I am a huge fan of my slow cooker and cook something in it at least once a week. I never thought of using it for alcoholic beverages before until I found these recipes and more at www.crockpot.com. If you’re hosting a New Year’s party you can try one of these easy drinks. I also included two non-alcoholic drink recipes that would be super yummy on a cold day.

Hot Spiced Red Wine
3 to 4 bottles dry red wine
6 apples, cored and thinly sliced
6 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in the Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker and stir well. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 1-2 hours.

Spiced Rum Coffee
1 gallon brewed coffee
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2/3 cup sugar
6 sticks cinnamon
3 teaspoons whole cloves
1 teaspoon anise flavoring
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 cups whipped cream or non-dairy topping
4 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup spiced rum
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients (except whipped cream and vanilla) in stoneware. Place stoneware in slow cooker heating base, cover, and cook on low for 3-4 hours. In a bowl, combine whipped cream and vanilla and refrigerate. When ready to serve, ladle into coffee cups and top with a dollop of whipped vanilla cream and dust with cocoa powder.

Mulled Cranberry Tea
2 bags tea
1 cup water, boiling
48 ounces cranberry juice
1/2 cup dried cranberries, optional
1/3 cup sugar
1 large lemon, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 sticks cinnamon
6 whole cloves
Lemon, sliced thin
Cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for up to 5 hours.

Wassail
5 cups apple juice
5 cups cranberry juice
5 cups orange juice
5 cups lemonade
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups water
4 sticks cinnamon
1 orange, sliced
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon Angostura bitters
2 cups rum, optional
DIRECTIONS: Combine apple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemonade, sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and Angostura bitters in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Add rum just before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices before serving