Christmas Special Mulled Wine Recipe
Mmm, what could be better than a glass of homemade mulled wine with the frosty weather outside?
It’s probably my favourite drink in winter. It’s so cosy; drinking mulled wine warms your stomach and soul, and if you have plätzchen (German Christmas cookies) in your pocket, your happiness knows no bounds.
I really love mulled wine for its magical ability to bring warmth and cosiness to your soul in the run-up to Christmas.
What is mulled wine?
Mulled wine is the most popular wine cocktail (hot alcoholic drink) that has a simple and ingenious composition: heated white with spices (herbs), honey and citrus fruits.
History of the mulled wine recipe
The origin story of mulled wine, like that of most other ancient drinks, has been lost for centuries. But it’s been suggested that the ancient Romans were the first to drink heated wine, to which they added herbs, spices and fruits. This resulted in an original product with a magical aroma and an amazing taste.
In the colder countries of Europe, mulled wine has become popular as well. Over time, many original mulled wine recipes arose for a hot drink with spices which helps the drinker warm up in cold weather and protects against colds and flus.
Mulled wine in different languages:
Mulled wine is known by many names, depending on the language spoken in the place it’s drunk.
Mulled wine – English
Gluhwein – German
Vino Caliente – Spanish
Grzane Wino – Polish
Kuvano wine – Serbian
Vin chaud – French
Vin brule – Italian
Svarene vino – Czech
Forralt bor – Hungarian
How to make mulled wine😍
Christmas Special Mulled Wine Recipe
If you're trying to find how to make mulled wine, then our homemade mulled wine recipe is for you! It's warming, tasty, and feels like Christmas!
Ingredients
- White or red wine: 1 bottle /750 ml
- Apple juice: 300 ml
- Oranges: 2-3.
- Lemon: 1
- Cinnamon stick (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon): 2
- Star anise: 2
- Ginger: 1 tsp
- Honey: 3-4 tsp
- (Optional) Mulled wine spices: 1 tbsp
- (Optional) Garnishes: cinnamon sticks, orange slices, star anise
Instructions
- Collect your ingredients
- Carefully peel the zest from the orange and squeeze the juice out of the oranges and lemon. Pour the juices into a large pan.
- In the large pan, mix the cinnamon, star anise, and any other spices you're using with the orange zest, apple, orange, and lemon juice. Simmer over medium heat.
- After 10 minutes, the spices will begin to release flavour, this is when you can add the wine and honey. Stir well and simmer gently until the second it starts bubbling slightly. It's important to take it off the heat before it starts boiling. If left to boil, the alcohol will evaporate.
- Garnish with citrus slices and cinnamon sticks.
- Serve warm with some Christmas cookies.
Notes
- There is no best wine for making mulled wine. You can use red wine or white wine, whichever you prefer. It is usually preferable to use a dry wine as you will add sweeteners after.
- For a vegan variation of spiced wine, you can use maple syrup or sugar instead of honey.
- I think mulled wine is also a great recipe for its flexibility: you can experiment with different fruits by adding some sliced apples, pears or berries like fresh cranberries or raisins.
- For those who like it stronger, add 50 ml of brandy or another strong alcohol.
- For those who like it alcohol-free, use a bottle of unsweetened juice and 300ml water instead of wine, and you will get a perfect non-alcoholic Christmas punch.
Enjoy our mulled wine recipe!
Let us know how you get on with your mulled wine recipe this Christmas! We have a selection of different cookie recipes that you can bake alongside your mulled wine, including Millie’s chocolate chip cookies and some yummy coconut macaroons. Check out our Christmas food page for more inspiration, or if you want a heart-warming meal to go with your mulled wine, check our our borscht soup recipe.
You can also make a selection of other baked goods to snack on while you drink, including homemade fluffy scones, warm chewy flapjacks, or even a cheeky cheesecake. It’s Christmas after all!
