Mulled Wine

Name: Mulled Wine
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 1 (750 ml) bottle fruity dry red wine (such as Merlot or Zinfandel); 1 cup apple cider or water; 1/4 cup honey or sugar, to taste; 1 orange, sliced into rounds; 3 cinnamon sticks; 6 whole cloves; 2 star anise; 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (optional); 1/4 cup brandy (optional); orange slices and cinnamon sticks, to serve

Red wine gently warmed with orange, cinnamon, cloves and star anise and lightly sweetened. The Christmas-market drink that also suits the first cold weekends of fall.

Prep5 min

Cook25 min

Total30 min

Serves6

What you'll need

Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovenFor soups, stews and braises

Amazon Walmart

8-inch chef's knifeFor all the chopping

Amazon

Store links go to the same item at each retailer, checked November 1, 2026. Want to compare? See the Top 50 Kitchen gear rankings.

Ingredients

1 (750 ml) bottle fruity dry red wine (such as Merlot or Zinfandel)

1 cup apple cider or water

1/4 cup honey or sugar, to taste

1 orange, sliced into rounds

3 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

2 star anise

4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (optional)

1/4 cup brandy (optional)

orange slices and cinnamon sticks, to serve

Steps

Combine the wine, cider, honey, orange slices, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamom in a pot.

Warm over low heat until steaming, then keep it just below a simmer for 20 to 25 minutes to infuse. Don't let it boil, or the alcohol cooks off and the spices turn bitter.

Taste and add more honey if you like it sweeter. Stir in the brandy.

Strain into mugs or heatproof glasses and garnish with an orange slice.

TipKeep a batch warm in a slow cooker on the low or warm setting for a party.