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Quick Mulled Wine Recipe with Orange and Cinnamon

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This quick mulled wine with orange and cinnamon sticks is the perfect winter warmer, ready in under 20 minutes. It’s a cozy, aromatic drink that brings back memories of a tiny French restaurant, made simple with pantry-friendly ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 1 large orange
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the orange: Wash the orange thoroughly. Using a vegetable peeler, remove long strips of the orange peel, avoiding the white pith. Slice the orange in half and juice it to get about 3 tablespoons of juice. Set the peel strips and juice aside separately.
  2. Combine the base: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the orange juice, honey (start with 2 tablespoons), cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise if using. Drop in the strips of orange peel. Do not add orange slices yet.
  3. Heat gently: Place the pot over medium-low heat. Warm the wine slowly, never letting it boil. Look for tiny bubbles around the edges and steady steam. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon to help the honey dissolve. Heat for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Taste and adjust: After about 10 minutes, ladle a small amount into a cup and taste. Add more honey if needed, let it simmer longer for more spice, or stir in the brandy or orange liqueur for extra warmth.
  5. Strain and serve: Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large heatproof measuring cup or directly over mugs. Pour the mulled wine through the strainer to catch all spices and orange peel. Discard the solids. Ladle the warm wine into mugs. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick and a thin slice of orange if desired.

Notes

Do not boil the wine, as it will evaporate the alcohol and concentrate the acidity. Use whole spices instead of ground to avoid a cloudy, gritty texture. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute red wine with red grape juice or a blend of pomegranate and cranberry juice. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and flavors improve overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, quick mulled wine, spiced wine, winter drink, holiday drink, orange cinnamon wine, easy mulled wine

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/quick-mulled-wine-recipe-with-orange-and-cinnamon/