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Cozy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Orange and Cinnamon

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This hands-off slow cooker mulled wine with orange and cinnamon is perfect for entertaining. Simply combine red wine, honey, citrus, and warm spices, then let the slow cooker do the work for a fragrant, crowd-pleasing holiday drink.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (such as Merlot, Zinfandel, or Côtes du Rhône)
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 4 star anise pods
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac (optional)
  • Fresh cranberries or apple slices (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit and spices: Wash the orange and lemon thoroughly. Slice the orange into thin rounds, about 1/4-inch thick. Slice the lemon the same way. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise with a sharp knife to expose the seeds. Set everything aside.
  2. Combine everything in the slow cooker: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into the slow cooker. Add the honey or maple syrup. Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, and allspice berries. Arrange the orange and lemon slices on top. If using fresh cranberries or apple slices, add them now. Give everything a gentle stir to combine.
  3. Set and forget: Put the lid on the slow cooker. Set it to LOW for 2 to 3 hours, or to HIGH for 1 to 1.5 hours. The mulled wine is ready when it’s steaming hot and fragrant, and the fruit slices have softened. Do not let it boil.
  4. Taste and adjust: After the minimum cooking time, give it a taste. If you want it sweeter, stir in another tablespoon of honey or maple syrup. If you want more citrus punch, squeeze in a little fresh orange juice. If adding brandy or cognac, stir it in now. Let it cook for another 10 minutes on LOW to meld the flavors.
  5. Strain (optional but recommended): If you left the spices loose, use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the mulled wine into a large heatproof pitcher or directly into mugs. If you used a spice bag, lift it out and discard it. Leaving the fruit slices in is fine for visual appeal.
  6. Serve warm: Ladle the mulled wine into mugs. Garnish each mug with a fresh orange slice or a cinnamon stick for a pretty presentation. Serve immediately.

Notes

For hosts: Set the slow cooker to the WARM setting after the initial cooking time to keep the mulled wine at the perfect serving temperature for hours without overcooking. Guests can ladle their own refills. If making ahead, remove whole spices after 2 hours to prevent the flavor from becoming too intense.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, slow cooker, holiday drink, orange, cinnamon, entertaining, winter, warm drink

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