You really can’t beat a warm hot chocolate or apple cider on a cold winter day but if you want to spice things up a bit, try out this warm mulled wine recipe!

This mulled wine recipe makes for a great holiday cocktail and it is the perfect make-ahead drink for a crowd.

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I first had mulled wine on a trip to Eastern Europe for a Viking River Cruise. I was visiting a few countries during the Christmas Market season and many of the vendors were selling mulled wine – or Gluhwein as it’s known there.

Click here for My Viking Delling River Cruise Experience.

Christmas Market Season in Eastern Europe typically runs from late November through December and it is a fantastic time to visit this part of the world.

These beautiful Christmas Markets are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. It’s easy to spend hours wandering through the various food & craft stalls with a glass of mulled wine in hand.

This is a great make ahead cocktail to serve at a holiday party. Next to the crockpot, set out a ladle, glasses and garnishes such as sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, or fresh cranberries.

Not only is it a great cocktail to make for a crowd, it will warm everyone up after coming in from the cold and it also makes your house smell great!

What You Will Need

red wine

cinnamon sticks

cardamom

star anise

whole cloves

apple brandy

orange slices

sugar

It’s important to use whole spices rather than ground. Ground spices will give your mulled wine a grainy consistency and leave an unappealing film on the top.

Star anise has a very powerful licorice flavor. Using it is completely optional based on your preferences.

Don’t bring your wine to a boil. You are really looking to just bring it up to temperature to bring out the flavors of the spices and the fruits – allowing it to boil will cook all of the alcohol out of the wine.

If you find that your mulled wine is a little too strong for your liking, feel free to add some orange juice to your dutch oven or crock pot while your cocktail is simmering!

How To Make Mulled Wine

Combine all of the ingredients in large pot or crock pot. Simmer on low heat for at least 20 minutes.

If using a crockpot, heat on low until hot, about 90 minutes.

To serve, strain whole spices and fruit out of wine. Ladle into glasses with handles and garnish with cinnamon stick and fresh orange slices!

I hope you love this mulled wine recipe as much as I do. Comment below and let me know how yours turned out!