Name: Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3 cups red wine (use a wine that you would enjoy drinking (one (750-millilitre or 25-ounce) bottle of wine)); 1/3 cup brandy; 1/4 cup maple syrup (or to taste); 1 orange (peel only, pith removed); 5 whole cloves; 3 star anise; 2 cinnamon sticks; Orange slices; Cinnamon sticks (for stirring/appearance); Cranberries; Pomegranate arils (they will sink in the glass, but are super festive and fun eating afterwards)

Jump to Recipe Save Recipe

This slow cooker mulled wine is the perfect festive cocktail! It’s warming, cozy, delicious and so easy to whip up (with only 5 minutes of prep time). Great for those holiday parties!

Mug of mulled wine with a cinnamon stick resting on top.

It’s official.

Yep.

I’ve started sharing holiday recipes.

Heck, I was listening to Christmas music the other day.

Later I got sucked into watching a romantic Christmas movie.

I don’t know what it is about those movies.

They all have roughly a similar plot line.

A little predictable.

They’re kinda cheesy.

And totally heartwarming and awesome!

What can I say? I’m a sucker for them!

You know what goes great with watching a good holiday movie? Mulled wine! Oh, and cozy clothes (preferably holiday themed pajamas and silly slippers). With me?

What Is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is essentially a yummy spiced wine or hot wine. Though, “mulled wine” sounds a lot better than “hot wine,” don’t ya think?

The base is red wine that has been infused with warming spices (that you typically associate with fall and winter). It’s served warm and usually enjoyed during the holidays.

Ingredients for Spiced Wine

Red wine
Mulled wine spices, like cinnamon, clove and star anise
Orange peel
Brandy
Maple syrup

Ingredients for a slow cooker mulled wine recipe.

Best Wine To Use

Use a wine that you actually enjoy drinking. Don’t go for the cheap stuff, but don’t break the bank either.

Something that’s not overly sweet and kinda fruity works great for mulled wine.

How To Make It

You literally place all the ingredients in a slow cooker, set on low, cover and heat through for about an hour.

After the hour is up, strain through a sieve (to catch those whole spices and orange zest). Cheesecloth works good too!

You can then enjoy or keep on the warm setting in your slow cooker as you are serving it. It’s such a great recipe during the holiday season!

Full details are in the recipe card below.

Can I Make This Without a Slow Cooker?

The beauty of slow cooker mulled wine is that you just have to place all the ingredients in the pot, cover, set the heat and forget about it for an hour.

However, if you’re in a time crunch, you could absolutely use the stovetop to make this mulled wine recipe!

Place all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a slow (very gentle) simmer (not boil). Then, reduce heat to medium-low and heat through for about 15 to 20 minutes. Strain by using a fine mesh strainer (or sieve) to discard orange, cloves, anise and cinnamon sticks. Divide into mulled wine glasses (or your favourite hot beverage mugs), serve and enjoy!

Tip: Don’t boil mulled wine or you’ll burn off much of the alcohol.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

To serve this mulled wine, use a heavy-duty mug, preferably one with a handle (because the wine is warm/hot).

You don’t necessarily have to have any special mulled wine glasses. Your favourite holiday mug will work. Pick one that makes you happy!

Overhead shot of two mugs of spiced wine, one with a cinnamon stick and one without.

Can I Make Ahead of Time?

Absolutely!

Allow mulled wine to cool, then properly store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to Reheat It

Place leftover mulled wine in a large saucepan over medium-low heat and warm through, being careful not to boil.

Alternatively, place the mulled wine back into the slow cooker, heating on the low setting until warmed through.

Can I Drink Mulled Wine Cold?

You sure can!

Of course, because this is a hot wine beverage, naturally one would go for it being on the warmer side. You can really taste the spices and it just goes with the season.

Having said that, hubby and I did enjoy leftovers without reheating and it tasted delicious!

Tips for Making This Recipe

Use whole spices, not the ground variety. That way you can easily fish them out. Plus, they make for a lovely presentation, if you want to leave some in for garnish. I wouldn’t garnish with the cloves, though, because they are too tiny.
Ensure you have all of them removed before portioning up the mulled wine. Nobody wants to get a mouthful of cloves when taking a sip.
If you like things more or less sweet, simply adjust the maple syrup accordingly.
Don’t have of maple syrup or prefer to use something else? You could sub with honey.

What To Serve With Mulled Wine

This holiday cocktail goes great with any of these appetizers:

If you make this red wine cocktail, be sure to leave a comment below!

Two mugs of mulled wine, one in front of the other.

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe

Dawn | Girl Heart Food

This slow cooker mulled wine is the perfect festive cocktail! It's warming, cozy, delicious and so easy to whip up (with only 5 minutes of prep time). Great for those holiday parties!

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Course Drinks

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

Mulled Wine

3 cups red wine, use a wine that you would enjoy drinking (one (750-millilitre or 25-ounce) bottle of wine)
⅓ cup brandy
¼ cup maple syrup, or to taste
1 orange, peel only, pith removed
5 whole cloves
3 star anise
2 cinnamon sticks

Garnish Ideas (optional)

Orange slices
Cinnamon sticks, for stirring/appearance
Cranberries
Pomegranate arils, they will sink in the glass, but are super festive and fun eating afterwards

Instructions

To a slow cooker, add red wine, brandy, maple syrup, orange peel, whole cloves, star anise and cinnamon sticks. Stir. Set to the low setting, cover and cook for 1 hour.
Strain the mulled wine through a sieve (fine mesh strainer) to remove spices.
Divide mulled wine among six mulled wine glasses (or your favourite hot beverage mugs) and garnish, as desired, with any of the garnish ideas. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Use whole spices. That way you can easily fish them out. Plus, they make for a lovely presentation, if you want to leave some in for garnish. I wouldn’t garnish with the cloves, though, because they are too tiny.
Ensure you have all of them removed before portioning up the mulled wine. Nobody wants to get a mouthful of cloves when taking a sip.
If you like things more or less sweet, simply adjust the maple syrup accordingly.
Don’t have of maple syrup or prefer to use something else? You could sub with honey.

A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

Keyword christmas cocktail, holiday cocktail, holiday entertaining recipe, red wine cocktail

Tried this recipe?

If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!