Cozy Homemade Mulled Wine Recipe (with a Crockpot Option)
This delicious and easy spiced homemade mulled wine recipe is a wonderful addition to your next holiday gathering, especially with the option of preparing it in a crockpot.
Traditional recipes help us transcend time and distance and place us squarely back into a place where memories come alive for us in a way that few other things do. The senses of smell and taste can quickly and easily transport us to another time or place. Perhaps this is why food and drink have such strong associations with memory for most of us; and vice versa.
It’s also why and how recipes become ingrained traditions in our lives that we look forward to making year after year. Food and drink can become intricately tied to a memory or experience, to the point that we associate very strong and specific emotions with it. For us, mulled wine inspires feelings of warmth, friendship, joy and laughter that is all linked to my strong association of it with good friends and the holiday season.
Today I’m joining some of my blogging friends for the last of this year’s Seasonal Simplicity Christmas Series. Today we are all sharing a favourite holiday drink recipe. Be sure to visit them and check out their recipes by visiting the links at the bottom of today’s post!
As I mentioned, mulled wine is a favourite in this home around the holidays. I told the story of where I first learned about it in my post last week, about creating DIY Mulled Wine Gifts for friends, coworkers, or hostesses this holiday season.
Years ago one of my closest friends relocated permanently to Switzerland where she now teaches at an International school and raises her beautiful family along with her native Swiss husband. It was on a Christmas visit several years ago that she first introduced me to mulled wine, which is a very common and popular holiday beverage in northern Europe.
It became a family tradition that she would bring us home little packets of mulled wine spices, or “Glühwein” spices, already mixed together so I could brew up a few batches of this delicious and special holiday treat.
But as they have begun visiting in the summers rather then the winter, I’ve been left to my own devices. So after much research and experimentation, I have come up with this recipe for mulled wine which I’ve tweaked over the past few years, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
One thing that I’ve often done on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is to make a big batch in our crockpot so that it is easy and ready to go for our family or friends to enjoy while we are busy concentrating on other aspects of the evening or the dinner. I’ve added some tips below for how to prepare this in a crockpot instead of using up another burner on your stove!
Mulled Wine Recipe
How to make spiced mulled wine with tips for using a crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine, like a Cab Sauvignon 750ml
- 1 fresh orange, cut in 1/8" slices
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup orange juice, no pulp optional
- 3 raw cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 20 cloves
- 10 peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp allspice
Instructions
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Pour the wine into a medium saucepan and add all ingredients. Stir until blended,.
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Heat the wine to a simmer, not allowing it to boil. Stir again to ensure the sugar and spices are well blended.
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Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, keeping the temperature low.
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Skim off the whole spices if you wish, and serve with a garnish or orange.
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To use a crockpot, you may wish to create a double batch. Keep on low heat until warmed through.
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Tips for choosing the right wine for mulled wine:
Don’t use your best wine, or anything really expensive. You will be adding a lot of flavour to your mulled wine through the spices and sugar so you don’t need anything high-end. Inexpensive wines work great, and as does a light wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon like I usually use. Some people prefer something a little heavier or sweeter, but remember that adding sugar and orange and/or orange juice will make it that much sweeter.
This week is my friends and I are sharing our holiday drink recipes, just in time for you to enjoy them this season! You can visit their posts by clicking on the links below the images.
Homemade Mulled Wine for Christmas at The Happy Housie
Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail at Inspiration for Moms
Merry Mistletoe Margaritas at This is Our Bliss
Cranberry Whiskey Mule at Modern Glam
Dark and Stormy Cocktails at Finding Silver Pennies
Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail at Maison de Cinq
3 Ingredient Easy Spiced Apple Gin Cocktail at The DIY Mommy
Ginger Pear Prosecco Sparkler at Life is Better at Home
Creamy Peppermint Punch at Clean and Scentsible
Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board at Life is a Party
A Festive Holiday Spiced Coffee Recipe at She Gave it a Go
Easy Chai Tea Latte at Paint Me Pink
Wow! Another reason why crockpots are the best! Who knew I could combine two of my favorites — wine + the crockpot and have a festive drink for the holidays! Thanks for sharing and hosting this great hop. So many wonderful recipes!!
This sounds like a great recipe to make when you are having guests! It sounds delicious and looks so festive! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us Krista!
Happy Holidays my friend!
xoxo,
Norma
Krista, this looks delicious! Thank you so much for having me in your wonderful series! Wishing you a beautiful Christmas! xo
I love mulled wine Krista and this looks delicious. Happy Holidays! Xx
I love that you can prepare this in the crockpot so it can simmer while you welcome guests. I can almost taste your mulled wine by looking at it! Merry Christmas!
I’ve always wanted to try this but have never gotten around to it. Thanks so much for the recipe and inspiration!
This sounds amazing Krista! I’ve always wanted to try making this and you’ve inspired me! Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe and for including me in your wonderful series. I so appreciate sharing with all of you talented ladies! 🙂
Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas!
Sheila
xo
Krista,
This is so pretty, thank you so much for sharing.
I hope you and yours have a lovely and blessed Christmas.
Grateful for you!
xoxo,
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