The Ultimate Mulled Wine Recipe to Keep You Warm This Winter

What if we told you that mulled wine – or Glühwein – isn't reserved for fancy farm retreats and European vacations? Mulled wine recipes are easy to follow and can be surprisingly easy on your budget too. The best part is that you can have it ready within 15 minutes, which makes it the ideal hot beverage for a stay-at-home date night or to wow unplanned guests. All you need to round off the experience is a cozy fireplace, some great travel stories, and a cheese charcuterie board.

You'll need a few ingredients 

• A deep, dark, fruity wine: A mulled wine requires a dark wine with fruity undertones to carry the fruit elements and the spices. Wines that work well include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and malbec. It also doesn't have to be too pricey and a cheap bottle will work just fine.
• Brandy: While brandy is an optional addition to mulled wine, it's a worthy addition as it adds flavor and that warmth to your belly. Brandy is one of those ingredients that can elevate your recipe from just another mulled wine recipe, to the best mulled wine recipe.
• Spices: Keep your spices whole and make sure you have a good variety. Cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and clove all add layers of flavor to your mulled wine. The best part is that you'll use these spices several times throughout the season when preparing hearty winter dishes and desserts.
• Oranges: Red wine, oranges, and brandy combine well in a sangria, so it's only natural that a mulled wine will benefit from in-season, fresh, juicy oranges. You can also save those peels for other uses around the house. 
• Honey: Honey has that warm, toasty sweetness that instantly elevates a hot drink. It's important to only add a small amount as you just want the honey to elevate the flavor. 

Let's make it! 

Your red wine stash determines how much of the other ingredients you'll need. For each bottle of red wine, you will need: 

• 1 large orange 
• 4 whole cloves 
• 2 star anise 
• 4 cardamom pods 
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup brandy 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey 

Note: Some stores also sell pre-mixed mulled wine spices. 

Method 

Slice your large orange in half and then slice one half in rounds. Squeeze the juice of the other half into a pot. Place the orange rounds into the pot, followed by the wine and the brandy. Slowly warm the mixture to a simmer, but be sure not to let the mixture boil or get too hot, as the alcohol will evaporate (unless that's what you want). 

Add half your honey and the spices, and watch the pot as it continues to simmer for about five minutes. Taste the mixture and if it needs more sweetness, add more honey. If you want it to be a little spicier, let it simmer for longer but the total time on the stovetop shouldn't be more than 15 minutes. 

By the way, this recipe easily converts to a slow cooker mulled wine recipe by adding all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cooking it on low heat for half an hour to an hour. 

Have your mulled wine and drink it 

Save has great ways to help you make the most of your holiday pantry ingredients, thanks to hearty meal and beverage recipes. Our Save coupon book finder can help you pin down even more savings this winter!