I’ve made simmer pots before, and they are one of my favorite things to make! When fall came around this year, I decided to bump up my traditional fall simmer pot to be a pumpkin spice smell.

That’s how this pumpkin spice simmer pot jar happened. I layered all the classic fall spices into a little 8oz jar, tied a ribbon around it, and suddenly had the perfect thing to bring to my daughter’s teacher for the holidays.

It smells INCREDIBLE before you even simmer it! And the best part is it couldn’t be simpler to put together. No cooking, no special equipment. Just good ingredients and a jar! Here is how I make it 🙂

Herbal Benefits

This isn’t a recipe you drink or eat, so “benefits” here is really about what each ingredient brings to your home and your senses.

Simmer pots are one of my favorite ways to use herbs and spices because the aromatic compounds actually do something.

Cinnamon is SO grounding and warming. It’s one of those scents that just signals comfort to your brain. I’ve been using it in my herbal practice since basically the beginning and it never gets old.
Cloves are intense, in the best way. A little goes a long way, and they add that deep, slightly spicy note that makes the whole blend feel rich rather than one-dimensional.
Dried ginger adds a brightness that cuts through the heavier spices. It keeps the blend from feeling too heavy or sweet. Also the steam from ginger is genuinely lovely to breathe in when you’re feeling a bit under the weather in that classic fall cold season.
Star anise is the one people sometimes overlook, but it is absolutely doing something here. It brings a subtle licorice-like warmth that rounds everything out beautifully.
Vanilla bean is probably my favorite ingredient in this whole jar. It softens everything. One bean makes the whole blend smell like something you’d want to eat.
Orange and apple slices bring the fruit and a little brightness. Dried citrus especially carries SO well in a simmer pot. The oils in the peel release slowly and last through multiple uses.

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Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot Recipe

Makes: 1 8oz jar

Ingredients

2 dried orange slices
4 cinnamon sticks
1 ½ tbsp whole cloves
1 ½ tbsp dried ginger
3-4 star anise
1 vanilla bean
2-3 dried apple slices

Instructions

Add everything to a glass jar (8oz). You can layer it fancy or just toss it all in!

Tie with a bow, label, and share as a gift!

Notes

Pour into a small pot with 3-4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Add water as needed and never leave unattended.
You can reuse for 2-3 days, refrigerating between uses.

How to Use It

Empty the whole jar into a small pot and add 3-4 cups of water. Bring it up to a boil just to get things going, then drop it to the lowest simmer your stove will do. Within about ten minutes your whole house will smell like fall in the best possible way!

Stay nearby. This is a genuine must. Simmer pots are simple but they need attention because the water evaporates, and a dry pot is a problem. Just peek at it every so often and add water as needed.

You can store leftover simmer pot ingredients in the fridge between uses and get 2-3 days out of one jar, which is a really nice bonus 🙂

As for gifting: this makes a BEAUTIFUL gift. Especially if you print a simple little card with the instructions (since most people don’t know what to do with it once they unwrap it).

Stack a few jars in a box and you have holiday gifts done. Teachers, neighbors, the person who has everything. It works for all of them.

Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot Jar

Yield: 1 8oz jar

A simple no-cook recipe that layers classic fall spices and dried fruit into an 8oz jar to create a fragrant simmer pot. It makes a beautiful gift and fills your home with a warm, cozy autumn scent.

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