MULLED WINE (Slow Cooker)

Mulled Wine (Slow Cooker)

“Here we come a Wassailing"...
​​Slow Cooker Mulled Wine is the perfect warm winter cocktail – and welcoming guests to your home with mugs of steamy hot mulled wine has been a holiday tradition for centuries!  As a bonus, it also fills your whole house with the seasonal scent of fruit and spices… perfect for holiday entertaining or a quiet night by the fireplace!

Mulled Wine (Slow Cooker)

LET'S GET MULLING!

Having made this recipe dozens and dozens of times myself over the years, I am absolutely convinced that homemade mulled wine just about the easiest recipe ever for winter and holiday entertaining!

It literally just takes just a few minutes to prepare, and can be made either in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.  It’s easy to scale anywhere from a “date night” for two, and up to big holiday parties with all your favorite people!  .It’s totally customizable with your favorite spices and spike with your favorite liqueurs. 

And it’s guaranteed to make your home smell absolutely amazing and warm everyone up on a chilly winter night.

Mulled Wine (Slow Cooker)

MULLED WINE INGREDIENTS:

• Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — any basic bottle of red wine will do - or if you're making a big batch, this is the perfect recipe to break out the boxed wine for!
• Fresh oranges:  Perfect to slice and mull with the wine, also perfect to slice and use as a garnish.  To minimize bitterness, peel oranges before simmering in the wine.   
• Cinnamon: I love the making mulled wine with cinnamon sticks - they add such a festive touch!  
• Mulling spices: These vary in mulled wine from country to country, but in addition to cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, allspice berries, and even cardamom pods are all wonderful!  
• Sweetener:  Sugar is classic, but you can also sweeten with honey or pure maple syrup - simply sweeten to taste!
• Extra liqueur (optional):  Similar to sangria, it’s also traditional to spike your mulled wine with an extra bit of liqueur.  I like to add a bit of brandy, bourbon or cognac, but any favorite liqueur (especially cinnamon schnapps) will do here.  Skip the liqueur if you prefer! 
  
• Family Version:  Use fresh apple cider (not apple juice) in place of the wine so that everyone can enjoy - or better yet, make one family version and once Mulled Wine version for the adults!

Mulled Wine - Wassail Spices

HOLIDAY MULLED WINE and HARVEST MULLED WINE:

I've included two variations of this traditional family favorite - our favorite Holiday Mulled Wine, and also a Harvest Mulled Wine version.  They are both SO GOOD!

I also get so many questions about my hot beverage slow cooker!  For smaller groups I use this wonderful Hot Beverage Slow Cooker that comes from Norway.  For larger groups, I use a slow cooker or crock pot, depending on the size of the group.  Just be careful to watch the temperature so that your Mulled Wine doesn't simmer too hot. 

Mulled Wine is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas gatherings, and New Year celebrations.  Cheers!

Mulled Wine (Slow Cooker)

MULLED WINE                             (SLOW COOKER)

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine is the perfect warm winter cocktail – and welcoming guests to your home with mugs of steamy hot mulled wine has been a holiday tradition for centuries!  As a bonus, it also fills your whole house with the seasonal scent of fruit and spices… perfect for holiday entertaining or a quiet night by the fireplace.

Mulled Wine (Slow Cooker)

INGREDIENTS:
 
HOLIDAY MULLED WINE:
1 bottle red wine
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
½ cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup brandy
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp whole allspice berries
4 whole star anise
1/2 tsp whole cloves
5 whole cardamom pods (crush lightly with the back of a spoon to expose the seeds)
1/2 vanilla bean (slit bean down the center)
¼ teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 cup whole fresh cranberries
5 sprigs fresh rosemary
 
HARVEST MULLED WINE:
1 bottle red wine
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
5 whole cardamom pods (crush lightly with the back of a spoon to expose the seeds)
4 star anise
1/2 vanilla bean (slit bean down the center)
¼ teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
Freshly squeezed juice from 4 oranges, clementines or blood oranges
 
GARNISH WITH:
Cinnamon Sticks
Star Anise (whole)
Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
Whole Fresh Cranberries
Fresh Orange or Clementine slices
 
HOW I MAKE THIS:

1. PREPARE MULLED WINE:  Put the water and sugar in a crock pot and turn on high. Stir to dissolve the sugar.  
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat until the wine just starts to simmer. Avoid letting it boil or bubble in any way – you don’t want to boil off the alcohol! 
3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours. 
4. Give the Mulled Wine a taste, and stir in any extra sweetener if needed.
5. If desired, before serving you can strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the cooked fruit and spices. 
6. Reduce heat to the 'keep warm' setting.  The longer the Mulled Wine warms, the more flavorful it will become.
7. GARNISH:  I usually offer assorted garnishes on the side, so that everyone can pick their favorite!

YIELD:  4-6 servings
 
RECIPE NOTES:

• VARIATIONS?  There are so many variations of this drink, but it basically consists of red wine, sweetened just a bit, and then mulled or steeped with spices and fruit. 
• WHAT WINE SHOULD I USE?  Use your favorite red wine for a traditional version, or substitute apple cider for all ages to enjoy. You can also add a touch of brandy or schnapps for a little extra kick.    
• SUGAR SUBSTITUTE:  If you prefer, you can replace the sugar with honey or pure maple syrup - simply sweeten to taste.
• DOUBLE THE RECIPE:  This recipe is easy to double (or even triple) for a larger crowd – but you do NOT need to double the whole spices!
• DON’T HAVE A SLOW COOKER?  You can prepare this on the stovetop as well – just heat in a large pan on a low heat and serve warm!  Your whole house will smell so good too!
• SPICE SHORTCUT:  In place of the cloves and star anise, you can also steep 1 or 2 chai tea bags in the mulled wine.  For a spice shortcut, If you have a hard time finding whole spices, or to make individual servings, I recommend Rodelle Wassail spice as a replacement.
• TRADITIONAL WASSAIL:  Many European recipes call for raisins, but we leave them out.

Originally posted December 2014; revised and reposted December 2020.

© SnowflakesandCoffeecakes.  All images, attachments & content are copyright protected. All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without prior permission.  If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to www.snowflakesandcoffeecakes.com for the recipe. 

NEVER MISS A NEW RECIPE!  FOLLOW ME ON
​FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & PINTEREST!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Rosemary Greyhound Cocktail

Cranberry Cheer Cocktail

Strawberry Hot Chocolate with Bailey's Strawberries & Cream Liqueur