Spiced Mulled Wine is an easy and festive holiday libation! It’s the perfect easy holiday drink recipe that will make your house smell amazing.

With its warm spice flavor and hints of citrus, this spiced mulled wine recipe is on my must-have holiday cocktail list. It takes minutes to throw together and is so great for a crowd or holiday gathering.

The Best Spiced Mulled Wine Recipe

This Spiced Mulled Wine recipe is bursting with holiday cheer! Juicy red wine spiked with apple brandy and amaretto plus apple cider, fresh fruit, and spices makes for the best mulled wine recipe ever.

I first tried mulled wine at a Christmas market in Germany and have been forever changed! There’s a reason why so many countries have their own version–it’s warming and delicious and perfect for cold weather.

Red wine, brandy, and amaretto are simmered together with blood oranges, apples, and warm holiday spices until fragrant. Then it’s served warm for a cozy holiday cocktail that is so delicious and fragrant. What could be better?

This recipe is easily customizable can be thrown together and left on the back burner until your guests arrive. There isn’t an easier holiday cocktail out there, save for my holiday sangria if you want a cold drink option!

What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.

You can find different versions of mulled wine all over the world including glüwein in Germany, glögg in the nordic countries, and vin chaud in France. Each country makes their version a bit differently but the main base is always red wine.

How to Make Spiced Mulled Wine

All you need is a dutch oven or simmering pot to make this easy spiced mulled wine recipe. You can also make the recipe in a crock pot!

Tools Needed

• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• 4 qt Dutch Oven
• Crockpot

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Red Wine. The type of red wine used here is flexible, but I often use a fruity wine like pinot noir.
• Brandy. This is an optional ingredient, but I love using apple or pear brandy for extra holiday cheer.
• Apple cider. Apple cider is unfiltered, unpasteurized fresh pressed apple juice. You could swap in apple juice or shelf-stable apple cider.
• Amaretto. The amaretto adds a nice sweetness and complementary almond flavor.
• Blood orange. I love using blood orange since it’s in season in winter, but any orange will work.
• Apple. Sliced apple adds great flavor and you can use just about any variety.
• Maple syrup. Maple syrup helps balance the booziness of the mulled wine. You could also swap in honey, brown sugar, or regular sugar.
• Spices. Cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice make up the baking spices in mulled wine.
• Cranberries. Optional, but they are beautiful.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Apple cider is NOT the same thing as apple cider vinegar. Do not mistake these two ingredients, as the results will be very disappointing.

Best Wines to Use in Mulled Wine

You can be economical when making this spiced mulled wine recipe. Because of the added liqueurs and flavors, this is a good place to use a budget-friendly bottle. Don’t choose the very bottom shelf, but you can save the pricey bottle for another time.

There are lots of options for red wines that you can use as the base for mulled wines. You want something dry and medium-bodied without too much sugar so that the recipe is balanced and not too sweet.

You can use wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, Syrah, Pinot Noir, or your favorite Red Blend.

Crockpot Instructions

Spiced mulled wine is so easy to make in a crockpot or slow cooker which easily frees up stove space! When I’m cooking up a storm for the holidays, I’ll take all the space I can get.

To make mulled wine in the crockpot simply combine all the ingredients in the pot, lock the lid in place, and set on high for 30 minutes, then transfer to the keep warm function.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

To Store. This spiced mulled wine recipe is best enjoyed the day that it is made, but you can refrigerate it for up to 1 day. Let it cool completely, strain it, and pour it into an airtight storage container and refrigerate.

To Reheat. Gently rewarm the spiced mulled wine in a large pot on the stovetop over low heat, or pour leftovers into your slow cooker and reheat on LOW until warm.

If you choose to reheat your leftover refrigerated mulled wine, be aware that the flavors may not be as vibrant as they are when it’s freshly made.

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Spiced Mulled Wine is the perfect warm and cozy holiday cocktail. It’s easy to make and is always a crowd pleaser! If you do give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Holiday Cocktail Recipes to Try

Cranberry Old Fashioned
Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz
Pumpkin Spice Mule
Holiday Sangria

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