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Best Homemade Spiced Mulled Wine with Orange & Cinnamon

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This spiced mulled wine is the ultimate cozy winter drink, made with simple ingredients like red wine, orange, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s easy to make, perfect for gatherings, and fills your home with a warm, festive aroma.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine (medium-bodied, like Merlot, Zinfandel, or Côtes du Rhône)
  • 1 large orange (preferably organic)
  • 4–5 large cinnamon sticks
  • 8–10 whole cloves
  • 2–3 whole star anise
  • 3–4 tablespoons honey
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
  • 1/2 cup apple cider or juice (optional)
  • 2–3 tablespoons brandy or Grand Marnier (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Wash the orange. Using a vegetable peeler, peel off wide strips of the orange zest, avoiding the bitter white pith. Juice the orange into a small bowl and set aside. Slice the fresh ginger into thin rounds (4-5 slices). Gather the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
  2. Toast the spices: Place a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise directly to the dry pot. Toast for 1-2 minutes, shaking the pot occasionally, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
  3. Add the liquid base: Pour in the entire bottle of red wine and the apple cider (if using). Add the orange juice, orange peel strips, and sliced ginger. Stir everything together.
  4. Sweeten and simmer: Add the honey and stir until dissolved. Turn the heat to low and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer (small bubbles just barely breaking the surface). Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Taste after 15 minutes and adjust if needed.
  5. Strain and serve: Turn off the heat. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large heatproof pitcher or directly over serving mugs. Carefully pour the mulled wine through the strainer to catch all the spices, orange peels, and ginger slices. Discard the solids. If using brandy or Grand Marnier, stir it in now.
  6. Garnish and present: Ladle the warm mulled wine into mugs. Garnish each mug with a fresh cinnamon stick and a thin slice of orange.

Notes

Don’t boil the wine, or the alcohol will evaporate and the flavors will become harsh. Taste as you go and adjust spices to your preference. For parties, make the mulled wine on the stove, strain it, then transfer to a slow cooker set to ‘warm’ for serving. The flavor improves if made a day ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, spiced wine, holiday drink, winter beverage, mulled wine recipe, easy mulled wine, slow cooker mulled wine

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