Tis’ the season for warm drinks – and around Christmas,
mulled wine is often a favorite, especially in the UK, although it has gained
popularity in the US. This year, I made some for family and friends in the
states using a BBC recipe as a guide:
After a couple of tweaks, this is the recipe I used:
Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine (e.g. Cabernet
Sauvignon)
3 cups of apple cider
1 orange
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 bay leaf
5 – 10 whole cloves
Serves: 6 – 8
Recipe:
- Slice up orange into discs and wedges, leaving rind, and place in large cooking pot.
- Add sugar, spices, wine, and apple cider.
- Heat slowly for 15 – 30 minutes on low heat, with some stirring. The longer you heat it, the more the wine will absorb all of the flavors.
This makes for a great starting drink at parties. Also,
there are some health benefits you get from the ingredients in mulled wine:
- Vitamin C from oranges and apple cider
- Antioxidants, tannins, and procyanidins in red wine
- Antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients from spices
For a healthier alternative, substitute raw honey or agave syrup for brown sugar.
Happy Holidays!
