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Cozy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe with Cinnamon Sticks

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A warm, aromatic mulled wine made effortlessly in a slow cooker with cinnamon sticks, orange, and star anise. Perfect for winter gatherings or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon recommended)
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2–3 whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 large orange, washed and sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple, cored and sliced
  • Additional cinnamon sticks for serving (optional)
  • Fresh orange slices for garnish (optional)
  • A splash of brandy or rum per serving (optional, about 2 tablespoons per serving)

Instructions

  1. Prep your fruit: Wash the orange and apple thoroughly. Slice the orange into rounds about 1/4 inch thick. Core the apple and slice it into similar-sized pieces. Set aside a few orange slices for garnish if desired.
  2. Combine everything in the slow cooker: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into your slow cooker. Add the honey or maple syrup, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice berries if using. Drop in the orange and apple slices. Give everything a gentle stir.
  3. Set it and forget it: Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW. Let it simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Aim for 2.5 hours for the best flavor infusion.
  4. Taste and adjust: After 2 hours, taste the mulled wine. Add more honey for sweetness or another cinnamon stick for more spice if needed.
  5. Serve warm: Turn the slow cooker to WARM or LOW. Ladle the mulled wine into heatproof mugs, making sure each serving gets a cinnamon stick and a slice of orange. Add a splash of brandy or rum to each mug if desired.

Notes

Do not let the mulled wine boil; keep it at a gentle simmer. For a more intense flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks and star anise in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve if serving guests to remove fruit pieces and loose spices. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, slow cooker mulled wine, cinnamon sticks, winter drink, holiday drink, warm wine, spiced wine

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/cozy-slow-cooker-mulled-wine-recipe-with-cinnamon-sticks/