows air to circulate on both sides).Oven method: Bake at 200°F (93°C) for 3–4 hours, flipping halfway through, until completely dry and leathery.Dehydrator method: Dry at 130–135°F (57°C) for about 10–12 hours, or until crisp.
Gather Your Supplies:
- Pint-sized mason jars (with lids), Festive ribbon or twine,Cinnamon sticks, Dried orange slices (dried, )Dried apple slices, Whole cloves, fresh cranberries (or dried), rosemary sprigs, or any other add-ins you’re using.
How to Assemble Your Simmer Pot Jar:
- Start by layering the dried orange slices along the inside edge of a clean pint-sized mason jar (stand them upright for a pretty stained-glass effect when the jar is viewed from the side).
- Add a handful of dried apple slices next – tuck them in around the oranges.
- Sprinkle in the dried cranberries (or fresh ones if using right away) – they’ll add beautiful pops of red.
- Finish by nestling in 4–6 cinnamon sticks (break them in half if needed to fit nicely).Screw on the lid
Printable Gift Tags & Finishing Touch:
- Download and print the free printable gift tags here (they’re perfectly sized for your jar lids!):
- Cut each tag out along the outer circle so it fits snugly on top of your metal mason jar lid. The tags already include simple simmering instructions.
- Glue the tag directly to the lid
- Tie a pretty ribbon or twine bow around the rim, and your gift is complete – thoughtful, beautiful, and ready to spread holiday cheer!
To use:
- Empty the contents of the jar to a saucepan and cover with water or place contents in a simmer pot and follow directions on the pot
Notes
- Use completely dried fruit and cranberries for gift jars. Fresh ingredients can introduce moisture and cause spoilage.
- Make sure the fruit is fully dried and cooled before sealing the jars. Check for any condensation before gifting.
- For a different scent, add whole cloves, star anise, dried rosemary, or dried ginger.
- To use, empty the jar into a saucepan, cover generously with water, and simmer over low heat. Add more water as needed.
- Never leave a simmer pot unattended or allow the water to boil dry.
- Store finished gift jars tightly sealed in a cool, dry place until ready to give. Discard any jar showing moisture, mold, or signs of spoilage.
- For fragrance only. Do not eat or drink the simmer pot mixture.
Click HERE to save this Christmas Simmer Pot Mason Jar Craft to Pinterest
