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Yields:
8 - 10 serving(s)
Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
There’s nothing that says cozy quite like a hot, steaming mug of mulled wine on a chilly evening! This classic holiday drink fills your home with the most wonderful aroma—spiced, citrusy, and just a little bit sweet. Made with red wine, apple cider, brandy, and warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, it’s the ideal recipe to serve at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any winter gathering.
I love making a big pot of this mulled wine when friends and family come over—it’s easy, elegant, and instantly festive. Plus, it's perfect to serve alongside Christmas cookies like gingersnaps or brown butter sugar cookies. The secret is letting everything simmer low and slow so the flavors have time to blend together. The apple cider adds a cozy fall note, while the honey balances the wine’s richness with a hint of natural sweetness. Fresh orange zest and slices make it look as beautiful as it tastes.
You can serve it straight from the pot or pour it into a slow cooker to keep warm during your party. Garnish each mug with orange and apple slices and a cinnamon stick for that picture-perfect holiday touch. One sip of this spiced mulled wine, and you’ll see why it’s a seasonal favorite!
What is mulled wine?
Mulled wine is a cozy, spiced wine drink made by gently heating red wine with ingredients like apple cider, brandy, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. It’s a traditional winter favorite that’s tailor made for the holidays or cold nights by the fire.
What kind of wine is best for mulled wine?
Choose a medium-bodied red wine like Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or Beaujolais. You want something fruity but not too heavy—no need to splurge on an expensive bottle since the spices and fruit will infuse it with lots of flavor!
How do you serve mulled wine?
Serve it warm in mugs or heatproof glasses, garnished with orange and apple slices and a cinnamon stick for a festive touch.
Can you double this mulled wine recipe?
Yup! Mulled wine is the perfect serve-yourself drink for holiday entertaining and this recipe is easy to double. Just make sure your pot is large enough and taste the mulled wine after it has had a chance to simmer. With larger batches the flavor balance can shift. If it's too sweet, add more orange juice or wine; if it's too sharp, add more honey.
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Ingredients
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle red wine (such as Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or Beaujolais)
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 tsp. whole cloves (about 10)
- 2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving
- 2 star anise pods
- 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 2 oranges
- 1 apple, cut into rounds, for serving
Directions
- Step 1In a medium saucepan, combine the wine, apple cider, brandy, honey, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and ginger. Using a vegetable peeler, remove half the zest from 1 orange in wide strips, avoiding the white pith. Add the zest to the saucepan. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice directly into the pan. Cut the second orange into half-moon slices for serving.
- Step 2Warm the mixture over medium-low heat until simmering, but do not let it boil. Simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Step 3Strain the wine through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, and orange zest before serving, if desired. Pour into mugs and garnish with orange and apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
Tip: This mulled wine can be made, strained, cooled, and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance. Gently warm it over medium-low heat in a saucepan before serving.
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