Mulled Wine

Ingredients

• 750ml dry red wine (1 bottle)
• 60ml (¼ cup) brandy or orange liqueur
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 2–4 tbsp sugar, honey, or maple syrup, to taste

Optional Garnishes

• Citrus slices (orange, lemon, and/or lime)
• Extra cinnamon sticks and star anise

Instructions

1. Combine. Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and 2 tbsp sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly.
2. Simmer. Heat over medium-high until the wine just barely begins to simmer — do not let it boil, or you’ll cook off the alcohol. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
3. Strain. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the orange slices and whole spices. Taste and stir in additional sweetener if needed.
4. Serve. Ladle into heatproof mugs and add garnishes if desired.

Less bitter: Peel the orange before slicing if you prefer a gentler flavour.

Cheesecloth: Bundle the orange slices and spices in cheesecloth before adding to the wine. Lift out the bundle instead of straining when ready to serve.

Slow cooker: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and heat on low for 1–3 hours.