Tillie Doyle
Mulled wine is a festive staple during the colder months and is perfect for holiday gatherings. It is a spiced and sweetened wine, often served warm with a shot of liquor. Making mulled wine in a crockpot is a convenient and easy way to prepare this beverage, filling your home with a delightful aroma. The crockpot's low and slow cooking allows the wine to infuse with the spices, creating a cosy and flavourful drink. The crockpot also keeps the mulled wine at an ideal serving temperature for guests to enjoy throughout the night.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red wine, preferably dry and full-bodied like Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Grenache, or Syrah. |
| Other Ingredients | Brandy, maple syrup, honey, apple cider, cranberry juice, orange peel/zest, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, blanched almonds, raisins, port, ginger, and other spices. |
| Cook Time | Around 1-2 hours on low heat. Do not boil as it will burn off the alcohol. |
| Serving Suggestions | Ladle into mugs or heatproof glasses. Garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cranberries, or strips of orange peel. |
| Storage | Store strained leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in a crockpot or saucepan on low heat. |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients: red wine, brandy, spices, and garnishes
Red wine is the base of mulled wine, and it's recommended to use a fruity and full-bodied variety such as Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, or Grenache. You can use two 750-ml bottles of red wine for a standard 3-quart slow cooker.
Brandy is added to mulled wine for an extra kick, and you can add up to half a cup of brandy to your crockpot. You can also add other spirits like Grand Marnier or rum.
Spices are what give mulled wine its distinctive festive flavor and fragrance. Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves are the most commonly used spices, but you can also add cardamom, ginger, and other mulling spices. You can add spices directly to the crockpot or make a spice satchel with a square of cheesecloth to contain them.
Garnishes for mulled wine can include sliced orange, orange peel, fresh cranberries, clementine slices, and cinnamon sticks. You can also add other fruits like blanched almonds, raisins, or sliced apples.
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Preparation: Combine ingredients in the crock pot
To make mulled wine in a crock pot, you'll need to combine all the ingredients in the crock pot and let it cook. Start by peeling two oranges, being careful to remove as much of the white pith as possible, as this can make the wine bitter. You can also add some orange zest if you like. Next, add the spices: cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise pods. You can add these directly to the crock pot or create a spice satchel by bundling them into a piece of cheesecloth and tying it with kitchen string. This makes it easier to remove the spices before serving.
Now, it's time to add the liquid ingredients. Pour in two 750-ml bottles of red wine—a dry, full-bodied variety like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Shiraz, or Pinot Noir is best. You can also use white wine if you prefer. Add half a cup of brandy, and if you like your mulled wine extra sweet, add half a cup of maple syrup or honey. For a fruity twist, you can also add a cup of apple cider or cranberry juice.
Give everything a good stir to combine, and you're almost ready to start cooking. Before turning on the crock pot, it's important to note that mulled wine should be cooked on low heat for a longer period of time. High heat can cause the alcohol to boil off and doesn't allow the spices enough time to infuse the wine properly. So, set your crock pot to low heat, cover it, and let the wine heat for about an hour or until hot.
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Cooking: Keep the crock pot on low heat
When making mulled wine in a crock pot, it is important to keep the crock pot on low heat. This is because a slow cooker does not get up to the temperature required to burn off the alcohol, so the wine's alcohol content should remain intact. Cooking mulled wine on low heat also ensures that the spices have enough time to infuse the wine.
To make mulled wine in a crock pot, combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, such as red wine, brandy, maple syrup, mulling spices, and orange peel. Turn the crock pot to low heat and let the mixture heat for about an hour, or until hot. Do not set the crock pot to high heat, as this can cause the alcohol to boil off and result in a less flavourful beverage.
Once the mulled wine has reached the desired temperature, you can keep it on low heat for a few more hours to stay warm while serving to your guests. This method is ideal for parties or gatherings, as it allows guests to serve themselves and ensures that the drink remains at a constant cosy temperature.
If you have any leftover mulled wine, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days. When you're ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat it in the crock pot on low heat until warm.
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Serving: Ladle into mugs and garnish
When serving mulled wine, it is important to keep it warm. You can do this by setting your crockpot to the ''warm'' setting, or to ''low'' if your crockpot does not have a ''warm'' setting. Set out serving mugs or heatproof glasses alongside the crockpot, with a ladle on a spoon rest. You can also provide a dark-coloured towel or napkin nearby to ease any worries about spills.
You can also provide garnishes for your guests to add to their mugs. Good options include sliced orange, strips of orange peel, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods. If you want to get creative, you can slice up a large orange and place a slice on top of each mug. Remember to warn your guests that the orange will be hot!
If you used a satchel for your mulling spices, remove it before serving. You can also stir in some brandy and maple syrup at this point, if desired.
Finally, if you are hosting a large party, you may want to consider making a second batch of mulled wine in advance. This will save you from having to replenish the crockpot partway through the night.
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Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to a week
When storing leftover mulled wine, it's important to note that it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, the spices and oranges used during the cooking process should be removed first. This can be done by straining the mixture before transferring it to an airtight container or a pitcher/glass mason jar and placing it in the fridge.
Leftover mulled wine can be reheated in a crockpot or on a stovetop over low heat. It is not recommended to reheat mulled wine in the microwave, as it can be challenging to control the temperature. To chill mulled wine for a cold serving, simply place it in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired temperature.
When reheating mulled wine, it is essential to maintain a low temperature to prevent burning off the alcohol content. Additionally, the longer mulled wine cooks, the spicier it becomes due to the infusion of spices. Therefore, it is advisable to taste and adjust the sweetness or spice level before serving.
Overall, storing and reheating leftover mulled wine is a straightforward process that allows for extended enjoyment of this festive beverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Mulled wine is a spiced and sweetened wine served warm, often with a shot of hard liquor.
You will need red wine, brandy, maple syrup, whole spices, and orange peel. Some recipes also call for apple cider, honey, orange zest, orange juice, and cranberry juice.
You can use your favourite dry red wine. Suggested varietals include Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. You can also use white wine if you prefer.
It will take about 1-2 hours for the mulled wine to get hot in the crock pot. The longer it cooks, the spicier it will become.
Set your crock pot to warm and serve the mulled wine in mugs or heatproof glasses. You can garnish with sliced orange, strips of orange peel, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, or star anise pods.
