Description
Warm up your winter evenings with this cozy and aromatic Winter Mulled Wine recipe. Featuring a blend of cinnamon, honey, star anise, cardamom, cloves, and fresh orange, enhanced with apple cider and optional brandy for a touch of depth, this classic spiced wine is perfect for festive gatherings or quiet nights by the fire.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices & Aromatics
- 2 cinnamon sticks (about 3-4 inches each)
- 4 green cardamom pods (crushed slightly to release oils)
- 1 whole star anise
- 5 whole cloves (pierced into orange halves for easy removal)
Liquids
- 750 ml dry red wine (a full-bodied red like Burgundy or Côtes du Rhône works best)
- 2 cups apple cider (fresh cider preferred for better flavor)
- 1/4 cup brandy (optional but recommended for depth and warmth)
- 1/4 cup honey (adds warmth and subtle sweetness)
Fruits & Garnish
- 1 orange (halved or quartered, plus thin slices for garnish about 1/4-inch thick)
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Spices and Fruit: Lightly crush the cardamom pods to release their aroma. Pierce the cloves into the orange halves or quarters to make removal easy later. Slice additional thin orange rounds for garnish.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large saucepan, add the red wine, apple cider, honey, cinnamon sticks, star anise, crushed cardamom pods, clove-studded orange, and brandy if using.
- Heat the Mulled Wine: Warm the mixture over low to medium heat, ensuring it never comes to a full boil to preserve the alcohol and flavors. Let it simmer gently for about 25-30 minutes to allow the spices to infuse fully.
- Adjust Sweetness and Flavor: Taste the mulled wine and adjust sweetness with additional honey if desired. Stir well to incorporate any added honey.
- Serve Warm: Remove the cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and orange halves. Ladle the mulled wine into heatproof glasses or mugs. Garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice for a festive touch.
Notes
- Keep the mulled wine on a very low simmer or warm it in a slow cooker to avoid boiling off the alcohol.
- You can customize sweetness by adjusting the honey amount or substituting with maple syrup.
- For a non-alcoholic version, omit the wine and brandy and increase apple cider, warming it with the same spices.
- Use fresh apple cider for the best flavor impact.
- Remove whole spices before serving to avoid an overpowering taste.
