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Cozy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Orange & Cloves

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This cozy slow cooker mulled wine is the perfect winter warmer, combining dry red wine with orange, cloves, and cinnamon for a fragrant, comforting drink that’s effortless to make and perfect for holiday entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Zinfandel, or fruity Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1/2 cup brandy or bourbon (optional)
  • 1 cup apple cider or cranberry juice

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange thoroughly, then slice it into thin rounds, about 1/4-inch thick. Remove any seeds. Leave the peel on.
  2. Pour the bottle of red wine into the slow cooker. Add the honey or maple syrup, apple cider or cranberry juice, and brandy or bourbon if using. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sweetener.
  3. Drop in the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods. Lay the orange slices on top, pushing a few down into the liquid.
  4. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. Alternatively, cook on high for 1 to 1.5 hours, but low is better for flavor development.
  5. After 2 hours, taste the wine and adjust sweetness or spice level as desired.
  6. Ladle the mulled wine directly into heatproof mugs, ensuring each serving gets an orange slice and a cinnamon stick for garnish. For a cleaner look, strain through a fine-mesh strainer before serving.

Notes

For deeper flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30-60 seconds before adding. Mulled wine tastes even better the next day; make it ahead and reheat gently. Avoid using ground spices as they make the wine cloudy and gritty. Do not let the wine boil to prevent bitterness and alcohol loss.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, slow cooker mulled wine, holiday drink, winter beverage, spiced wine, orange and cloves

Find it online: https://cravemila.com/cozy-slow-cooker-mulled-wine-with-orange-and-cloves/