Every December, mulled wine explodes in popularity as vendors rush to get a cup in the chilled hands of busy holiday shoppers. Though most popular at European Christmas markets, mulled wine is (almost) just as easy to make at home as it is to order when out. This version, created by Julie Reiner of NYC’s Milady’s, infuses one bottle of dry red wine with winter staples like oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise for a delicious and low-fuss recipe to prepare for your next holiday party.
Ingredients
1 750-milliliter bottle of dry red wine
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup
1 orange, sliced into rounds
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
Directions
In a large pot, add the wine and preferred sweetener.
Wrap orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise in a cheesecloth and place it in the wine mixture.
Cook the mixture on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. Avoid letting it bubble — you don’t want to boil the alcohol.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes.
