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Mulled Wine Recipe (Wassail Recipe)– You’ve got to try this delicious Wassail Recipe for the holidays this year! Made with red wine, juices, fragrant spices, and vanilla.
When’s the last time you had a hot steaming cup of homemade wassail?
If your answer isnever, or even over a year ago, this is your moment. Don’t miss it!
Mulled wine, also known as wassail, is a hot holiday punch meant to warm the belly and spirit at the same time.
It’s rich and dark with layer upon layer of festive flavor, starting with red wine, apple cider, orange juice, fresh fruit, and aromatic spices.
I like to add a vanilla bean to my wassail recipe because I feel it mellows the wine, helping it to blend seamlessly with the spices.
Ingredients Checklist for this Mulled Wine Recipe
- 2 bottles of fruity red wine, like a rioja, pinot noir, or merlot
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 1/2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups frozen pitted cherries
- 1 large apple, sliced thin into rounds
- 1 large orange, sliced thin into rounds with the orange peel intact for flavor
- 1 piece fresh ginger (2 inches), sliced
- 8-10 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean, cut open from end to end
- 1 teaspoon cloves
How To Make Mulled Wine
Crock Pot Instructions
Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker. Cover and turn on high for at least 3 hours, or on low for at least 5 hours.
Ladle the hot mulled wine into glasses or mugs. Garnish with the fruit and cinnamon sticks.
Stovetop Directions…
Place all ingredients in a large sauce pot/saucepan over high heat, not medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Cover and allow the mixture to steep until ready to serve.
Get The Full (Printable) Mulled Wine Wassail Recipe Below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make This Alcohol Free?
Cooking the wine does eliminate some of the alcohol, but not all, making it a nicelightboozy beverage for the grownups at your holiday gatherings.
Make sure to check out mynon-alcoholic wassail recipefor the kids!
Is It Possible to Mull Wine Without Losing Any of the Alcohol?
The lower the heat is, the less chance the alcohol will evaporate. So in order to keep the alcohol content high, set your slow cooker on LOW.
Is it possible to make a concentrate ahead of time?
You can make it up to a week in advance. You can store the leftovers of your Christmas spiced wine co*cktail recipe in the refrigerator for 7 to 9 days.
Great Dessert Pairings
- Bourbon Kentucky Derby Pie
- How to Make the Best Orange Julius with Orange Slices
- Orange Cranberry Bread With Fresh Cranberries
- Best Lemon Bars
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Darjeeling Milk Punch with brandy and nutmeg
- Mexican Bread Pudding Recipe with allspice
Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin c, and calcium percentages.
Print Recipe
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Mulled Wine (Wassail Recipe)
Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 3 minutes minutes
You’ve got to try this delicious Mulled Wine (Wassail Recipe) for the holidays this year! Made with red wine, juices, fragrant spices, and vanilla.
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 2 bottles fruity red wine, like a rioja or pinot noir (750ml-bottles)
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 1/2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups frozen pitted cherries
- 1 large apple, sliced thin into rounds
- 1 large orange, sliced thin into rounds
- 1 piece fresh ginger (2 inches), sliced
- 8-10 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean, cut open from end to end
- 1 teaspoon cloves
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker. Cover and turn on high for at least 3 hours, or on low for at least 5 hours.
Ladle the hot mulled wine into glasses or mugs. Garnish with the fruit and cinnamon sticks.
Video
Notes
STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS: Place all ingredients in a large sauce pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Cover and allow the mixture to steep until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 137kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 287mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 160IU, Vitamin C: 34.8mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 0.6mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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FAQs
There are very few differences between mulled cider and Wassail Punch. Both contain spices and some juice. One of the main differences is that mulled wine is often made with whole oranges. However, Wassail is traditionally made with apple juice.
What is wassail drink made of? ›
What is Wassail? Wassail is like the tastier sister to Apple Cider. Traditional wassail was made with hard liquor, apples, brandy, and other spices. This recipe is made with cloves, apples, cinnamon, lemon, orange, ginger, and nutmeg and is a nonalcoholic wassail recipe.
What wine is good for mulled wine? ›
The best wine for mulled wine is dry and full-bodied, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Syrah. These will stand up to the other flavors and ensure the spiced wine won't be too sweet. Use Whole Spices. I don't recommend ground spices, as they will float on top of the wine and not incorporate properly.
How do you jazz up a bottle of mulled wine? ›
Here are a few fun ways to garnish the mulled wine:
- Drop in a cinnamon stick.
- Drop in an orange slice.
- Dot cloves into orange peels and drop the studded peel in.
- Drop in whole spices (like star anise)
- Drop in a few cherries or brightly-coloured berries.
Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.
What are the two types of wassailing? ›
The tradition of wassailing (alt sp wasselling) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail.
What is traditionally drunk during the tradition of wassailing? ›
Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...
Is wassail good for you? ›
Because wassail is made with fruit juices and spices such as cinnamon and ginger, it can be soothing for a cold, and may even be helpful in easing congestion.
Why do people drink wassail? ›
By wassailing their crops in the winter, it was said to ensure a healthy crop in the spring. As Christianity began to spread, this ritual evolved further into singing and drinking to the health of next season's crops on Twelfth Night; the last night of the traditional Christmas season.
Can you use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›
Mulled Wine Ingredients:
Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — a mid-range bottle of dry red or white wine will do. (Or if you're making a big batch, this is a great recipe to break out a nicer boxed wine too!)
Not much. Mulled wine is warmed, not boiled. Usually with added spices. Whether in a still or in boeuf bourguignon, the higher the heat, the more alcohol is released.
Is mulled wine more alcoholic than wine? ›
Mulled wine still has a high alcohol and sugar content, so you should be aware of how much you're consuming. 'People often think that because it's been heated it's less alcoholic, but only a small amount actually evaporates,' explains Dr Lee.
Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›
You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.
Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›
Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.
Can you overheat mulled wine? ›
The key to successfully heating up mulled wine is to take it up to a nice warm temperature without boiling it. Wine has a lower boiling point than water, and overheating it will cook off some of the alcohol, resulting in an unpleasant bitter flavour.
What is another name for mulled wine? ›
Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm.
Is mulled wine the same as mulled cider? ›
When the weather gets cold, that means it's the best time of year to make your favorite warm drinks! Mulled wine is a hot beverage that's made by mixing wine with various spices and letting it simmer before serving warm. Mulled cider is the same concept, just with cider instead of wine!
What's the difference between mulled wine and mulled cider? ›
Some people may call Hot Mulled Cider “Mocked Mulled Wine” since it's an alcohol-free version of Mulled Wine. Mulled Wine is a hot red wine (use an entire bottle) that is infused with Mulling Spices. Typically, it includes orange and/or apples, sugar or honey, and liquors such as brandy, cognac, rum, and vodka.
What is similar to mulled wine? ›
Just as warming as mulled wine, mulled cider is a less sweet alternative. Made using a similar technique, mulled cider is packed with spices to create a harmonious taste that can be served in mugs or fancy glasses.
