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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.
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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.
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 kind of wine is used for mulled wine? ›
The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”
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.
Is mulled wine very alcoholic? ›
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.
Why do we drink mulled wine at Christmas? ›
Mulled wine soon became a festive staple as people prepared the drink during winters, especially around Christmas. It became a tradition to enjoy the drink with family and friends. Over the years, the recipe of mulled wine changed. Europeans added herb and flowers for extra sweetness.
Does mulling wine make it less alcoholic? ›
The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.
How much alcohol is in mulled wine? ›
Nutritional Value of Red Wine
| Mulled Wine | ABV% | Sugar per 100ml |
|---|
| Tesco Mulled Wine | 8% | 12.6 |
| Iceland Mulled Wine | 10% | 16.5 |
| Harvest Mulled Wine | 8% | 14.6 |
| Majestic Mulled Wine | 8% | 14.6 |
5 more rowsYou 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.
Can I use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›
Use cheap wine. Don't break out a special bottle for this. Cooking the wine will change it: Some of the alcohol blows off (hence the need for added brandy), the wine may taste more acidic (hence the need for added sugar) and any of its delicate, nuanced aromas will become largely undetectable.
The best red wines for mulled wines taste bright and fresh, such as Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Inexpensive Bordeaux is another great choice for mulled wine; in fact, claret was a traditional choice for British mulled wine in William Shakespeare's day.
How long should you heat mulled wine? ›
Method. Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.
What is in Trader Joe's wassail? ›
A sweetened blend of black currant, apple, and lemon juices, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and orange peel, Trader Joe's Winter Wassail is a fruit punch whose flavors and aromas evoke the holidays. You can serve it chilled, over ice with bourbon; or warmed, in a big mug, with a cinnamon stick garnish.
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.
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.
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.
What are other names for mulled wine? ›
Mulled wine goes by many names—spiced wine, hot wine, glögg, glühwein, and vin chaud are a few I hear used interchangeably. As far as I know, they all essentially refer to the same drink, although the spices and booze of choice may vary depending on the region.
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.
