Instructions: Old recipes call for cakes, apples, and sugar to be placed in a bowl.

Then it was filled with warm ale. The ale was drunk and the rest was eaten when the ale was gone. While this sounds less than appetizing, it may indicate where the fruit cake tradition came from and why a lot of recipes call for cider.

Combine juices, sugar and spices in pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove spices and add sherry. Heat until just below boiling. Fill a punch bowl with boiling water. Let stand one minute, then empty. Fill punch bowl with spiced wine. Garnish wassail bowl with orange or lemon slices, studded with cloves.

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