How Much Sugar Should You Add
Dont underestimate the importance of sweetness in a mulled wine. Seriously, even if youre a dry wine person, mulled wine just doesnt taste right without a healthy dose of sugar.
Not that youre beholden to regular old white sugar. Wallach encourages branching out into other sweetening agents. You can use sweetener or simple syrup, but it will have a more natural taste with additions like honey, agave or herb syrup, and it all depends on what youre looking to do, he said.
Apart from actual sweetener, youll be lightening things up, of course, with fruit. Dianne Lowry, ofThe Bedford and Macchina in Brooklyn, shared her preferred sweetening method. I like to use dehydrated oranges and fresh oranges to add a layer of sweetness without adding too much sugar, she said. I also like to use unprocessed sugar to enhance and bring the flavors together.
Oranges are the standard fruity addition to mulled wine, but feel free to experiment with other citrus, cranberries, blackberries, apple, what have you.
Allow The Mixture To Simmer
Foletta recommends leaving the wine mixture to gently simmer on low heat for at least an hour, to really let the spices absorb, she says. As you allow the wine to simmer, always stir it to avoid caramelizing the sugar, Carbezas says, adding that as you cook it, you can notice how the aroma of the drink increases, and use that scent to gauge when it is done.
Does Mulled Wine Have Alcohol
Yes. Mulled wine is warm spice-infused wine.
Many mulled wine recipes often include liquor like brandy, vodka, or rum, thus making mulled wine even more potent. The key to maintaining alcohol in mulled wine is to avoid boiling for prolonged periods of time. A few seconds of boiling will not boil away all the alcohol in your mulled wine however, its best to keep it at a low simmer. The idea is to get the wine warm enough so that the spices and fruit can infuse into the wine, but not so warm that it starts to boil.
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What Are Mulling Spices
Mulling spices are the combination of spices used to flavor mulled wine. They can be used to flavor other warm beverages such as apple cider as well.
A typical blend of mulling spices includes whole cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise. However, other spices such as allspice berries, nutmeg, ginger, or black peppercorn may be added, along with citrus fruits such as orange, clementine, or lemon peel.
How To Make Mulled Wine: Stovetop Slow Cooker Or Instant Pot
You can make mulled wine using various methods: our favorite is the stovetop because its quick and easy! But if youre serving a crowd at a party, a slow cooker or Instant Pot are great options. Here are the three methods of how to make mulled wine:
- Stovetop method: The quickest method, at only 30 minutes! Just make sure it stays on the lowest warming setting: it shouldnt even come to a simmer .
- Slow cooker method: This method takes 2 hours and is great for parties! You can leave it on the warm setting and serve it right out of the Crock Pot.
- Instant Pot method: Use this version if you have a pressure cooker instead of a slow cooker!
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How To Make Ginger Tea
I tried several ginger tea methods, and the easiest way is truly the best way. Heres how to do it:
How To Make Mulled Wine
You know Christmas is on its way when you have your mitts wrapped around a mug of mulled wine. But while the comforting warmth and slightly stained lips are two happy by-products of supping this glowing ruby tipple, there are pitfalls. Insufficient sugar, a grainy texture and too much spice can all dent festive cheer, so weve got some tips for creating the perfect mulled wine.
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Add Fruit And Sweetness
Citrus lends mild acidity and another seasonal flavor note. Remove slices of zest from an orange, lemon, or any seasonal citrus and add it into the mix. Alternatively, float slices of the citrus in the mulled wine. Some mulled wine recipes add dried fruit such as raisins, apples, or cranberries. Last but not least, a touch of sweetness balances out any bitter notes in the warmed wine, making each glass a bit more irresistible. About ¼ cup of honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar add rich warming flavor, although granulated sugar works just fine.
What Is The Best Wine For Making Mulled Wine
Well, that is honestly up to you and your flavor preferences.
Some popular red wine varieties are Merlot, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Grenache. Typically, you are looking for wines that are described as dark, fruit-forward, and full-bodied with flavor notes that are often characterized as jammy.
Homemade spiced wine is also a great way to repurpose a sub-par bottle of wine into something delicious! Have a wine ya cant stand drinking solo? This is where you want to use it!
In other countries, other types of red wine are more traditionally used for making warm wine cocktails. Like in Italy, a version of Vin Brulé called Bisò, is made in the Emilia-Romagna region with Sangiovese wine.
Whatever you do when making spiced wine, just dont mix varietals, like one bottle of Cabernet and one bottle of Pinot Noir together. That is a straight-up no-no!
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Why Mulled Wine Is The Perfect Winter Cocktail
Mulled wine is perfect for large groups. Just fill up a big pot and let it simmer away. The long the ingredients have to simmer together, the most robust and complex the flavor.
This cocktail can be made over any heat source. A two-burner camp stove, an open campfire, or even on top of a wood burning stove.
This is a very flexible drink that allows some creative liberty. You can use any cheap red wine you can get your hands one. Add winter-themed spices plus whatever sweetener you have available, and youre good to go.
How To Make Campfire Mulled Wine
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The wintery version of sangria, a camping mug full of mulled red wine is all we need to keep warm.
There are few occasions that cant be made better with a bottle of wine. But during the winter months, we find ourselves searching for something a little cozier. Enter warm mulled wine, or glühwein as its called in Germany. This spiced red wine cocktail is the perfect way to keep warm during this winter and smooth out any unexpected wrinkles that the holidays might throw your way.
It doesnt take much to make: a bottle of red wine, some oranges, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and few drizzles of maple syrup. Simmer in a big pot over low heat until all the flavors start to blend together. When its ready, it tastes like warm, liquid comfort in a mug.
This is the perfect cocktail to try while doing some late-season camping or at the cabin during a winter ski trip. When the weather is brisk, this drink will be your best friend.
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Everything Youll Need To Make Homemade Mulled Wine
Youll need under 10 ingredients to make this delicious mulled wine recipe. Its SO easy to make and filled with wonderful flavors. Heres what youll need:
- Red wine: I suggest using a medium or full-bodied red wine like merlot for a nice depth in the spiced wine recipe.
- Maple syrup: for a hint of sweetness and to balance the spices were adding some pure maple syrup.
- Liquor: add some extra warmth with brandy or bourbon. This also deepens the flavor in the mulled wine, but its optional!
- Citrus: we like to add a sliced orange to the mulled wine for a lovely citrus addition. It makes a beautiful garnish, too.
- Spices: the stars of the show are cinnamon sticks, star anise pods and whole cloves. They simmer in the wine and give off that glorious spiced flavor!
How To Serve Mulled Wine
Serve in style, going off-piste with your cups. While fragile glass is a no-no, sturdy dimpled half-pint glasses look good and have a useful handle. Garnish with whole cinnamon sticks and pared orange or lemon peel. You could also add a wedge of citrus studded with cloves its best to make one fresh rather than fishing a soggy slice out of the mulling pan.
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How To Serve Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Set serving glasses or mugs alongside the slow cooker and be sure to arrange a ladle on a spoon rest. Finish the setup with a few small bowls of garnishes sliced orange, strips of orange peel, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods. A dark-colored towel or napkin set discretely nearby will ease any worry if spills occur. A make-ahead, serve-yourself custom cocktail means more holiday enjoyment for you, and if theres any left at the end of the night, snuggle on the couch with a steaming mug of mulled wine and breathe in the scent of the holidays.
How To Make Mulled Wine:
To make mulled wine, simply
Full ingredient amounts/instructions listed in the recipe below.
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Heat Wine And Add Spices
Grab a bottle of red winewe recommend Pinot Noirand add half the bottle to a pot over low heat, instructs Oscar Carbezas, executive chef at Telefèric Barcelonain Walnut Creek, California. As the wine begins to heat, add one or two cloves, a cinnamon stick, a star anise, a piece of orange skin, and two tablespoons of sugar or honey, depending on taste, he says.
Mulled Wine Recipe Ingredients
Ready to make mulled wine? Heres what youll need:
- Wine, of course! Look for a dry red wine such as merlot. No need to break the bank here because youll be adding so much to the wine, an inexpensive, but still decent, bottle will work just fine.
- Fresh oranges I simmer the wine with the zest and juice of 1/2 orange, 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 , but add it if you can. It gives the mulled wine a delicious spicy kick.
- Festive garnishes No, you dont have to garnish 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.
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Mulled Wine Bursting With Flavor
With just six ingredients, mulled wine is something that you can truly whip up on a whim. Its the perfect drink not for a holiday partyalthough it is great for those, toobut rather for a last minute get together. We like to battle these long dark evenings with a post dinner drop-in. We are convinced that those last two hours before bedtime are best spent letting the kids loose in the playroom while the adults sit and catch up, drinking something warm . A heavenly medley of wine and spices with a hint of fruit, steeped over the stove until bursting with flavormulled wine is our favorite way warm these cold winter nights.
A pot of mulled wine simmering on the stove is an invitationto yourself as much as to your family and friendsto pause for a moment with a generous mug of garnet-colored goodness, put your feet up, and soak in the glow of holidays.
Create The Mulling Spice Blend
While mulling spices are the key ingredients, go easy on themthey are quite potent and the flavor develops as the warm wine concoction sits. Start with whole spices: star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorns, or cardamom. Place them in a freezer bag and break them up using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Gather the spices in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with a string. Alternatively, you can buy mulling spice bags. Whichever route you take, ensure the spices remain packaged together in some way so that you can easily remove them from the drink when the flavor is right.
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Where Is The Origin Of Mulled Wine
Now that you know the answer to the burning question, what is mulled wine? You are probably wondering where it came from.
Spiced wine is very popular in Europe and has been served during the winter months for centuries.
Depending on the country of origin, mulled or spiced wine may go by a slew of different names such as Vin Brule , Vin Chaud , Krasomelo , Glogg , Glühwein , and more!
Super Simple Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a holiday tradition that doesnt get enough love. I dont understand whyits perfectly spiced, warms your belly, and is easy to make. So like, lets make mulled wine a thing. A big thing.
This simple mulled wine recipe is SO easy to make. Im talking 5 minutes or less. Basically throw everything into a pot and bring it to a simmer. It tastes like fall in your mouth, and gets even better as the flavors meld together.
Ill surely be serving this at our holiday get togethers this year
Also can we talk about these stunning mugs from Farmhouse Pottery? I am so obsessed with everything these guys do. Like, no joke, when I was a tiny blogger just starting out, I started following them and was like POTTERY GOALS.
Ive been drinking my morning coffee from their tall silo mug and its just perfect. Oooh, it would totally make for a great gift for the home lover in your life. Im hosting a giveaway with Farmhouse on my Instagram later today, where well be giving away a set of these gorgeous mugs. Head there around 11am EST to enter!
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Top Five Reasons To Make Mulled Wine Tonight
As if you needed a reason. But, in case you do:
Homemade Mulled Wine In 3 Simple Steps
Thats right, once you have all of our spices and ingredients this hot wine recipe comes together in no time at all!
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The Best Mulled Wine Recipe
While I cant state authoritatively that this is the most traditional mulled wine recipe , Ive made enough batches over the years to state with confidence that this is the best mulled wine recipe.
- This spiced wine is piping hot, smells of cloves and cinnamon, and tastes of the childhood nights my sisters and I spent singing unsolicited Christmas carols to our neighbors and convincing my dad to light our wood-burning fireplace: cozy, welcome, and somehow familiar .
What Is Mulled Wine How To Make It And 5 Easy Recipes
Ever wonder, what is Mulled wine? For some, mulled wine is a familiar holiday tradition for others, mulling spices with red wine is an experience yet to be discovered. But what exactly is mulled wine? How do you make it? And what does mulled wine taste like? Keep scrolling to find out how to serve up our favorite glasses of holiday cheer.
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