Spiced Wassail

This is an old-fashioned, traditional beverage, & the recipe for this particular winter holiday treat comes, with a few of my own tweeks, from Better Homes and Gardens 'so good with FRUIT' cookbook.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 20
• Yields: 2 quarts

Ingredients

• 6  inches cinnamon sticks
• 40  whole cloves
• 1  teaspoon whole allspice
• 6  cups apple cider
• 2  cups cranberry juice
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 1  teaspoon  orange bitters
• 3  medium oranges
• 2  tablespoons  rum extract

Directions

1. Break the cinnamon stick into pieces, &--along with the whole cloves & whole allspice--tie the cinnamon pieces in a cheesecloth bag.
2. Cut each orange in half.
3. In a large covered saucepan, combine the cider, cranberry juice, sugar & orange bitters.
4. Add the spice bag, oranges & rum extract, & simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
5. Remove spices & pour into a warm serving bowl, leaving the oranges to float on top.