Want to keep the house smelling like Christmas a little longer? Try out our easy Christmas Potpourri recipe. It’s super easy to toss together in the Instant Pot and you’ll have the house still smelling like a fresh Christmas tree and fantastic baking recipes in no time.
This is a great way to extend the holiday season and an easy way to continue the holiday aromas as you approach the New Year.
Liven up your home this holiday season with the warmth of Instant Pot Potpourri.
Great for lounge days, welcoming houseguests, or getting ready to bring in the New Year, the aromatic blend of fresh fruits and herbs turns an ordinary day into a joyful smelling delight!
We are also sharing the Stovetop Potpourri and Slow Cooker Potpourri instructions below to make this fantastic smelling home potpourri even easier to make for EVERYONE.
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Why You’ll Like Instant Pot Christmas Potpourri
- A sweet, citrus blend that’s aromatic
- Lingers long after the initial brew
- Can be used multiple times before discarding
- Easy to put together and cheaper than store bought
- No chemicals or toxins being released into your home like you’d get from candles or some store bought potpourri
We love a good potpourri blend, especially one that can be used multiple times over.
Most store-bought brands opt to use fillers to add bulk and substance to their arrangements, but for a fraction of the cost of a name-brand version, we were able to whip this Christmas Potpourri together for pennies on the dollar without all that unnecessary stuff!
Potpourri Ingredients
Get more recipe ingredient information in the recipe card below.
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Whole cloves
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaves
- Cranberries
- Rosemary sprigs
- Vanilla
- Water
Tools Needed
Cutting Board
- KITCHEN ESSENTIAL: This set of 3 bamboo cutting boards are perfect for everyday food preparation, from slicing fruit to chopping veggies and is a perfect kitchen starter set, housewarming gift or back-to-school essential
Knife
- SET INCLUDES: 8-inch Chef Knife, 8-inch Slicing Knife, 7-inch Santoku Knife, 5.5-inch Utility Knife, 3.5-inch Paring Knife, 2.75-inch Bird's Beak Paring Knife, 4.5-inch Steak Knives (6), 8-inch Sharpening Steel, All-Purpose Household Shears and Wooden Block
Instant Pot
- 7-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
32 ounce Mason Jars
![SEWANTA Wide Mouth Mason Jars 32 oz [6 Pack] With mason jar lids and Bands, mason jars 32 oz - For Canning, Fermenting, Pickling - Jar Decor - Microwave/Freeze/Dishwasher Safe Jar Opener](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/512P2YLC0bL._SL160_.jpg)
- 6 PACK MASON JARS 32 OZ WIDE MOUTH: Perfect for canning, pickling, preserving, and fermenting fruits and veggies that can be canned and sealed for up to 18 Months. Embossed measurement markings for precise filling. Label line for writing dates and identifying contents.
Winter Holiday Potpourri Instant Pot Instructions
1. Using a cutting board and a knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4 inch slices and add them to the 2 jars.
2. Grab your Instant Pot and fill the inner pot with 2 cups of room temperature water, then add in your lemon and orange slices and remaining ingredients from the .
3. Next, add 2-4 tablespoons of vanilla and set the Instant Pot to saute. Allow it to come to a boil.
4. Once boiling, set Instant Pot to warm and allow to simmer with the lid off. Add water when needed.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Using a cutting board and knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4″ slices and add them to the slow cooker. Add rest of ingredients into slow cooker.
- Add 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons of vanilla per jar to the slow cooker and set to high to bring it to a boil.
- Leave lid off and enjoy the scent. Add water as needed.
Stovetop Instructions
- Using a cutting board and knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4″ slices and add them to the pot. Add remaining ingredients.
- Bring pot with contents to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, do not cover and enjoy the smell.
What Is Christmas Potpourri?
To those new to the potpourri world, Potpourri is an aromatic blend of herbs, spices, essential oils, flowers, seeds, and even pods that have been dried out and incorporated together to scent the air within its immediate surroundings.
Where To Use DIY Potpourri
Many people place Potpourri in beautiful bowl arrangements and showcase it in family rooms, bathrooms, closets- even in cars- and continue to use them as decoration pieces long after their fragrance has faded.
Even with its holiday twist, our Instant Pot Christmas Pot Potpourri is a heartwarming citrus-scented blend that can be used multiple times throughout the year.
And what makes it even better is the alluring benefit of using the Instant Pot for a low-cost, worry-free simmer to savor all day long.
We particularly enjoy bringing this Easy Potpourri to boil on cold, chilly days.
The fragrance of lemon and cranberry warms our bones, and once the scent of cinnamon hits our noses, we’re ready to get up and get the day started!
You can enjoy this zesty blend in both the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker.
Tips, Tricks and Variations
- If opting to use the slow cooker, make sure you set the heat to high. Otherwise, you’ll be boiling the brew for hours and wondering when the fragrance will kick in.
- Make sure you rinse and clean your fruit before cutting and using.
- Feel free to swap out fruit or add other things in to get the exact aroma you’re going for.
- We recommend periodically stirring your aromatic mixture to ensure it doesn’t stick or burn to whatever source of heat you’re using.
- Feel free to throw in any other aromatic herbs or spices that you enjoy.
Can You Use Essential Oils In This?
Now, you may wonder if essential oils can replace any of the ingredients, and the answer is yes!
We’ve found that cinnamon, orange, and lemon essential oils are good, if not better, than using the actual ingredients.
What is important, however, is the brand you choose. When shopping for essential oils, ensure that you grab those with 100% purity and no artificial fillers.
Pure essential oils require fewer drops, so be sure to use no more than three drops unless you want a strong aroma.
Do You Have To Use An Instant Pot?
Nope, should you find yourself without an Instant Pot, no worries, as you can place the Instant Pot Christmas Potpourri on the stove on medium to high heat or use a Slow Cooker.
We have included directions for all versions in this post.
Can You Gift Homemade Potpourri?
You can prepare a big batch of Instant Pot Christmas Potpourri to divide up and gift to friends and family!
All we recommend is that you store it in an airtight container such as a mason jar or other glassware, as it will be more durable and retain the fragrance longer.
Once you’ve jarred your creation, add a Made With Love Sticker to the lid. You can also use twine or a ribbon to jazz up the jar a bit.
Whether used during the holidays or throughout the year, this Instant Pot Potpourri is a serious crowd-pleaser and leaves your home smelling divine!
We think this makes a great housewarming gift, hostess gift and even a perfect gift for Newlywed friends and family.
What Size Mason Jar To Use?
This recipe makes the perfect amount to put in two 32 ounce jars. With all the fruit, herbs, spices, etc you add in, you’re going to need a big enough jar or two to hold it all in.
You may find that you want to split this between smaller jars as well.
Or maybe even double the recipe to ensure you have enough for gifts or to store for using later.
Other Helpful Posts
Easy Christmas Holiday Potpourri Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon
- 2 Tablespoons of whole cloves
- 2 Tablespoons of ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon of ground nutmeg
- 5 sticks of cinnamon
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cup cranberries
- 3 sprigs rosemary
For preparation:
- 4 cups of water
- 4 Tablespoons of vanilla
Instructions
Winter Holiday Potpourri Instant Pot Instructions
- Using a cutting board and a knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4 inch slices and add them to the 2 jars.
- Grab your Instant Pot and fill the inner pot with 2 cups of room temperature water, then add in your lemon and orange slices and remaining ingredients from the .
- Next, add 2-4 tablespoons of vanilla and set the Instant Pot to saute. Allow it to come to a boil.
- Once boiling, set Instant Pot to warm and allow to simmer with the lid off. Add water when needed.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Using a cutting board and knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4″ slices and add them to the slow cooker. Add rest of ingredients into slow cooker.
- Add 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons of vanilla per jar to the slow cooker and set to high to bring it to a boil.
- Leave lid off and enjoy the scent. Add water as needed.
Stovetop Instructions
- Using a cutting board and knife, slice your cleaned lemons and oranges into 1/4″ slices and add them to the pot. Add remaining ingredients.
- Bring pot with contents to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, do not cover and enjoy the smell.
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Keep On Sippin’ On Something Sweet
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Ellen Jost
Monday 5th of December 2022
Do you just open the lid to enjoy or do you put it on low heat on a cooktop?