Simmer Pot Recipes For Gifts

Simmer pot recipes are among the coziest and most popular DIY gifts this season, and they’re a great way to fill your home with festive holiday scents. These simple stovetop recipes combine dried and fresh citrus, warm spices, and fragrant herbs to create a natural, long-lasting aroma that feels like Christmas in a pot. Today I’m sharing my favorite simmer pot recipes that make beautiful homemade gifts—perfect for neighbors, teachers, hostess presents, or anyone who loves a good, seasonal scent moment.

A glass pot filled with cranberries, clementines, cinnamon sticks, and star anise sits on a white surface amidst pine branches, bay leaves, and spices—an elegant example of simmer pot recipes for gifts, with a green velvet ribbon on the handle.

The holidays are the perfect excuse to cozy up your home and spend time with friends. And if you’re heading to a Christmas party, why not bring along a sweet little hostess gift? This year, I’m making these adorable simmer pot gifts for friends and family—they smell amazing and are so easy to put together! But before we jump into that DIY, I’ve got a few other fun blog posts you might want to check out first.

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A clear glass bowl filled with fresh cranberries, whole clementines, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and star anise sits on a white surface—an inviting display perfect for simmer pot recipes for gifts. Scattered cranberries and spices complete the scene.

Homemade Simmer Pot Recipes for the Holidays (Perfect for Gifting!)

Simmer pot recipes are one of the coziest ways to fill your home with natural holiday fragrance. These easy stovetop potpourri blends—also called simmer jars, simmering spice mixes, or Christmas scent pots—use dried fruit, warm spices, and seasonal herbs to create a comforting aroma without artificial fragrances. And the best part? These pretty simmer pot gifts take just minutes to assemble and look beautiful packed in jars or cellophane bags.

Whether you’re making neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, hostess presents, or simply want your home to smell amazing, these fragrant simmer pot recipes will instantly bring warmth and nostalgia to your holiday season.

How to Use a Simmer Pot

Using a simmer pot is incredibly simple:

Add the ingredients to a small saucepan or a pretty glass simmer pot.
Fill with water.
Simmer on low heat, adding more water as needed.

The scent will fill your home for hours and can often be reused for another day.

How to Package Simmer Pot Gifts

These stovetop potpourri blends make beautiful handmade holiday gifts. Here are easy packaging ideas:

Layer ingredients in a mason jar.
Use a cellophane bag tied with twine or ribbon.
Add a gift tag with instructions.
Include a cinnamon stick on the outside for decoration.
Use a glass milk bottle or French yogurt jar for a minimalist look.

Simmer Pot Recipes (Great for Gifting!)

Below are several ready-to-use holiday simmer pot recipes with seasonal scents, cozy spices, and citrus notes.

A bottle of pure vanilla extract is surrounded by cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, star anise, cranberries, mandarin oranges, black peppercorns, and evergreen sprigs—perfect ingredients for simmer pot recipes for gifts—on a white background.

1. Classic Christmas Simmer Pot

Perfect for a nostalgic holiday scent.

Ingredients:

Dried or fresh orange slices
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Star anise
Fresh bay leaf
Vanilla bean (or a splash of vanilla extract on the tag)

Scent profile: Warm, spicy, traditional Christmas fragrance.

2. Cozy Cabin Simmer Pot

A woodsy, rustic stovetop potpourri.

Ingredients:

Pine or cedar sprigs
Dried apple slices
Cinnamon sticks
Bay leaves
Allspice berries

Scent profile: Outdoorsy, cabin-in-the-woods aroma.

3. Winter Citrus & Spice Simmer Jar

Bright, uplifting, and great for kitchen gifts.

Ingredients:

Dried lemon slices
Dried grapefruit slices
Fresh ginger slices (or dried ginger chips)
Cardamom pods
Whole cloves

Scent profile: Clean, energizing, citrus-forward fragrance.

4. Sugar Cookie Simmer Pot

A sweet, bakery-inspired scent perfect for dessert lovers.

Ingredients:

Vanilla bean or vanilla extract
Almond extract
Cinnamon sticks
Nutmeg
A few dried apple pieces

Scent profile: Sweet, cozy, like cookies baking in the oven.

5. Cranberry Woods Simmer Pot

Vibrant and festive—very holiday!

Ingredients:

Fresh or dried cranberries
Orange peel
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Evergreen sprigs

Scent profile: Fruity, spicy, with wintry evergreen notes.

6. Relaxing Herbal Simmer Pot

Great for a spa-like, calming scent.

Ingredients:

Lavender buds
Dried chamomile
Lemon peel
Rosemary
A tiny piece of vanilla bean

Scent profile: Soft, soothing, clean.

Two holiday simmer pot recipe cards with red and black plaid borders sit on a white surface, surrounded by greenery, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and festive decor—perfect simmer pot recipes for gifts this season.

Ingredients You’ll Need!

Glass Pot

Fresh or Dried Sliced Oranges

Fresh or Dried Cranberries

Water

Tap on image to shop!

A clear glass Simmer Pot with handles and a lid, filled with liquid, lemon slices, rosemary, a pink flower, and white flowers. Icons are printed on the pot—perfect for experimenting with new Simmer Pot Recipes.

A clear plastic jar filled with dried orange slices. The label reads "Drink Botanicals Ireland - Dehydrated Orange Slices - Premium Garnishes" with green leaf designs, perfect for gift ideas or adding to your favorite simmer pot recipes.

A spool of dark green velvet ribbon with several layers wrapped around it, and one strip hanging down in front—perfect for decorating gifts or adding a touch of elegance to your next simmer pot.

A clear plastic package of Taj Gourmet Foods Bay Leaves (Tej Patta), 1.75 oz (50g), perfect for simmer pot recipes or as unique gifts. The white label features bold black text, and the blue and gold top adds a touch of elegance.

A clear plastic bag labeled “Manut Cranberries Dried Whole” sits on a pile of dried whole cranberries—perfect for simmer pot recipes or festive gifts. The 2-pound bag shows cranberries inside, with some scattered outside.

Three clear bags filled with dried apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice are displayed—perfect for simmer pot gifts. In front, some of the dried ingredients are scattered near a small glass bowl.

Three red Fruitles branded pouches containing cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole cloves—ideal for homemade simmer pot recipes or thoughtful simmer pot gifts—are arranged in a triangular layout on a white background.

A brown glass bottle labeled "Frontier Co-op Organic Vanilla Extract, Non-GMO, USDA Organic, 2 fl oz (59 ml)" with certification logos on a black background—perfect for simmer pot recipes or thoughtful simmer pot gifts.

Printable Gift Tag Instructions

Attach this to each simmer pot gift:

Simmer Pot Directions:
Pour contents into a small saucepan, add 2–3 cups of water, and simmer on low. Refill water as needed. Enjoy the natural holiday fragrance!

Get My Free Gfit Tag!

Fill out the form below, and you’ll receive the gift tag to attach to your simmer pot gift!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Gather Your Ingredients

Collect dried citrus, whole spices, herbs, and any add-ins like cranberries or vanilla beans.

Step 2 – Choose Your Container

Use a pretty glass pot with a lid, mason jars, glass milk bottles, clear ornaments, or cellophane bags for gifting.

Step 3 – Layer the Ingredients

Place the larger items (dried fruit & cinnamon sticks) in first, then fill in with smaller spices and herbs.

Step 4 – Add a Tag

Tie on a ribbon and attach the simmer pot instructions.
Optional: include a cinnamon stick or sprig of rosemary for decoration.

Step 5 – Package & Gift

Deliver to neighbors, teachers, friends, or bring as a hostess gift.

Next time you’re headed to a dinner party, bring along one of these cozy simmer pot recipes in a pretty glass jar or pot. It makes the sweetest hostess gift—and smells amazing too! Add a tag with simple instructions, and you’ve got a thoughtful, seasonal gift that’s easy to prep and so fun to give. 🍊🌿✨

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope this sweet little simmer pot gift brings some joy to your holiday season. Whether you’re gifting it to a friend, adding it to a basket of goodies, or keeping one for yourself, it’s a fun and easy way to spread a little warmth. Wishing you a cozy and very merry Christmas!

Cheers,

The image displays the cursive word "janine" in light gray text on a white background.

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A wine bottle decorated with a large red flower, green foliage, a green plaid ribbon, and a gold letter "A" adorned with pearls—perfect for Simmer Pot Gifts—set against a background of warm, blurry string lights.

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Nine gift boxes are shown from above, each containing a small bottle labeled "Vanilla," wrapped baked goods, and brown crinkle paper, tied with twine or gingham ribbon—thoughtful gifts perfect for pairing with simmer pot recipes.

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A clear glass pot filled with cranberries, oranges, cinnamon sticks, and star anise, surrounded by pine branches and spices—perfect for simmer pot recipes for gifts. The lid features a green velvet ribbon. Text above: "Simmer Pot Recipes for Gifts.

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Janine Waite

I named my blog Happy Happy Nester because I love everything related to the home. I’ve always enjoyed decorating my surroundings. Get cozy and stay for a bit, thanks for visiting!

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