Holiday Simmer Pots in a Jar: Recipes + Free Printable Gift Tag

Are you looking for a simple yet beautiful handmade gift idea? Follow along and learn how to make simmer pot kits in a jar (aka stovetop potpourri) plus a free printable gift tag or label! I’ve been making them for years – it’s really fun and easy to do.

This guide includes the best dry simmer pot ingredients to use for a jar or gift bag, along with five delectable holiday simmer pot recipes using dried fruit, spices, herbs and more.

Simmer pots can be enjoyed any time of year but these cozy combinations are especially perfect for Christmas, fall, or the winter holiday season.

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What are Simmer Pots?

Also known as stovetop potpourri, simmer pots are made by combining a variety of delicious-smelling natural ingredients and spices in a pot with water, simmering it over low heat on the stove, which then slowly releases aromatic steam. They make your home smell wonderful (without toxic chemicals) and they always put me in a more cheerful mood!

What scents remind you of Christmas or the holiday season? Gingerbread cookies, mulled apple cider, Christmas tree pines, pumpkin spice, hot chocolate, warm baked goods… See our my 5 favorite fresh simmer pot recipes here.

RELATED: See more creative and easy DIY gift ideas here, including delicious sweet and salty rosemary roasted mixed nuts, DIY bath salts, or our natural homemade lip balm recipe.

Supplies Needed

• Mason jars. Wide-mouth 12 ounce or 16 ounce pint jars are ideal, especially if using dried fruit. For smaller sizes, choose a wide shallow jar instead of a tall and narrow one – like these 8 oz jars. You could package them in kraft gift bags with a see-through front!
• Dried fruit, herbs and spices. See full ingredient list and recipes below.
• Jute twine, string, or ribbon
• Free printable gift tag with instructions (at the end of this post!) plus paper of choice. I like to use 80 lb kraft brown recycled cardstock paper. It makes the perfect sturdy, rustic, and attractive simmer pot kit gift tag!
• Optional festive embellishments to tie to the jar

The best ingredients for simmer pot kits

I love to make simmer pots at home using fresh seasonal ingredients like apples, oranges, herbs, and more. Yet to make giftable simmer pot kits in a jar (or bag), it’s best to use all dry ingredients rather than perishable ones. Plus, folks can always add extra fresh goodies to the pot at the time of use if desired!

• Spices including cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, cardamom pods, nutmeg (whole), allspice (whole), and pumpkin spice seasoning
  
  
• Dry herbs such as rosemary, bay leaves, sprigs of pine or cedar, lavender buds, chamomile, peppermint, lemon verbena, or other aromatic herbs. I cut sprigs of fresh rosemary from the garden a few days in advance and simply let them air dry, though you can also dry herbs in a food dehydrator or extra-low temp in the oven.
  
  
• Dried fruit like dried orange slices, lemons, limes, or grapefruit, dehydrated apples, cranberries or pears. See tips on drying fruit below!
  
  
• Other additions such as vanilla beans or vanilla powder, dry cocoa nibs, candy canes (the mini ones are especially cute), and ginger (either cut dry ginger or crystalized ginger)
  
  
• You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the jar like sweet orange, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, pine or eucalyptus.

As you can see, the options are nearly endless! Once you choose and buy a handful of ingredients to use, it’s easy to create many DIY gifts at once.

How to dry fruit for simmer pots

It’s easy to dry fruit in either the oven or a food dehydrator, though I’ve found using a dehydrator preserves the color and shape best.

• Cut the fruit into thin even slices, about ⅛” to ¼” thick is ideal. The fruit will shrink a bit as it dries, so it should be able to fit nicely inside the jars (with a little squeezing and bending if needed).
  
  
• Next, spread the fruit out in a single layer (not overlapping) either on food dehydrator trays or baking sheets lined with parchment paper. If you have a wire baking sheet, that works very well too!
  
  
• In the oven: dry sliced fruit on a low temperature (180-200F) for several hours until they’re fully dry and crisp. Plan to flip the fruit and rotate the trays every hour to promote even drying.
  
  
• In a food dehydrator: use a medium heat (about 135F) or fruit setting and dry the sliced fruit until it’s fully dry. This can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours or longer, depending on your particular food dehydrator. Rotate trays if needed.  

RELATED: How to Dry Orange Slices for Holiday Decor, Make a DIY Dried Orange Garland, and How to Make Dehydrated Apple Chips

5 Dry Simmer Pot Recipes and Combinations

Here are 5 drool-worthy holiday simmer pot recipes for mason jars. As you can see, many of them have similar ingredients, so it’s really easy to swap ingredients or mix and match. Also, measurements don’t need to be exact. It’s going to smell great no matter what you do, so get creative and have fun! (You can find a printable version of these recipes at the end of this post too.)

Apple Cider-Pie Vibes

• A handful of dried apple slices
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 3-4 whole star anise
• 1-2 whole vanilla beans
• 1 tsp cardamom pods
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• Optional: dried or candied ginger

This stovetop potpourri recipe is especially delicious-smelling with fresh cut apples added to the pot at time of use!

Warm Citrus Cranberry

• A handful of dried orange slices (and/or grapefruit or lemon)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 whole star anise
• 1 Tbsp dried grated ginger (or 6 to 8 crystallized ginger pieces)
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves

Earthy Christmas Spice

• A few sprigs of pine, cedar, and/or rosemary (semi-dry) or a few tablespoons dried
• Several dried pear, lemon, and/or orange slices
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole allspice or cloves
• a few drops of pine essential oil or Douglas fir essential oil

I like adding a splash of vanilla extract to the pot to add some sweetness to this blend!

Chocolate Peppermint Patty

• A few dried orange or apple slices (mostly for bulk and appearance)
• 1/4 cup dry cocoa nibs
• 3-4 mini candy canes
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1-2 vanilla beans
• 1-2 whole nutmegs (or 1 tsp ground)
• Optional: a handful of whole dry mint leaves (or 2 tbsp dried) and/or a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Definitely add these if you skip the candy canes!

Calm and Cozy Delight

• A handful of dried pear and/or lemon slices
• 3 Tbsp dried lavender buds
• 2 Tbsp dried chamomile flowers
• 1 Tbsp dried grated ginger (or 6 to 8 crystallized ginger pieces)
• 1-2 vanilla beans

Free Printable Gift Tag Labels for Jars

After packing the jars with goodies, it’s time to add a cute little label. I created this free printable gift tag with instructions for you, which will fit on most 8 to 16 ounce jars. Get it below!

Simply print one page on your paper of choice (I like kraft brown cardstock), cut along the faint dotted line, and then follow the lines to cut a “V” at each end for a little extra flair. Next, place the gift tag label strip over the top of the jar lid, and secure it in place by tying twine around the rim of the jar just below the lid.

Feel free to tie a dried orange slice, sprig of rosemary, cinnamon stick or other festive embellishment to the jar with twine too.

Directions: How to Use Simmer Pot Kits

This is the easiest part of all! Simply pour the contents of the simmer pot jar into a pot about halfway full of water, along with any optional fresh additions you desire (e.g. 1 tsp vanilla extract, cut oranges or apples), and then simmer over low heat without a lid.

Be sure to keep a close eye on the pot so it doesn’t run dry! It may be a good to set a timer if you’re forgetful. Add more water to the pot as it evaporates.

To get the maximum use out of it, I often continue to simmer the same pot of stovetop potpourri off an on for many days! Compost the ingredients once you’re finished with it.

It’s as simple as that!

All in all, I hope you love this fun and easy handmade gift as much as I do. If so, please consider leaving a comment or review below!

For even more DIY gift ideas, check out this Homemade Holiday Gift Guide – it’s full of over 30 ideas including edible food gifts, more mason jar gifts, recipes for self-care goodies like natural lip balm and bath salts, sustainable craft projects, and more! Or, pop over to our Homestead Gift Guide to see all our top favorite garden, kitchen, and green home supplies. Thank you so much for tuning in today.

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