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Budget-Friendly Cozy Mulled Wine with Orange and Cinnamon

budget-friendly mulled wine - featured image
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A warm, aromatic mulled wine made with budget-friendly red wine, orange, and cinnamon. Perfect for holiday gatherings, cozy nights in, and last-minute hosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Zinfandel)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Fresh cranberries (optional, for garnish)
  • Extra orange slices (optional, for garnish)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Wash the orange thoroughly and slice it into 1/4-inch rounds. Measure out honey or maple syrup. Gather cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
  2. Start the syrup base: In a large pot, combine water and honey (or maple syrup). Heat over medium heat, stirring gently, until honey dissolves completely (about 2-3 minutes).
  3. Add the spices: Drop in cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Stir for about 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
  4. Add the orange slices: Lay orange slices in the pot and let them heat for about 1 minute.
  5. Pour in the wine: Slowly pour the entire bottle of wine into the pot. Stir gently to combine.
  6. Heat gently, never boil: Turn heat to low. Heat until tiny bubbles form around the edges but the surface remains still (15-20 minutes). Do not let it boil.
  7. Taste and adjust: After 15 minutes, taste and add more honey if needed, or let simmer longer for more spice flavor.
  8. Strain and serve: Place a fine-mesh strainer over a heatproof pitcher or mugs. Carefully pour mulled wine through the strainer to remove spices and orange slices. Discard solids. Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh orange slices or cranberries if desired.

Notes

Do not boil the wine; it will become bitter. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute with alcohol-free red wine or spiced cranberry juice. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, budget-friendly, holiday drink, red wine, cinnamon, orange, cozy, winter, easy

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/budget-friendly-cozy-mulled-wine-with-orange-and-cinnamon/