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Cozy Spiced Mulled Wine with Orange & Cinnamon

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This easy mulled wine recipe fills your home with a warm, holiday aroma and tastes perfectly balanced—not too boozy or sugary. It’s the ultimate comforting drink for cozy nights and holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (such as Merlot, Zinfandel, or Garnacha)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) honey or maple syrup
  • 1 large orange (zested and juiced)
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 2 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) brandy or Grand Marnier (optional)
  • Orange slices and extra cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep the orange: Wash the orange thoroughly. Using a vegetable peeler, peel off long strips of the zest, avoiding the white pith. Juice the orange into a small bowl (about 1/4 cup juice).
  2. Combine the base: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into a medium pot. Add the orange juice and strips of orange zest.
  3. Add the sweetener: Pour in the honey or maple syrup.
  4. Add the spices: Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and lightly crushed cardamom pods. Stir gently.
  5. Warm it up: Place the pot over medium-low heat. Do not let it boil. Heat until small bubbles just barely break the surface (a gentle simmer), about 10 minutes.
  6. Simmer gently: Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste and adjust spices if desired.
  7. Add the optional kick: If using brandy or Grand Marnier, stir it in during the last minute of simmering.
  8. Strain and serve: Place a fine-mesh strainer over a heatproof pitcher or directly over mugs. Carefully pour the mulled wine through the strainer to catch all spices and zest. Discard solids.
  9. Garnish and enjoy: Ladle into mugs. Add a fresh orange slice and a fresh cinnamon stick to each mug. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not let the wine boil, as it will become bitter and cook off the alcohol. Whole spices are essential; ground spices will make the drink gritty. For a party, keep warm in a slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting after straining. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, spiced wine, holiday drink, Christmas drink, warm wine, orange cinnamon wine, easy mulled wine

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/cozy-spiced-mulled-wine-with-orange-and-cinnamon-easy-and-best-holiday-drink/