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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.
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.
How do you jazz up a bottle of mulled wine? ›
How to garnish mulled wine
- Drop in a cinnamon stick.
- Drop in an orange slice.
- Dot cloves into orange peels and drop the studded peel in.
- Drop in whole spices (like star anise)
- Drop in a few cherries or brightly-coloured berries.
Some people may call Hot Mulled Cider “Mocked Mulled Wine” since it's an alcohol-free version of Mulled Wine. Mulled Wine is a hot red wine (use an entire bottle) that is infused with Mulling Spices. Typically, it includes orange and/or apples, sugar or honey, and liquors such as brandy, cognac, rum, and vodka.
What is special about 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. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.
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.
What is traditionally drunk during the tradition of wassailing? ›
Traditionally, mulled cider is drunk on a wassail night. However, we haven't been to a wassail where this isn't every kind of cider under the sun. There's no better way to awaken the orchard than revelling in its previous fruits. Here are some of our favourites for your own wassail.
Is wassail good for you? ›
Because wassail is made with fruit juices and spices such as cinnamon and ginger, it can be soothing for a cold, and may even be helpful in easing congestion.
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.
Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›
You 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. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.
Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.
Can you overheat mulled wine? ›
Be careful not to over heat or boil the mixture. Since alcohol evaporates at 172 degrees which is much lower than water you would be left with a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine and that defeats the purpose.
Which wine is better for mulled wine? ›
The best wines for mulled wine are richly fruity, medium-bodied ones with little oak aging, because these stand up to the bold sweetness and spice of the hot drink without tasting too tannic. For example, try a Chilean Merlot, a Zinfandel from California or a Grenache from Spain.
Is mulled wine good or bad for you? ›
When combined with cinnamon in particular, mulled wine becomes a powerhouse of goodness. Let us explain… Cinnamon, a key spice in mulled wine, is renowned for its antioxidant properties. It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
What wine is good for mulled wine? ›
Merlot is an ideal choice of wine for making mulled wine. Its bold, juicy fruit flavor has notes of red cherry, plum, and cranberry. Plus, this particular selection is made with fruits from California's central coast at an affordable price.
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 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.
What is the traditional name for mulled wine? ›
This traditional homemade mulled wine recipe is incredibly easy to make and always SO cozy and delicious. Also known as glühwein, vino caliente, glögg, vin brulé, bisschopswijn, vin chaud, candola, vinho quente…or literally a hundred other names, depending on where in the world life may find you.
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.
