Mulled Wine

📷 by: Ambitious Kitchen

This traditional recipe is incredibly easy to make, customize how you like, and always SO cozy and delicious.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine
• ¼ cup Blood Orange Liqueur or your favorite Brandy
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds (peeled, if you would like a less-bitter drink)
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or Maple Syrup to taste (or your desired sweetener)
• optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine ingredients: Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.
2. Simmer: Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. Avoid letting it bubble — you don’t want to boil off the alcohol. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
3. Strain: Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.  Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in extra sweetener if needed.
4. Serve warm in heatproof mugs, topped with your favorite garnishes.