Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (2024)

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Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe is perfect the way to make your home smell like the holiday season. We even love to give as a homemade gift.

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (1)

Easy Stove Top Christmas Potpourri:

This holiday potpourri is always on my stove top during the holiday season. It is made with fresh ingredients and is easy to make.

It makes our home smell just like Christmas and we have even packaged it to give as a homemade gift. You might also like our Slow Cooker Christmas Potpourri.

The whole spices and fresh fruit simmers easily in a large pot for an amazing Christmas stovetop potpourri recipe. This is a great way to start the holiday season and your whole house will smell amazing.

Even if you leave the pot full of the potpourri without heat, it will still smell amazing. Make this potpourri for a blend of citrus smells and spices for a cozy, comforting smell for your home.

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (2)

Why We Love Christmas Potpourri:

  • Simple Ingredients – This potpourri is made with simple fresh ingredients. They can easily be changed to what you prefer for a budget friendly potpourri.
  • Smells like Christmas – There is nothing better that the fresh scent of Christmas. The warm spices, citrus flavors, and more makes this potpourri to enjoy all December long.
  • Christmas Gift – Make this Christmas Potpourri for an easy holiday gift. It is easy to package up and tie a holiday ribbon for the perfect gift for neighbors, friends and family.
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Ingredients:

Serves: 1

  • Fresh Cranberries
  • Large Orange Slices
  • Whole Cloves
  • Sprigs Rosemary
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Water

How to Make Christmas Potpourri on the Stove Top:

  • Step 1 – Add Ingredients – Add all the ingredients to a sauce pan.
  • Step 2 – Simmer on the stove – Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat.
  • Step 3 – Enjoy the Scents – Let the mixture simmer uncovered so that the aroma fills the house.
  • Step 4 – Add more water if needed – Add additional water if needed as the water evaporates in the saucepan.
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Christmas Stove Top Potpourri Recipe Tips:

  • Heat Mixture – Heat this mixture until the potpourri is no longer fragrant. It will usually last up to 6-8 hours.
  • Prepare Fruit – Prepare the citrus fruit that you are adding in. We recommend to slice the fruit for the best smell.
  • Simmering Mixture – Simmer the mixture uncovered all day long. We have even turned off the heat and just left the pot on the stove. It continue to filled our home with warm scent.
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Substitutions and Additions:

  • Change the Fruit – If you prefer or have some old fruit that needs to be used. Toss in slice tangerines, grapefruit, lemons or any type of citrus fruit. Diced apples or Cuties is also a great addition or substitute.
  • Add in Fresh Herbs – The fresh rosemary is a great addition. But you can also add in fresh pine, vanilla beans, a bay leaf, fresh ginger or ground spices. I have even added in vanilla extract to the stovetop Christmas Potpourri.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice – Another ground spice that I like to use on occasion, is a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. It is delicious and just adds that hint of fall flavor to this potpourri.
  • Simmer Pot – I like to have a simmer pot that I use only for this recipe. This ensures that the food that I cook doesn’t taste like this Christmas potpourri.
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Can I Prepare Christmas Potpourri ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare ahead of time. Prepare the potpourri and place in the fridge and it will stay fresh for up to 4 days. As long as your prepare it with fresh ingredients the Christmas potpourri is perfect to prepare ahead of time.

Holiday Gift Idea:

If you are looking for the perfect homemade holiday gift idea, make this Christmas Potpourri. It perfect to place in a cellophane bag or a mason jar.

There are lots of free printable gift tag that you can easily download to add to the ribbon. Give instructions on how to simmer on the stovetop for an easy potpourri recipe.

When preparing as gifts, do not slice the fruit. Leave as whole and place in the bag. This keeps the fruit fresh and doesn’t add moisture to the ingredients.

This is the perfect gift for neighbors, friends, and kids teachers.

How to Store Christmas Potpourri:

You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time but once you cook them, you can store in the fridge overnight. You may need to just add water to reuse the potpourri.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

How Long does Stovetop Potpourri Last:

Stovetop potpourri can be simmered for hours. The mixture can be used for up to 2 days, just make sure to add more water as needed.

Can you Drink Christmas Potpourri?

We do not recommend drinking Christmas Potpourri. Even though the ingredients are edible, it does not taste as good as it smells.

How Many days does it Stay Fresh:

We leave it set on our stove top for days and just continue to add water. You can place in the fridge to add a few more days. I usually enjoy one batch for about a week.

Can I Make in the Slow Cooker?

Yes, this Christmas Potpourri works great in the slow cooker. I have a small crockpot that I use just for this potpourri. I toss all the ingredients and the slow cooker does all the work.
If you leave the lid off, make sure to check on the water level. You may need to add more.

Print Recipe for Christmas Potpourri Stove Top:

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (8)

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe is perfect the way to make your home smell like the holiday season. We even love to give as a homemade gift.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Keyword: Christmas Potpourri Stove Top

Servings: 1

Author: Carrie Barnard

Cost: 7

Equipment

  • 1 Large stock pot

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Fresh Cranberries
  • 1 Large Orange sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon Whole Cloves
  • 3 Sprigs Rosemary
  • 4 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 4 cups Water

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a saucepan.

  • Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat.

  • Let the mixture simmer uncovered so that the aroma fills the house.

  • Add additional water if needed as the water evaporates in the saucepan.

Notes

Heat this mixture until the potpourri is no longer fragrant. It will usually last up to 6-8 hours.

More Easy Christmas Recipes:

  • Christmas Hot Chocolate Recipe
  • Easy Christmas Cookies in a Jar
  • The Best Christmas Punch Recipe

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Easy Cake

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Quick and Easy Instant Pot

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Cranberry Pork Tenderloin

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About the Author

Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (17)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade stovetop potpourri last? ›

Dried potpourri will last 10 to 14 days in an airtight jar. Once you begin simmering your potpourri, the mixture will remain fresh and fragrant for several day.

Does stovetop potpourri need to be refrigerated? ›

Remove the lid and bring it to a simmer again then next day. Add fresh water as needed so there is always liquid in the pot. For a longer lasting simmer pot, up to 7 days, refrigerate the pot of ingredients (after the liquid has cooled) between uses. Add fresh ingredients and water as needed.

What is the best Christmas scent for a house? ›

Drop a blend of warm, calming essential oils—like frankincense, orange, cinnamon, rosemary, or pine—into your essential oil diffuser in the evenings for an infusion of holiday scents in the air. You can also create a room spray by adding a couple of drops of your favorite festive scent into a water-filled spray bottle.

What can I cook on the stove to make my house smell good? ›

Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then add ingredients like apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, cranberries, nutmeg, vanilla, and more, and keep the water at a simmer to fill your home with a beautiful autumnal aroma.

How do you make potpourri smell stronger? ›

How do you make potpourri smell stronger? Two trusty ways to make your potpourri smell stronger are to add more essential oil to the mixture every so often or to agitate it. Shake the container or stir the potpourri to release more scent.

Does stovetop potpourri really work? ›

In addition to filling any space with a warm and inviting aroma, simmering potpourri on the stove can also help to humidify the dry winter air. Plus, it's just a fun thing to do when you're stuck inside — before you know it you'll be curled up by the fire with a good book and a cup of tea.

What are the best ingredients for dry potpourri? ›

  • Seed pods.
  • Small pine cones.
  • Whole nutmeg berries.
  • Whole cloves.
  • Dried citrus rind.
  • Whole star anise.
  • Cinnamon sticks.
Mar 31, 2023

Do dried oranges work in stovetop potpourri? ›

All you need for this recipe are dried apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and spices. I used whole cloves and star anise because I love the smell and they look festive!

How long does stovetop potpourri take to smell? ›

How long do I simmer stovetop potpourri? I simmer stovetop potpourri for hours on end, but I prefer a nice strong scent throughout the house. If you are more sensitive to smells, you may find that simmering stovetop potpourri for 30 minutes is sufficient.

When should you throw out potpourri? ›

Well-made potpourri can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, although this can differ depending on the types of flowers and other ingredients used.

How do you make natural Christmas potpourri? ›

Our Christmas potpourri recipe is a chunky mix of cinnamon sticks and dried oranges, with plenty of Christmas spices thrown in. Place all the ingredients in a thick plastic bag or tupperware box and shake with a few drops of fragrance oil. Leave to permeate for a few hours before using.

How to make a potpourri stove top? ›

Directions. Add all orange, apple, cranberries, rosemary, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean or vanilla extract, and water to a large pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat for as many hours as desired, keeping an eye on the pot to check water level, adding water as needed throughout the day.

What essential oils make it smell like Christmas? ›

The Best Christmas Essential Oils That Smell Great AND Will Boost Your Wellbeing
  • Cinnamon Essential Oil.
  • Pine Essential Oil.
  • Frankincense Essential Oil.
  • Myrrh Essential Oil.
  • Nutmeg Essential Oil.
  • Mandarin Essential Oil.
Oct 30, 2023

Can you boil cinnamon sticks for smell? ›

Cinnamon Sticks

They're a classic potpourri spice for good reason — a few sticks in a simmering pot of water will make your entire home smell like you've got cinnamon rolls baking.

What is the Christmas scent? ›

A key ingredient to many festive recipes, the smell of cinnamon takes over our homes, shops, food and drinks during the winter months. Cinnamon scented candles are very popular over Christmastime. Purchasing a real Christmas tree for your home is a great way to bring the natural smell indoors.

What is a stovetop scent? ›

A Simmer pot is a little bundle of ingredients like fresh citrus, greens, and spices that you place on your stovetop with water and when left on low heat, they fill your space with the most wonderful holiday smell!

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