Name: Mulled Wine
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 bottle dry red wine (I like Cabernet Sauvignon); 2 sticks cinnamon (I recommend Ceylon cinnamon); 2 pods star anise; 6-8 whole cloves; 2 pods cardamom; 1-2 orange (sliced); 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (optional - depending on desired sweetness); 2 ounces brandy or tawny port (optional)

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Mulled wine - a warm holiday mulled wine recipe with oranges, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamom. A festive beverage for the coldest days.

Do you have a favorite holiday drink? Mine is definitely Mulled Wine. A simple blend with wine, a little brandy ;-), citrus and spices that provide a burst of flavor in every sip. Cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom, and a dash of honey always does the trick.

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To add the distinct flavor of mulled wine, we like to use whole spices – whole cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cardamom pods, and whole star anise. For one, because we can easily remove them before drinking, but also because we know exactly what they’re made of, and that they don’t have any fillers. By choosing whole spices, we don’t have to worry about any additives hiding in our food.

This Mulled Wine comes together in about 20 minutes and it’s the perfect hot drink for a chilly night. A great pair with the holiday season 🙂

So grab those whole spices and a bottle of red wine! Let’s dive in and make delicious Mulled Wine to kick back and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Ready to make it? Let’s go!

1 - Combine wine, spices, oranges, sweetener and brandy in a medium pot. You can simply add the whole spices to the pot, or use a spice bag/reusable tea bag to keep everything together.

2 - Bring mixture to slight simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook anywhere from 15 minutes up to 3 hours. Note: Do not let the mixture reach a boil or even a heavy simmer, or the alcohol will begin to boil off.

3 - Strain (or remove spice bag) and serve warm with an orange slice. Enjoy in an insulated mulled wine glass or mug. Enjoy!

Mulled Wine: Tips, Tricks and Tools

You don’t need any special tools for this Mulled Wine. Just an environmentally-friendly pot (I love using stainless steel or my dutch oven) and a ladle. Try these reusable spice bags.

Party tip: This cozy beverage can be kept warm for up to 4 hours. Make ahead of time and transfer to crock-pot/hotplate for easy serving. Just don’t let it reach a boil.

Make it vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.

Leftovers and Storage: Allow the Mulled Wine to cool to room temperature, then store in an air-tight pitcher or container for up to a week. Reheat in a pot over low heat.

Use responsibly-sourced ingredients. Buy sustainable-produced wine and whole, fair-trade spices whenever possible.

We hope you love this festive Mulled Wine!

Perfect for a chilly evening
Great festive drink recipe for a holiday party
Super quick and simple - great prep ahead drink recipe

Love this simple drink recipe? Check out our other delicious seasonal drink recipes like our tasty Mint Kombucha Mojito or our Peach Gin Fizz.

Did you enjoy this warm Mulled Wine as much as we do?

Comment below! And rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out! Not making it today? Save this simple Mulled Wine for later by pinning it to your Drinks Recipes Board and make sure to tag us at The Crooked Carrot Instagram to show us your Mulled Wine creations!

"Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor." - William Cowper

📖 Recipe

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine - a warm holiday mulled wine recipe with oranges, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamom. A festive beverage for the coldest days.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

Servings: 4 servings

Author: The Crooked Carrot

Ingredients

1 bottle dry red wine I like Cabernet Sauvignon
2 sticks cinnamon I recommend Ceylon cinnamon
2 pods star anise
6-8 whole cloves
2 pods cardamom
1-2 orange sliced
¼ cup honey or maple syrup optional - depending on desired sweetness
2 ounces brandy or tawny port optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a slight simmer. Reduce heat and let simmer lightly at least 15 minutes, or up to 3 hours. But don’t let the mixture boil, or the alcohol will boil off.
Strain and serve warm. Garnish with an orange slice and any other desired garnishes. Enjoy!

Equipment

Dutch Oven

Notes

NOTE: Be careful not to let the wine mixture boil or the alcohol will boil off. Keep warm using a crock-pot or hotplate for up to 4 hours.

PREP AHEAD: You can prep the mulling spices ahead of time and simply drop them into the pot when you’re ready to make this Mulled Wine recipe. You can also prepare the mulled wine in advance, store it in an airtight container and reheat when ready to serve.

LEFTOVERS/STORAGE: Let cool to room temperature and store in an airtight pitcher or other container for up to a week. Reheat in a pot over low heat.

MAKE IT VEGAN: Use maple syrup instead of honey.

NUTRITION NOTES: This relatively low calorie celebratory drink is only slightly sweetened. Feel free to omit the sweetener as desired. Remember to consume alcohol in moderation and if approved by your doctor to do so.

Nutrition

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