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Spiced Mulled Wine – a winter favorite! Warm spices with a hint of orange make for a great holiday drink.
Do you have a favorite drink when the weather gets cold? A Kahlua Hot Chocolate is a great warm and cozy drink I like to help warm up on a chilly night! Normally I am a wine drinker when it comes to cocktail time, so a mulled wine recipe is exactly what I want for a winter party.
A friend first turned me onto mulled wine probably 15 years ago. The warm spices with the bold red wine is such a warm and comforting combination. Completely different than a Red Wine Spritzer that is a cool and refreshing way to enjoy wine.
What is Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a drink that is normally made with red wine. It is infused with spices and served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink that is usually served around Christmas time and in the cold winter months. It is great to warm in the crock pot. The spices infuse the wine, and it sits there hot and waiting for you!
How to Make Mulled Wine
You want to make sure that your spices aren’t just floating in your mulled wine, or it won’t be pleasant to drink. A cheese cloth works best to make sure this doesn’t happen. You put all the spices in the cloth, and then tie it up and let it sit in the wine. It helps infuse the flavor and you don’t bite down on a peppercorn. This mulled wine recipe uses citrus as well. You dry the oranges out in the oven, and they help give the wine a great citrus scent.
Best Wine for Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is best if you use a full bodied red wine. Something like a Syrah, Malbec or a Merlot. You do not want a light and fruity wine for this. You do not need to buy an expensive bottle, just a wine that you like the flavor of.
The dried oranges are an extra step, but they make it extra special. It will be great for any get together you have in the winter.
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Spiced Mulled Wine
Ingredients
- 1 large orange, , cut into thin slices
- 10 black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 3 cardamom pods, , lightly crushed
- 3 whole allspice
- 2 cinnamon sticks, (3 inches long)
- 1/2 vanilla bean, , split lengthwise
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 bottles, (750 ml) zinfandel or other dry red wine
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Arrange orange slices on a wire rack. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 3 hours, or until dried.
- On a double layer of cheesecloth combine peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods, allspice, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean. Gather up the ends of the cheesecloth, and tie shut.
- In a large pan combine orange slices, the spice packet, sugar, orange juice and win. Heat over medium heat to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
- Remove the spice packet to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The perfect holiday drink! Looks so yummy!
This mulled wine and Christmas movies make for a perfect winter evening! Love it!
This is always a favorite on cold winter nights!
How would one go about making this alcohol free? Ha ha, I’d probably ruin the recipe trying. 🙂
I have never had mulled wine! Looks delicious!
This is definitely a cozy up and relax kind of drink! Maybe even to enjoy while walking around the neighborhood looking at lights.