This mulled wine recipe is perfect for the holidays! Simmered with citrus, apple cider, and warming spices, it’s cozy, festive, and delicious.
Jack and I love to make this mulled wine recipe during the holiday season. Packed with notes of citrus, apple, and aromatic spices, it’s cozy, flavorful, and festive. Sipping a steaming mug of it is the best way to warm up on a cold winter night.
This mulled wine is the perfect drink for holiday parties. For one, the recipe is easy to scale up or down depending on the size of your group. It also makes your kitchen smell amazing. The heady, spiced aroma on its own is reason enough to try it!
What is mulled wine?
Mulled wine is a hot wine drink made by simmering wine with spices and often a sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar.
Mulled wine has roots in ancient Rome and is now popular throughout Europe, especially during the holiday season and at Christmas markets. This boozy drink goes by many names. Depending on whether you’re in France, Sweden, or Austria, you might hear it called vin chaud, glogg, or glühwein. And the list of names goes on!
This festive beverage is widely enjoyed for a reason. Fruity and richly spiced, it’s warming, comforting, and delicious. Try it this holiday season!
Mulled Wine Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this mulled wine recipe:
- Wine, of course! – Red is most traditional for mulled wine. I recommend using a medium to full-bodied red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Syrah. No need to break the bank here. Because you’ll be adding so many other ingredients to the wine, an inexpensive—but still decent—bottle will work just fine.
- Fresh oranges – I simmer the wine with orange juice and zest, and I always serve it with orange slices for garnish.
- Apple cider – Instead of adding sugar to this recipe, I sweeten it naturally with apple cider. I love the way its sweet and tangy flavor plays off the spices, wine, and orange juice.
- Mulling spices – Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise infuse the mulled wine with rich, warm flavor.
- Ginger juice – I list it as optional (the recipe is still great without it!), but add it if you can. It gives the mulled wine a delicious spicy kick.
- Festive garnishes – No, you don’t have to top your glass with fresh rosemary and cranberries, but I hope you do. 🙂 They make this mulled wine extra festive and pretty.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Recipe Variations
- Make it boozier. Many recipes call for brandy or orange liqueur in addition to wine. If you’d like yours to have a boozier kick, feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of either.
- Try different spices. Toss in a few allspice berries or cardamom pods along with the cloves, cinnamon, and/or star anise.
How to Make Mulled Wine
This mulled wine recipe is easy to make! Here’s what you need to do:
First, prepare the orange. Use a vegetable peeler to slice 3 to 4 strips of zest off half an orange. Slice the other half into rounds, and reserve them for garnish.
Then, simmer. Squeeze the juice from the zested orange half into a medium saucepan. Add the wine, apple cider, orange peel, and spices. Bring the mixture to a low simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Tip: Bring the wine to a simmer, but don’t let it boil! Doing so will cook off the alcohol.
Next, taste and adjust. The secret to making the best mulled wine is adjusting the flavor to your liking. Add the ginger juice, if using, and taste. If you want your wine sweeter, add more apple cider. If you want it more spiced, add extra cinnamon, cloves, and/or star anise and let it simmer on the stove for another 15 minutes.
Finally, strain and enjoy. Once you love the flavor, remove the spiced wine from the heat. Strain it to remove the spices, orange peel, and any separated apple cider solids. Pour into mugs, garnish, and enjoy!
Cheers, friends!
Storage
Mulled wine is best when it’s freshly made, so if you’re serving it for a gathering, I recommend making it right beforehand.
If you have leftovers, allow them to cool to room temperature. Then, seal them in an airtight container or jar and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop.
More Favorite Holiday Drinks
Feeling festive? Celebrate the season with one of these holiday beverages next:
Mulled Wine
Serves 6
Celebrate the holiday season with this mulled wine recipe! Simmered with orange, apple cider, and warming spices, this hot wine drink is packed with festive flavor.
- 1 medium orange
- 1 (750-ml) bottle dry red wine, such as merlot
- 2 cups apple cider, plus more as desired
- 10 whole cloves
- 8 whole star anise
- 6 whole cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving
- 2 to 4 tablespoons ginger juice, to taste (optional)
- Rosemary sprigs, for garnish
- Cranberries, for garnish, optional
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Use a vegetable peeler to peel 3 to 4 strips of zest off half of the orange. Slice the remaining half into thin rounds and set aside for garnish.
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In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the red wine, apple cider, and the juice from the zested ½ orange. Add the orange zest, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and simmer on low for 20 to 30 minutes. Be careful not to let it come to a boil.
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Stir in the ginger juice, if using. Taste, and if you like your mulled wine sweeter, add more apple cider. If you like it more spiced, add more whole spices and simmer for 15 more minutes.
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Remove from the heat, strain, and pour into a pitcher or mugs. Serve with the reserved orange rounds and cinnamon sticks. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and cranberries, if desired.
