DIY Simmer Pot Gift for Fall & Christmas: Easy Crockpot Recipe

When the weather changes and turns turns crisp outside, I love filling the house with the warm scents of fall. I’ll often put a simple mix of fruits, herbs and spices in my crockpot before friends come over and let it slowly fragrance the house throughout the day. It creates that cozy, welcoming feeling without having to keep anything simmering on the stove. That’s what gave me the idea to turn one of my favorite fall scents into an easy homemade gift.

There’s just something about orange, apple, cinnamon and rosemary that instantly makes a home feel cozy. This easy DIY simmer pot gift is perfect because one simple recipe works for both fall and Christmas — just change the ribbon and gift tag to match the season.

These are especially cute for holiday hostess gifts, teacher gifts, neighbors, coworkers or friends. Make several at once, keep them on hand during the holidays, and you’ll always have an easy homemade gift ready to go.

Print

Simmer Pot Gifts

An easy simmer pot gift made with dried oranges, apples, cranberries, cinnamon, rosemary, and warm spices. Package it in a kraft bag or jar for a cozy fall or holiday hostess, teacher, neighbor gift.

Yield: 1 Gift Bag

Author: Living Layered

Equipment

• Ninja Flip Oven with dehydrate setting or convection Oven
• 1 baking sheet or dehydrating rack

Materials

Simmer Pot Materials

• 4-6 dried orange slices
• 4-6 dried apple slices
• 1/4 cup dried or freeze dried cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1-2 dried rosemary sprigs
• 1-2 whole star anise
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves

Packaging Materials

• 1 kraft paper window bag or glass jar
• 1 printable simmer pot sticker/label
• 1 piece fall or Christmas ribbon or twine

Instructions

Dehydrate the Fruit:

• Ninja Flip Oven: slice orange slices and apple slices 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Remove apple seeds and blot excess moisture from the oranges. Arrange the fruit in a single layer on the dehydrating rack without overlapping. Dehydrate at 135 degrees F. Apples with take approximately 4-6 hours and oranges approximately 6-10 hours. Remove pieces as they become completely dry.
• In a convection oven, heat oven to its lowest setting, ideally 170-200 degrees F. Arrange fruit in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flip about every hour. Apples generally take 2-4 hours and oranges 3-6 hours. Continue drying until no soft or moist areas remain.
• Allow fruit to cool completely before packaging.

Dry the Rosemary:

• Rinse the rosemary and pat completely dry. Arrange the sprigs in a single layer on the dehydrating rack.
• Using the Ninja Flip Oven, dehydrate at 105-115 degrees F for approximately 1-3 hours, or until completely dry and crisp.
• In the convection oven, set the oven to its lowest temperature, ideally 140-170 degrees F. Arrange rosemary in a single layer and dry for about 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, checking every 20-30 minutes. Remove when the leaves are crisp and crumble easily between your fingers.
• Allow the rosemary to cool completely before adding it to the gift bag or jar.

Assemble the Simmer Pot Gift:

• Place the dried orange slices, dried apple slices, dried or freeze dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, star anise and cloves in a kraft window bag or glass jar.
• Seal the bag or jar and attach the printable label.
• Finish with ribbon or twine.

To Use the Crockpot Simmer Pot:

• Empty the entire contents of the gift bag or jar into a small crockpot.
• Add 4-6 cups of water, or enough to cover the ingredients.
• Heat on HIGH for about 1 hour, then reduce to LOW or Warm. Leave the lid off or slightly ajar so the fragrance can fill the room.
• Check the water periodically and add more hot water as needed. DO NOT allow the crockpot to run dry.

Notes

For the cranberries in this recipe, use store bought dried or freeze dried cranberries. No additional drying is needed. 

For home fragrance only – do not consume. Be sure all fruit is completely dehydrated and cooled before packaging. Store finished gifts in a cool, dry place until ready to give. 

An Easy Homemade Gift for the Holidays

One of my favorite things about this DIY gift is how versatile it is. Make a big batch in the fall and use the same simmer pot recipe right through Christmas.

They’re perfect to bring along instead of another bottle of wine when you’re invited to someone’s home, tuck into a teacher gift, give to neighbors or keep a few ready for those last-minute holiday gifts that always seem to come up.

Simply change the ribbon and tag for the season and you have a thoughtful homemade gift that looks beautiful, smells amazing and feels much more special than something grabbed at the last minute.

Download the Free Simmer Pot Gift Tags

I made two printable labels so you can easily turn these simmer pot bags into a finished gift. Choose the warm Fall Simmer Pot label for autumn hostess and teacher gifts, or use the Christmas Simmer Pot version as the holidays get closer.

Each printable includes the crockpot directions right on the label, so whoever receives the gift will know exactly what to do.

[DOWNLOAD THE FREE FALL & CHRISTMAS SIMMER POT GIFT TAGS]

For best results, print the PDF on 8.5 x 11-inch white cardstock or full-sheet matte sticker paper at 100% or Actual Size. Cut around each label and attach it to the front of your kraft bag or jar. Finish it with a pretty ribbon or twine and your gift is ready to give.

Tips for Making Simmer Pot Gift Bags

A few simple details will make your simmer pot gifts look prettier and help them stay fresh until you’re ready to give them.

• Make sure everything is completely dry. Apples, oranges and rosemary should have no remaining moisture before going into the bags. Let everything cool completely after dehydrating before packaging.
• Use dried or freeze-dried cranberries. They give the bags beautiful color without adding the moisture of fresh cranberries.
• Choose a bag with a window. A kraft paper bag with a clear window lets the dried fruit and cinnamon sticks become part of the presentation.
• Layer the prettiest ingredients near the window. Place a few orange and apple slices facing outward, then tuck the cranberries, cinnamon sticks and rosemary around them.
• Don’t overfill the bag. Leave enough room at the top to fold and secure the tin-tie closure.
• Keep the cinnamon sticks whole. They look prettier in the bag and are less messy than broken cinnamon.
• Add the label after filling the bag. This makes it easier to position the printable neatly above the window.
• Change the ribbon for the season. Rust, cream, olive or plaid works beautifully for fall. For Christmas, use velvet, deep green, burgundy, red or festive plaid.
• Make several at once. Once your fruit is dehydrated, set up an assembly line and fill several bags for hostess, teacher, neighbor and holiday gifts.
• Store finished bags in a cool, dry place away from heat and humidity until you’re ready to give them.

Simmer Pot Gift FAQs

Can I use fresh fruit in the gift bags? No. Fresh fruit contains too much moisture for a gift that will be packaged and stored. Use completely dehydrated apples and oranges and dried or freeze-dried cranberries.

Do I need to dry the rosemary? Yes. If you’re packaging the simmer pot ahead of time, the rosemary should be completely dried before it goes into the bag. Fresh rosemary can introduce moisture.

Can I dry the apples and oranges at the same time? Yes. They can be dehydrated together, but individual slices may finish at different times. Check them periodically and remove pieces as they become completely dry.

How do I know when the fruit is dry enough? The fruit should feel dry throughout with no juicy, damp or soft pockets. If you’re unsure, give it more drying time. It is better for the fruit to be a little too dry than to package it with lingering moisture.

Should I use dried or freeze-dried cranberries? Either will work. Freeze-dried cranberries tend to stay brighter and lighter, while traditional dried cranberries are easier to find. Just make sure you are not using fresh cranberries in a make-ahead gift bag.

What size kraft bag works best? A tall kraft window bag around 4–5 inches wide and 9–10 inches tall works especially well. It gives the dried fruit enough room while leaving space above the window for the printable label.

Can I use a glass jar instead? Absolutely. A glass jar with a lid makes a beautiful alternative to the kraft bags. Tie the printable tag around the jar with ribbon or twine.

Can I make these ahead for Christmas? Yes. That is one of the reasons I love this project. Prepare the ingredients ahead, make sure everything is thoroughly dried and cooled, and keep the finished gifts in a cool, dry place. If you ever notice condensation, unusual softness, off odors or any sign of mold, discard the contents rather than gifting them.

Are the ingredients edible? No. These are specifically made as a home-fragrance simmer pot, not as a drink or food recipe. The label should clearly say “For fragrance only — do not consume.”

Does the recipient need a special crockpot? No. A small slow cooker or crockpot works perfectly. Add the contents, cover with 4–6 cups of water, heat on HIGH for about an hour, then reduce to LOW or WARM and add more water as needed.

Can I use the same recipe for fall and Christmas? Yes — that’s what makes these so easy. Use the same simmer pot mixture and simply change the label and ribbon. Warm autumn colors make it a fall gift, while red, green or burgundy instantly turns it into a Christmas gift.

Final Thoughts

I love using these simmer pots in my home. They’re such an easy way to add a warm, seasonal fragrance and make everyday spaces feel a little more cozy. If you love giving homemade gifts, you may also want to make my DIY Homemade Vanilla Extract with Free Printable Labels. It’s another easy make-ahead gift that’s perfect for hostesses, teachers, neighbors and holiday gifting.

If you enjoy putting your Ninja Flip Oven to work, try my Easy Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups, another simple recipe that uses the dehydrating setting.

And for more things I actually use in my own kitchen, browse my Kitchen Favorites & Essentials.

Sometimes the simplest little projects are the ones that make a home feel the most welcoming — and this one happens to make it smell pretty amazing, too. If you make them, send me a comment or tag me on social media – I’d love to see how you packaged yours!