Easy Mulled Wine
Easy homemade mulled wine recipe with warming spices, fresh citrus, and honey. Ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot
- 2 cups apple cider or apple juice
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
- 3 cinnamon sticks, about 3 inches long
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 whole star anise pods
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 2 medium oranges, cut into thin rings with peel
- 1 lemon, cut into thin rings with peel
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 4 cups water
- 2 fresh rosemary sprigs, optional for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pour the red wine and apple cider into a large stainless steel pot or Dutch oven.
- 2
Add the water to the pot, stirring gently to combine the liquids.
- 3
Heat the mixture over medium heat until it begins to steam, about 5 minutes, without allowing it to boil.
- 4
Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, and fresh ginger slices to the warm wine mixture.
- 5
Stir in the raw honey until it dissolves completely into the liquid, about 2 minutes of gentle stirring.
- 6
Arrange the orange and lemon rings on the surface of the mulled wine and gently press them down slightly.
- 7
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse and the flavors to meld.
- 8
Pour in the vanilla extract and sprinkle the grated nutmeg over the surface, stirring well to distribute.
- 9
Taste the mulled wine and adjust sweetness by adding more honey if desired, stirring until fully incorporated.
- 10
Ladle the mulled wine into heat-safe glasses or mugs, ensuring each serving includes some of the spiced citrus pieces and aromatics.
- 11
Garnish each cup with a fresh rosemary sprig if desired, then serve immediately while still steaming hot.
Variations & Substitutions
| Ingredient | Substitute | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| raw honey | coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener | Provides sweetness with a lower glycemic index, causing less blood sugar spike |
| dry red wine | dry red wine with 50% alcohol-free red wine blend | Reduces alcohol content while maintaining the wine flavor profile and polyphenol antioxidants |
| apple cider | unsweetened pomegranate juice or cranberry juice | Reduces natural sugar content while adding additional anti-inflammatory polyphenols and antioxidants |
| fresh ginger slices | 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon fresh turmeric | Turmeric adds curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound with digestive benefits |
| vanilla extract | 1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract | Real vanilla bean provides deeper flavor complexity with minimal additives; almond adds complementary nuttiness |
Recommended Equipment
Tools that make this recipe easier
Nutrition Information
Per serving (serves 4)
| Calories | 168 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 8mg |
| Carbohydrates | 18g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sugar | 14g |
| Protein | 0g |
This recipe was extracted from the original video source using AI. Nutritional information is estimated and may vary. Not a substitute for professional dietary advice. As an Amazon Associate, AlmostChefs earns from qualifying purchases. Product links are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra but help support the site. Read full disclaimer
