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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drink Recipes

    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe

    Published: November 8, 2019 Updated: November 8, 2019 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 21 Comments

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

    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.

    Mulled wine in a slow cooker.

    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.
    Hand holding a mug of mulled wine.

    What To Serve With Mulled Wine

    This holiday cocktail goes great with any of these appetizers:

    • Baked Camembert With Berries
    • Christmas Crostini
    • Avocado and Smoked Salmon Appetizer

    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 RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Drinks
    Servings 6 servings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    Mulled Wine

    • 3 cups red wine, use a wine that you would enjoy drinking (a 750 millilitre bottle or 24 ounces)
    • โ…“ cup brandy
    • ยผ 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!

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    ยฉ Girl Heart Food Inc. All photographs and content are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vanessa | Zest & Simmer

      November 15, 2019 at 9:56 pm

      5 stars
      I am just imagining how delicious the house will smell after making this holiday beverage! Perfect to enjoy while decorating the tree, wrapping presents, and celebrating with friends!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 19, 2019 at 8:35 am

        Totally! Thank you Vanessa ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Marieke

      November 13, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      Love that this recipe calls for maple syrup instead of sugar — and what a beautiful combo of spices! I’ve also been watching Hallmark movies already ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    3. Kelly Neil

      November 13, 2019 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      I’ve only had mulled wine once and I completely forgot about how much I liked it until I saw your recipe just now. Bookmarked for the holidays! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 19, 2019 at 8:31 am

        Yay! Hope you enjoy! Thanks Kelly!

        Reply
    4. Elaine

      November 12, 2019 at 3:31 pm

      Great tips, Dawn! I love having this simmering in the kitchen during the holidays. It reminds me of crisp fall days in European Christmas markets when we had time to just wander without a care in the world! Sigh . . . Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 19, 2019 at 8:28 am

        Thanks Elaine ๐Ÿ™‚ Great memories, I’m sure!

        Reply
    5. Leanne

      November 12, 2019 at 10:35 am

      5 stars
      I’m in full holiday mode here! I’ve been listening to holiday music, watching xmas movies (including the cheesy Hallmark ones) and we even put up our tree this past weekend! I’m wishing I had some of this mulled wine while decorating! Love that it’s made in the slow cooker!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:27 pm

        Yay! Soon up for us too…well in another couple of weeks! So exciting! Thanks Leanne ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. David @ Spiced

      November 12, 2019 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      Mulled wine just screams holidays to me! Curling up on the couch with a mug of mulled wine while watching a Christmas movie (ahem, Elf, ahem) is pretty much my definition of the holidays. ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m totally saving this recipe for those lazy days during Christmas break. We’ve been stocking up on our wine supplies with the holidays approaching, so I think I’m all set to make this one! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:26 pm

        To me too! Oh, Elf is awesome! Watch that one every year! Thanks David…hope you love it!

        Reply
    7. Valentina

      November 11, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      Dawn, I love Hallmark movies (Lifetime, too! – GASP! ;-)) This sounds delicious and I LOVE the way it can make a whole house smell like the holidays. ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:23 pm

        Haha…I completely understand ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thank you Valentina…it sure does!

        Reply
    8. Matt - Total Feasts

      November 10, 2019 at 3:07 am

      5 stars
      Mulled wine is big in the UK, but German glรผhwein is also really good. I remember before we had kids we went to Munich for the Christmas markets, and basically drank too much of the stuff as we went from stall to stall. We bought some very random Christmas gifts as a result….. anyway, love your recipe, especially the Canadian twist with the maple syrup. Everything is better with maple syrup.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:12 pm

        Too funny!! Thanks Matt ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

      November 08, 2019 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      Hahaha! YES! I think Hallmark has three different plots and they just rotate the characters through, but they’re still so addictive! I think this weekend I’ll have to make myself some of this mulled wine and just sit on the couch and watch some Hallmark :). Happy Fri-yay, Dawn!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:12 pm

        Totally! Thanks Kelsie! Hope you had a great weekend ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl

      November 08, 2019 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      That moment when it’s 10 AM on a Friday and I want a large glass of mulled wine….LOL! But seriously. We had the best mulled wine in France while we were walking through a lovely village and seeing this totally took me back…this weekend is supposed to be super chilly where I live so I am totally making this, my friend! Thanks for the super awesome + informative recipe! Happy weekend! (btw, I love the cheesy Christmas movies too!)

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:11 pm

        Lol!! Yay! Hope you guys love this one, Haylie!! And bring on those cheesy movies, right??!

        Reply
    11. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      November 08, 2019 at 9:48 am

      5 stars
      I’ve started watching the Hallmark channel too! They are just such fun little Christmas love stories and I can’t help myself. Next time, I need to make a delicious mug of this mulled wine to sip on while I’m watching the Hallmark channel!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2019 at 3:11 pm

        Right?? Hope you love it, Kathy ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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