Cook Well, Eat Well

Sweet & Savory

Cook Well, Eat Well

Home » RECIPE » Drinks » Mulled Wine Recipe

Mulled Wine Recipe

Skip to Recipe Print
By:

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

Sharing is caring!

Perfect homemade mulled wine recipe with 7 simple ingredients and make-ahead tips included. Spice up your holiday with this warm & cozy winter drink.

Mulled wine in a glass garnished with fresh cranberries and slice of orange.
Pin This Recipe For Later!

What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine, also known as glühwein in German, is a warm spiced wine popular in Europe, especially around Christmas time.

It’s typically made with red wine simmered with mulling spices.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Over the years, I’ve had various versions of mulled wine. Mulled wine made with glühwein teabags was my first introduction into the world of spiced wine. Then I’ve had it in a paper cup at a Parisian outdoor market. I’ve also tried a ready-to-use mulled wine spice mix, etc.

And I have to say homemade version is just as simple, and incredibly delicious!

  • Super simple to make
  • Pantry staples!!
  • No star anise, if it’s not your thing.
  • Customize it to your taste.

Key Ingredients:

My basic starting point is always the same:

  • a whole orange
  • whole cloves
  • orange juice
  • granulated sugar
  • cinnamon sticks

Sometimes I grate a little bit of nutmeg, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I add cranberries, sometimes I don’t.

Why whole spices

When making mulled wine, it’s recommended to use whole spices, like whole cloves, cinnamon sticks or whole star anise.

The reason for that is you won’t get weird powdery texture in your spiced wine.

Also, fresh spices are easier to strain!

Whole cloves on a wooden spoon.

How to make this recipe:

It couldn’t be simpler to make this mulled wine!!

  1. Push a few cloves into the skin of an orange, and then cut the orange into quarters.
  2. Combine orange juice, cranberries, sugar, oranges with cloves in a pot.
  3. Cook the mixture until syrup-y.
  4. Then pour in wine and heat it through.

Tip

Once wine is added, be careful not to boil it, or the alcohol will evaporate, which is no big deal, but why would you do that??

Studding oranges with whole cloves takes away the hassle of fishing out tiny little cloves!

You’ll still get that warm cloves aroma in your wine.

A wedge of orange, studded with whole cloves.

What type of wine is best for mulled wine?

Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly!

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!

What to Serve with Mulled Wine:

If you’re planning a menu to serve along with spiced wine, consider the following appetizer and main dishes:

Make-ahead Tip:

Mulled wine is a perfect holiday party drink! And you can totally make it ahead and even double it, if you want to.

  • Make the spiced orange syrup in advance. And when ready to serve, mix it with wine and warm it up.
  • Or better yet, place it in a slow cooker to keep it warm longer!!
Mulled wine in a glass garnished with fresh cranberries and slice of orange.

FAQ:

What are the best wine for mulled wine?

Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly!
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!

What spices do you use for mulled wine?

Cinnamon, star anise and clove are the classic spices in mulled wine. But you can always add some freshly grated nutmeg, cardamom,

Mulled wine in a glass garnished with fresh cranberries and slice of orange.

Mulled Wine

Perfect mulled wine recipe with 7 simple ingredients and make-ahead tips included. Spice up your holiday with this warm & cozy winter drink.
5 from 10 votes
serves: 4 servings
Total : 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 orange
  • 8-10 whole cloves
  • 1 cup (240ml) orange juice
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen, optional
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine Note 1
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • Cut an orange into quarters. Push 2-3 whole cloves into the outer skin of quartered oranges, as pictured above.
  • In a large pot, combine orange juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange quarters with cloves and cranberries.
  • Turn the heat to medium high and slowly heat the mixture, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Once sugar is dissolved completely, bring it to a boil and cook until it thickened and reduced by almost half, about 15-20 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to low and pour in wine.
  • Simmer until wine is heated through. Don’t boil, or alcohol will evaporate.
  • You can strain the wine and pour into a slow cooker to keep it warm. Garnish with orange slices and serve warm.

Tips & Notes:

Note 1: Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly! Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!
Make-Ahead Tip: Follow the steps 1-4. Keep the syrup in fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, mix it with wine in a large pot and warm it up. Or better yet, place it in a slow cooker to keep it warm longer!!

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 305kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 43g (14%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 1g (2%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 2mg Potassium: 194mg (6%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 34g (38%) Vitamin A: 198IU (4%) Vitamin C: 50mg (61%) Calcium: 31mg (3%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Course:Drinks
Cuisine:American
Mulled wine in a glass garnished with fresh cranberries and slice of orange.
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!

This post was originally published on November 28th, 2014.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Joy Willis says

    5 stars
    My family looks forward to drinking this every Christmas and New Years. It’s so easy to make and is absolutely delicious. I make the syrup on the stove and put it in the crockpot with the wine on warm for everyone to enjoy!

    Reply

  4. Joy says

    5 stars
    Simple, delicious, clever idea about sticking the cloves in the wedges of orange. Cannot believe how I’ve struggled with The Joy of Cooking’s convoluted prep. Holiday wishes to you!

    Reply

  5. Joy Willis says

    5 stars
    I made this Christmas and it was a hit!   Everyone loved it and I have made it several times since.   It’s delicious and simple to make.  Our very favorite mulled wine recipe!

    Reply