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Cozy Friendsgiving Mulled Wine with Orange & Cinnamon

Friendsgiving mulled wine with orange and cinnamon - featured image
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A warm, aromatic mulled wine infused with orange and cinnamon, perfect for fall gatherings and cozy nights in. This recipe balances sweetness and spice with a gentle simmering technique.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot or Zinfandel recommended)
  • 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 4 cinnamon sticks (Ceylon preferred, or 3 Cassia)
  • 4 whole star anise
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Fresh orange slices for garnish (optional)
  • Extra cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)
  • Fresh cranberries for garnish (optional)
  • Star anise for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the ingredients: Wash the orange and slice into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick). Set aside 2-3 slices for garnish. Measure honey, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Gather cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.
  2. Combine the base: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into a large pot or Dutch oven. Add honey, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Let sit for a minute without heat.
  3. Warm gently: Place pot over medium-low heat. Stir gently until honey dissolves. Bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles around edges, no boiling). Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add finishing touches: Stir in fresh orange juice and vanilla extract. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed (add more honey or orange juice). Simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
  5. Strain and serve: If desired, strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Otherwise, ladle directly into mugs, avoiding too many cloves. Garnish with fresh orange slice, cinnamon stick, and cranberries.
  6. Keep warm (optional): Transfer to a slow cooker set to ‘warm’ for serving at a party.

Notes

Do not boil the wine to avoid bitterness. For deeper flavor, toast spices in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding. Mulled wine tastes even better the next day. Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, Friendsgiving, orange, cinnamon, fall drink, holiday beverage, red wine, warm drink

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/cozy-friendsgiving-mulled-wine-with-orange-and-cinnamon/