Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe
This crockpot hot toddy recipe makes a whole pot of the warming whiskey drink for a cold night or a party. Hot water, honey, lemon and spices stay warm in the slow cooker, and everyone adds their own whiskey at the end.
Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe
Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy10
servings10
minutes2
hoursWater, honey, lemon, cinnamon sticks and cloves steep slowly in the slow cooker, then whiskey is added to each mug or the pot at the end. It stays warm all night.
Ingredients
8 cups water
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 lemons, sliced into rounds
5 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
6 slices fresh ginger
3 star anise pods
2 black tea bags, optional
2 cups bourbon or whiskey
10 lemon slices, for garnish
10 cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Directions
- Pour the water into a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker.
- Add the honey and stir until it dissolves, which may take a minute or two.
- Add the lemon juice, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger and star anise.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours. Do not let it boil. The drink should be steaming hot.
- If using tea, add the tea bags for the last 5 minutes only, then remove them.
- Taste and adjust. Add more honey for sweetness or more lemon for tang.
- Remove the sliced lemons and spice pieces with a slotted spoon if you want a clear drink.
- Turn the cooker to WARM.
- For each mug, pour 3 to 4 ounces of whiskey, or leave out the whiskey for a non-alcoholic version.
- Ladle in the hot spiced lemon water. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Add the whiskey to each mug, not to the pot, since long heat cooks off the alcohol and dulls the taste. Use decaf tea for evenings. Leave out the whiskey for kids, or use apple cider. Serve responsibly. Keep the pot on WARM up to 4 hours.
Why a slow cooker is a smart way to serve toddies
A hot toddy made one mug at a time means boiling a kettle again and again. In the slow cooker you make the spiced base once and it stays at the right temperature all evening. People help themselves, so you spend your time with your guests.
Slow, gentle heat also pulls the flavors from the cinnamon, cloves and ginger without making them harsh. The honey melts in fully, and the drink tastes round and warm.
It is a good drink for a cold, scratchy-throat evening as well, since honey, lemon and warmth are old home remedies. The cooker keeps the drink at serving temperature without any attention.
Ingredient notes
Honey: Use a mild honey like clover. A strong honey can take over the drink. Maple syrup works for a different flavor.
Fresh lemon juice: Bottled juice tastes flat. Squeeze lemons for a fresh, bright flavor.
Whole spices: Cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise give a clear drink. Ground spices turn it cloudy and gritty.
Fresh ginger: A few slices add gentle heat. Do not chop them, so they are easy to strain out.
Whiskey: Bourbon is sweeter and rye is spicier. Pick one you would sip on its own.
Tea bags: Black tea gives body and a little tannin. Use decaf for late evenings.
Tips for a good pot of toddy
Never boil it: Boiling dulls the lemon and makes the spices bitter. Keep it on LOW and use WARM for serving.
Add whiskey by the mug: The most common mistake is pouring whiskey into the whole pot. It cooks off over hours, leaves the drink weak, and you cannot make a mug without alcohol for those who do not drink.
Remove the lemon slices after 2 hours: The white pith gets bitter if it sits in hot water all night.
Taste before serving: Honey and lemon change as they heat. Taste a spoonful at the end and balance the sweetness and tang before anyone adds whiskey.
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Swaps and variations
Use apple cider in place of half of the water for a fruity version, or add a splash of brandy or spiced rum in place of whiskey. For a non-alcoholic pot, serve it as is, or add chamomile tea. Add a few orange slices for a sweeter citrus note. Do not use lemon juice concentrate, since it tastes sharp and artificial.
For a spiced version, add a few cardamom pods or a strip of orange peel with the cinnamon. A pinch of nutmeg grated on top of each mug is a nice finishing touch.
How to serve a toddy bar
Set the slow cooker on a side table with a ladle, heatproof mugs, a small bottle of whiskey with a jigger, and plates of lemon slices and cinnamon sticks. Keep extra honey nearby.
Pair the toddies with a plate of shortbread, a cheese board or a bowl of roasted nuts. The salty snacks balance the sweet, lemony drink and keep guests lingering.
Keeping the pot warm
The drink stays good on WARM for up to 4 hours. Add a splash of hot water if it reduces and tastes too strong.
Without whiskey, leftover spiced base keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, and add whiskey fresh to each mug.
Before serving the next day, taste the base again, since honey and lemon fade a little in the fridge. A fresh squeeze of lemon brings it back.
Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe at a glance
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 2 hours
- Servings: 10 servings
- Ingredients: 12, led by water, honey, fresh lemon juice, lemons
Tips for Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe
Add the whiskey to each mug, not to the pot, since long heat cooks off the alcohol and dulls the taste. Use decaf tea for evenings. Leave out the whiskey for kids, or use apple cider. Serve responsibly. Keep the pot on WARM up to 4 hours.
Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe FAQ
How long does Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe take?
Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe takes 2 hours of cooking after 10 minutes of prep.
How many people does Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe serve?
This recipe makes 10 servings.
What do I need to make Crockpot Hot Toddy Recipe?
12 ingredients, led by water, honey, fresh lemon juice, lemons. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
