The Mulling Jar
A jar of December, ready to simmer.
This is the gift that makes a whole house smell like the holidays: dried orange wheels, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, layered in a quart jar and tied with twine. The recipient adds a bottle of cider and twenty minutes. It costs about six dollars to build and reads like thirty — the best exchange rate in gifting.
- The Vessel
- 1-quart mason jar
- Keeps
- 6 months, sealed, in a cool dark cupboard
In the Jar
- dried orange wheelsdry your own: 200°F, 3 hours, flipped once6–8
- cinnamon sticks4
- star anise pods3
- whole cloves1 tbsp
- allspice berries1 tbsp
The Assembly
- 1Stand the orange wheels against the glass first — the layers are the whole look.
- 2Pack the cinnamon sticks and star anise down the middle.
- 3Fill the gaps with the cloves and allspice.
- 4Seal, tie with twine, and add the gift tag.
The Gift Tag · Already Written
“Simmer me with a bottle of good cider for twenty minutes. Never let it boil. Makes the whole house smell like December.”
They add: One bottle of fresh apple cider and twenty gentle minutes on the stove
From This Jar
The Supply List
What You'll Need
Quart mason jars (case)
The case of 12 is the gift-giving economy size
ShopKraft gift tags + twine
The whole presentation for pennies
ShopWhole mulling spices
If you're building a dozen at once
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