Easy Mulled Wine Recipe to Beat the Cold Weather
With the weather being so cold across the entire country these last couple of weeks, I wanted to share an easy mulled wine recipe to warm – and cheer – you up as you hunker down indoors! It’s so easy to make on either your stovetop or in your slow cooker that there is no reason not to pop a pot on for a warm mug while watching a great movie or binging something on Netflix under a thick blanket on the couch. You can also easily customize the recipe with your favorite spices and ingredients to make it your own, so give it a try and let me know in the comments how it turned out!
Easy Mulled Wine Ingredients:
1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine – it does not need to be expensive wine. A mid-priced bottle of dry red works perfectly. Pick a fruity and full bodied wine like a zinfandel or merlot for best results
1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur like Cointreau
1 orange – slice it into thin rounds to add to the pot
6-8 whole cloves (I tend to use a bit less because cloves can be pretty strong)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey or maple syrup to taste. *You can also use your preferred sweetener if you have another favorite.
*Optional garnishes when serving: orange slices halved, extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise
*Note: If you are making a pot for a group stuck indoors, just multiply the ingredients above by 3x.
Easy Mulled Wine Instructions: Just Follow the 4 S’s
- Start. Combine wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan or your slow cooker and give it a quick stir.
- Simmer. Cook on medium-high heat until it just reaches a simmer. *Try not to let it boil so you don’t boil off the alcohol. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to several hours.
- Strain. Using a mesh strainer, remove and throw away the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Taste the mulled wine and feel free to add in a bit of extra sweetener if needed.
- Serve. Serve warm in mugs and top with any of your favorite garnishes. I like using clear mugs and adding a couple of orange slices and a cinnamon stick because it looks and smells so festive.
Items You’ll Need that You Can Easily Order on Amazon:
Double Wall Glass Mugs (Set of 4): https://amzn.to/3ofV8Jc
Cuisinart Set of 3 Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers: https://amzn.to/3gb4fWX
Star Anise: https://amzn.to/3L1Z4Xx
Cinnamon Sticks: https://amzn.to/3ANLl1Z
Whole Cloves: https://amzn.to/3GcH2yd
Honey: https://amzn.to/340uH3l
Maple Syrup: https://amzn.to/3GcHxZ7
*These are Amazon affiliate links so I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links but these are the products I recommend and would purchase myself.
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