14 very small baking apples
3 bottles (12 oz. each) ale
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 (3-inch) pieces stick cinnamon
1 tsp. whole cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3-4 whole allspice
1 (4-inch) strips orange peel, without white membrane
2 c. cream cherry

Place apples in a shallow pan. Bake in a moderate oven (375 degrees) 20 minutes, or just until tender. (Do not core; do not add water.)

Heat 1 pint ale in a large saucepan with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice and orange peel; simmer 10 minutes. Gradually add remaining 2 pints of ale and sherry; bring to boiling. Lower heat; simmer 5 minutes.

Pour wassail into punch bowl over some of the baked apples. Add remaining apples when there is room in the punch bowl. Serve hot.