Mulled wine is a must during the holidays. We've been making this recipe for years and it never disappoints. It's easy to make, perfectly spiced, and tastes like Christmas. Bonus: we make it with maple syrup for extra rich flavor and so it's refined sugar-free.
Ingredients
2bottlesred wine, see notes
1cupapple juice
1cupbrandy
½ cupmaple syrup, see notes
1orange, sliced with the skin on
4cinnamon sticks, plus extra for garnish
1teaspoonblack peppercorns
1teaspoonwhole cloves
6whole star anise
Optional garnishes: orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cranberries
Instructions
Add all the ingredients to a large pot over medium-high heat. As soon as you start to see steam rising from the pot, reduce the heat to medium. Keep the pot on the heat for 15 minutes for the spices to infuse the wine.
2 bottles red wine, 1 cup apple juice, 1 cup brandy, ½ cup maple syrup, 1 orange, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, 6 whole star anise
Strain the mulled wine into mugs or thick-walled wine glasses and top with any or all of the optional garnishes.
Optional garnishes: orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cranberries
Notes
Don't blow your budget on a good bottle of wine for this recipe. An inexpensive merlot or cabernet sauvignon is perfect.You can substitute coconut sugar or brown sugar for the maple syrup.Leftovers can be stored (with the spices strained) in your fridge for several days. You can drink it cold or gently reheat it.