Festive Christmas Mulled Wine

Ring in the holiday season with cozy glasses of Mulled Wine infused with warm spices, brandy, red wine, apple cider, sliced fruit, and honey. This recipe is so popular, it was published in a magazine!

For hundreds of years, people have sipped this traditional hot wine on cold nights in outdoor Christmas markets in Europe and in the Winter months. In Victorian England, it rose in popularity as a fancy holiday season drink for parties and is still in vogue today...

How to Make The Best Mulled Wine Recipe

For holiday gatherings, place all the ingredients in your slow cooker crockpot, or heat on the stove, and let it simmer all during your Christmas party.

Years ago, I served this easy slow cooker recipe for an outdoor boat parade party at my home, and it was a hit! Warm cocktails were new to us then, but it was so nice to hold that warm cup on a chilly winter night as the decorated boats went by...

• 2 bottles red wine
• 4 cups apple cider
• ½ cup honey
• 4 oz brandy
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 2 whole star anise
• sliced lemons, oranges, apples
• 4 oranges peeled for garnish

Step 1: Simmer all ingredients on the stove for 10 minutes or put all the ingredients in a slow cooker/crock pot and warm on low until heated.

Step 2: Serve in warm glasses, glass handled coffee mugs work great!

Step 3: Garnish with orange peel, slices, and cinnamon sticks. Use a vegetable peeler to make thin slices, or use some Dried Orange Slices to float on top - try my recipe...

What can I simmer my mulled wine in?

Make your mulled wine with what you have! You can simmer it over gentle low heat on the stove top in a large saucepan, or go with a 2 quart crock pot or slow cooker and just keep it on the warm on the low setting for the perfect temperature.

A large pot or dutch oven works great over low heat too!

What is the best wine to use?

When it comes to making a choice of wine at the store, keep two things in mind. You don't need an expensive bottle, but don't buy the cheap stuff either. And it's best to choose a full-bodied fruity red wine. Good choices are:

Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Syrah

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More Mulled Wine Recipe Variations

There are lots of creative ingredients to add to this festive holiday drink...

• Mulling Spices
• Clementines
• Lemons
• Limes
• Fresh Cranberries
• Cranberry Juice
• Fruit Juice: Apple Juice, Orange Juice
• Bay leaves
• Sliced Fresh Ginger
• Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
• Vanilla Bean pods
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Cognac, Triple Sec, or Apple Brandy

PRO TIP: Never boil your mulled wine! Keep it at a low simmer.

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This Mulled Wine Recipe Is Published!

Here is our little story. Lidy Baars owner of French Garden House asked for a Christmas drink recipe in the sizzling heat of summer. She was writing a magazine article for the holidays that year.

She submitted an article concept to Victorian Homes with a feature of Lidy's gorgeous home beautifully appointed with her signature French Antiques.

And we found out we were published in the Winter 2016 Holiday edition of Victorian Homes Magazine. What a thrill! It was my first time being published, and I am so grateful and honored. Thank you Lidy.

And they not only published her ideas on decorating with fresh natural materials for the holidays, her fabulous entertaining tips, and included my recipe for Mulled Wine.

French Garden House is an online boutique that specializes in beautiful French antiques, entertaining, design, and lifestyle inspiration, and is often published in magazines.

Holiday Cocktail Bar Ideas

Here are some of Lidy's top tips for decorating a holiday Christmas bar.

• Use a pretty silver platter, glasses, bottles, and candles.
• Intertwine fresh garlands with natural materials such as eucalyptus, juniper, holly, berries, mistletoe, pine, and rosemary.
• Add fresh citrus fruits like tangerines or oranges.  
• Tie simple silk velvet ribbons around bottles of wine and liquor on your bar.
• Layer some more with fresh greens and sprigs of natural materials.
• Try to use what you have growing outside, and clip from your own garden!

I love these jewel tones, so pretty, festive, and easy...

More Christmas Cocktails & Hot Drinks

Looking for more Christmas recipes and alcoholic beverages and drinks to serve? These holiday recipes are all easy and bring that festive cheer to any party.

The perfect cocktails for your next holiday party are  Candy Cane Martini + Homemade Peppermint Vodka! You will love how easy the homemade peppermint vodka is to make. By the way, the best part of this recipe is the homemade vodka, which makes a nice hostess gift!

Aperol Spritz Cocktails have apple cider, Aperol, prosecco, and blood oranges are the perfect recipe for any time of year.

Champagne Cocktails glitter with real gold and bubbles from champagne or prosecco. A festive chic holiday drink perfect for New Year's Eve!

Serve these Fireball Whisky Drinks for game days, the holiday season, brunch, Fall parties, and Thanksgiving Day.

When it gets a little bit cold, the perfect way to warm up at Christmas time or in the winter months is with hot coffee drinks!

Whip up a Pumpkin Spice Latte made with real fresh ingredients, and cozy Fall spices. Top your PSL with decadent toppings like whip cream and Fall sprinkles.

Just like they serve in the pubs of Ireland, this is a classic Irish Coffee Recipe. It can be made with a kick of Jameson Irish whiskey and or Baileys Irish Cream. 

Through the years, this cherished holiday recipe has been at so many parties, and it is one of the best Christmas Punch Recipes.

For your guests who want to enjoy a Christmas drink or two but are following a low carb or keto diet, serve them Hibiscus Cocktails. They are low in sugar and SO good.