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This fall simmer pot recipe is a simple, all-natural potpourri that will make your home feel cozy, warm, and comforting. It’s an aromatic blend of pumpkin, apples, vanilla, and spices that smells like you’ve been baking all day. Ready in minutes!
Recipe Overview: Fall Simmer Pot
- Ready In: 15 minutes
- Main Ingredients: Pumpkin purée, apples, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, cinnamon sticks
- Best For: Making your home smell cozy for fall, gatherings, or everyday homemaking
- Equipment: Medium saucepan, small Dutch oven, or glass simmer pot
- Why You’ll Love It: This fall simmer pot is an easy, natural way to fill your home with cozy seasonal scents. Pumpkin spice, apples, and warm spices gently simmer on the stove, making the whole house smell like fall. It's simple to make and easy to customize with ingredients you have on hand.
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As soon as sweater weather arrives, I'm ready to make our home feel cozy. Out come the fuzzy socks and warm blankets, and I stock the kitchen with my fall pantry essentials.
One of my favorite ways to bring the season indoors is a pumpkin spice simmer pot on the stove. It's a simple, natural way to make the whole house smell like fall.
For those days when you want your house to smell like fall and have something delicious in the oven, try my Instant Pot apple butter, sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin cobbler, or apple cinnamon bread.
Ps. If you want all the fall feels, grab my 3 fall simmer pot recipes for FREE!
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Why You’ll Love This Fall Simmer Pot
Cozy: A simmer pot creates a cozy aroma and warms up the kitchen throughout fall.
Easy: Simmer pots are one of the easiest ways to add coziness and warmth to your home. It’s as simple as boiling water.
Autumn Vibes: Fall scents are easy to create with a simmer pot. Add your favorite fall spices, essential oils, and fruits.
Natural Ingredients: This fall simmer pot recipe uses edible ingredients and naturally adds fragrance to your home.
Key Ingredients
Pumpkin Purée: Regular canned pumpkin purée will do.
Apples: Apple slices add a touch of sweet scent. You can use fresh or freeze-dried apples.
Spices: I used cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and pumpkin spice.
Vanilla: For simmer pots, I use store-bought vanilla extract. I like using homemade bourbon vanilla, but because it takes four months to make, I save it for baking.
Get the full list of ingredients and measurements on the printable recipe card below.
Variations
Apple Cider: Replace some of the water with apple cider and add cinnamon sticks and cloves.
Extra Spiced: Add star anise, nutmeg, or allspice for a stronger fall scent.
Maple Pumpkin Spice: Add a small splash of maple extract for a warm maple aroma.
Herbal Pumpkin Spice: Add a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme for an earthy note.
How To Make a Fall Simmer Pot
Step 1: Fill a large Dutch oven or pot about 3/4 full.
Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Mix until combined.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients to the pot of water and stir.
Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a gentle boil.
Step 3: Reduce to low heat. Simmer, uncovered, as long as desired. Add fresh water as needed.
Tips for Success
- I stir my simmer pot about every hour or so to check the water level and reinvigorate the aroma.
- Simmer pots are a great way to use up what you have on hand. Add any leftover fruit, fruit scraps, bay leaves, or expired spices.
- As your ingredients simmer down, add more water. I usually add two cups of hot water as needed.
- Set a timer so you remember to check on your simmer pot and turn off the stove when you are done.
Fall Simmer Pot FAQs
Yes! One teaspoon of ground cinnamon is equivalent to one cinnamon stick. Ground cinnamon takes a while to hydrate, so don’t be alarmed if it floats on top for a while.
As long as you keep filling the simmer pot, it will last all day. If you use it for only a few hours at a time, it can last 2-3 days.
I often simmer mine in the morning for about an hour. Then, I reheat it in the evenings for a few hours. That way I get a few days out of it.
Yes! To reuse your simmer pot the same day, cover it with a lid. When you are ready to cozy up again, remove the lid, add more water, and re-simmer the ingredients.
If you want to reuse it in a couple of days, let the ingredients cool to room temperature. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you are ready to use it, put it back in the pot, add water, and simmer.
Yes, just add the ingredients and water to a slow cooker and heat on low with the lid off or slightly ajar.
More Fall Recipes
If you tried this Fall Simmer Pot recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks, y'all!
Fall Simmer Pot Recipe
Equipment
- Stockpot (or enameled Dutch oven)
Ingredients
- Water
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 apple, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions
- Fill a large Dutch oven or pot about 3/4 full.Water
- Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Mix until combined.1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot of water and stir.1 apple, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1 tbsp whole cloves, 1 tbsp pumpkin spice, 1 tbsp vanilla
- Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a gentle boil.
- Reduce to low heat.
- Simmer, uncovered, as long as desired. Add fresh water as needed.
Video
Notes
- While these ingredients are edible, this recipe isn’t meant for consumption.
- Set a timer so you remember to check on your simmer pot and add water as needed. Never leave a simmer pot unattended or unchecked.
- You can use 3/4 teaspoon of ground cloves if that’s what you have on hand.
- If you don’t have pumpkin spice on hand, add a little nutmeg, star anise, cardamom, or allspice.
- I use whole cinnamon sticks, but you can also use ground cinnamon. One teaspoon of ground cinnamon is equivalent to one cinnamon stick.
- Simmer pots are a great way to use up what you have on hand. Add any leftover fruit, fruit scraps, bay leaves, or expired spices.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is auto-calculated and may not reflect your final product. Please verify independently if needed.
This makes your home smell like a dream! It’s so cozy!