Easy Mulled Wine
An easy mulled wine recipe with red wine, orange, apple, and whole spices, gently warmed so it stays smooth, never bitter. Includes a crockpot party batch.
Equipment
- Stainless steel or enameled pot
- Vegetable peeler
- Strainer or slotted spoon
- heatproof mugs
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 750 ml dry, fruity red wine, such as Merlot, Zinfandel, or Syrah
- 1 orange for peel and juice
- 1 apple cored and sliced
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 to 3 star anise
- 2 to 4 tablespoons brown sugar to taste
- 1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur optional
Garnish: fresh orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise
Instructions
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove wide strips of orange peel, leaving the white pith behind. Halve the orange and squeeze out the juice.
- Push the cloves into a couple of the peel strips.
- In a stainless steel or enameled pot, combine the wine, peel strips, orange juice, apple, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Warm over medium-low heat until steaming, with a few tiny bubbles at the edges. Do not let it boil.
- Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover, and steep for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Taste and add more brown sugar if you like. Remove the peel and cloves, or strain.
- Off the heat, stir in the brandy. Ladle into mugs and garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
Notes
Temperature: Serve around 150°F. Keep it below about 175°F so it doesn't turn bitter or lose alcohol.
Crockpot (2 bottles, about 8 servings): Double the ingredients except the garnish.
Cook on Low 3 to 4 hours or High about 2 hours, until steaming. Remove the peel and cloves, stir in the brandy, and switch to Warm. No Warm setting? Alternate between Low and Off. Make ahead: Strain, cool, and refrigerate covered for up to 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling. No pith: Steep only the peel. Whole orange slices left in hot wine can make it bitter.
Cook on Low 3 to 4 hours or High about 2 hours, until steaming. Remove the peel and cloves, stir in the brandy, and switch to Warm. No Warm setting? Alternate between Low and Off. Make ahead: Strain, cool, and refrigerate covered for up to 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling. No pith: Steep only the peel. Whole orange slices left in hot wine can make it bitter.
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