A cup of this homemade Mulled Wine Recipe makes cheeks rosy and warms from the inside out. This delicious blend of wine, fruit, and fragrant spices will become your new holiday tradition.
In a large non-aluminum pot over medium-low heat, combine wine, orange juice, orange slices, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Simmer until steam begins to rise from the pot and the mixture is hot, about 10 minutes (do not boil).
Strain (or remove spice bundle) and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve. Serve warm garnished with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise if desired.
Notes
Wine: Choose an affordable, bold red wine like Malbec, Syrah, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Consider a high-quality boxed wine too. Buy more than you think you need, though. Your guests will inhale every last drop, this recipe is so good. If you're using white wine, choose an unoaked dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Sweetness: Use white sugar or your preferred sweetener. Brown sugar, honey, pure maple syrup, and monkfruit are all delicious choices. The amount you add depends on your preferred taste and the sweetness of the wine you choose.
Wine spices: A sachet is a fancy term for spices tied up in a piece of cheesecloth with twine, but you can just add everything straight to the pot if you want to.
Yield: This recipe makes eight 1-cup servings (and is easily doubled or tripled for your crowd).
Storage: Mulled wine can be refrigerated for up to a week. Just bring it to a simmer before serving.