Stovetop Mulled Wine Recipe
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
28 minutes
Servings:
4 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 orange
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry red wine, such as merlot or zinfandel, divided
  • ¼ cup brandy
Directions
  1. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel from the orange in wide strips, leaving the white pith on the orange.
  2. Juice the peeled orange.
  3. Add the orange juice, peel, sugar, cloves, 2 of the cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the pan.
  4. Pour in ½ cup of the wine, just enough to cover the ingredients in the pan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, until the sugar dissolves, the liquid reduces slightly, and the mixture smells strongly of spices.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the remaining wine.
  6. Warm for 8 to 10 minutes, until tiny bubbles form on top. Then, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let the wine steep for 15 minutes.
  7. Stir in the brandy.
  8. Strain the wine through a fine mesh strainer, or lift out the peel and spices with a slotted spoon.
  9. Ladle the mulled wine into heatproof mugs.
  10. Garnish each mug with extra orange slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired, before serving.