Christmas Simmering Pot Kits
Christmas Simmering Pot Kits are thoughtful homemade gifts that you can assemble with ease for your friends and family this holiday! Using ingredients that you likely already have, you have the choice of making Mason jars or gift bags, or both!
If you love these Christmas Simmering Pot Kits as gift ideas, try my Snowman Hot Cocoa Bombs or Christmas Present Oreo Truffles!
Stuck on what to get your loved ones this Christmas? These Christmas Simmering Pot Kits are the perfect alternative to regular holiday cookies or other edible treats. Instead, these kits will fill every home with incredible aroma!
I'll show you how you can package these kits in Mason jars with fresh citrus fruit or gift bags with dehydrated fruit. Easily adjust these kits with other citrus fruit, spices, or even with the addition of essential oils and pretty flower petals – the options are endless!
Why My Recipe For This Kit
- You'll need less than 10 ingredients to make these Christmas Simmering Pot Kits and only 5 minutes of preparation if you opt to make the Mason jars!
- They're a thoughtful homemade gift for the holidays that will fill the homes of your friends and family with irresistibly citrusy, sweet, and warm aroma!
- These Christmas Simmering Pot kits are incredibly easy to assemble. Perfect for those who are new to simmering pots!
David
Nothing is quite as rewarding as making your very first Christmas Simmering Pot and now you get to share that with your friends, family, or work colleagues in the form of these sophisticated yet easy Christmas Simmering Pot Kits!
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Water – This is only needed when making the Mason jars. You'll need enough to fill each mason jar to the top.
- Orange – Use a large orange or 2 small oranges. This adds a lovely sweet aroma. You can use orange peels instead, if you like.
- Grapefruit – You'll need a large grapefruit. Grapefruit peels can be used instead.
- Cranberries – These don't have a very strong aroma and have been added mainly for decorative purposes. If you like, you can omit them completely.
- Rosemary – This adds a lovely herbaceous smell.
- Star anise – Adds a sweet, licorice-like aroma.
- Cinnamon – Use cinnamon sticks for warm and rich aromas.
- Whole Cloves – For a warm, sweet aroma.
HOW TO DEHYDRATE FRUIT
There are a few ways that you can dehydrate fruit, depending on the equipment and appliances that you have at home. I've used the oven to dehydrate the sliced orange and grapefruit, but you could also use a dehydrator or air fryer. Here's how:
For The Dehydrator:
- Prepare the fruit as directed in the recipe card below and preheat the dehydrator to around 130 degrees F.
- Arrange the sliced fruit in a single layer, and dehydrate for 4–6 hours, flipping the slices of fruit every 1–2 hours. The drying time depends on the make of the dehydrator, so you will need to check your manual for this.
For The Air Fryer:
- Use the dehydrate setting on the air fryer and place the orange and grapefruit slices on the grill.
Regardless of which method you choose, don't overcrowd the baking sheet, dehydrator, or air fryer basket. The sliced fruit requires enough space for good air circulation to dry them out properly.
FUN WAYS TO DECORATE CHRISTMAS SIMMERING POT KITS
Looking to jazz up these Christmas simmering pot kits? Here are some ideas that you could try:
- Tie decorative string or ribbon around the jars and gift bags along with a thoughtful gift tag.
- Use Mason jars with Christmas-themed stickers and write out the name of the simmering pot recipe that awaits inside to make!
- Add your Mason jar or gift bags to a basket filled with other homemade gifts for the lucky recipient, such as these cute Santa Claus Meringues, Christmas Donuts, or White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies!
Add the full recipe for making the Christmas Simmering Pot to these Christmas simmering pot kits so that your friends and family can get to the fun part immediately!
MAKE-AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS
Room Temperature Instructions
You can dehydrate your orange and grapefruit slices weeks in advance of making the gift bags and store them in a clean, airtight container or vacuum-sealed bags.
The dehydrated fruit must be stored in a cool, dry area of your kitchen or pantry where there is no direct sunlight or humidity.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
- Room Temperature: The gift bags with dehydrated fruit can be stored at room temperature for weeks, if not longer.
- Refrigeration: The Mason jars with fresh fruit should be stored in the fridge and given to your friends and family within 1-2 days of being assembled.
MORE HOLIDAY TREATS YOU CAN GIFT
Christmas Simmering Pot Kits
Ingredients
- Water – for the jars
- 1 large orange sliced
- 1 large grapefruit sliced
- 1 cup cranberries
- 3-4 sprigs rosemary
- 4-6 star anise
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
Instructions
- Fill a large mason jar (mine is 32 oz.) with sliced oranges, sliced grapefruit, cranberries, rosemary sprigs, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. Fill the jar to the top with cool water and then cover tightly with the lid.
- Tie a ribbon around the jar and add a gift tag. You can include simple instructions to “Place the contents in a pot and simmer for 2-3 hours. Smell and enjoy the aroma.” Keep refrigerated until ready to gift so it stays fresh.
- If drying the citrus, be sure to cut them into thinner 1/8 to 1/4-inch slices so it dries quicker.
- Preheat the oven to 200 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the orange and grapefruit slices on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Bake for 2-3 hours and flip the citrus slices every 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
- Allow to cool on the counter before assembling the gift bags.
Notes
- The times for making these Christmas Simmering Pot Kits will vary depending on whether you are making the Mason jars or the gift bags.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You could add a few drops of essential oil to the Mason jars or gift an essential oil bottle along with the simmering pot gift bag. Flower petals are another lovely addition to these kits.
Absolutely! Sliced apples would be a great option. You could also use any citrus fruit that you enjoy the smell of the most!
I'm glad you asked! It's so easy – just follow my full Christmas Simmering Pot recipe here for the full step-by-step details!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟 rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Be sure to check out my FREE Meal Planner and Kitchen Organizer!
