Name: Mulled wine, with an alcohol-free version
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 55 min
Ingredients: 1 Bottle red wine; 1 Orange, sliced; 40 g Brown sugar, adjust to taste; 1 tsp Vanilla bean paste or extract, optional; 2 Cinnamon sticks; 6 Cloves; 2 Star anise; 4 Slices fresh ginger; 1 l Cranberry juice; Juice of 1 Orange; 1 Additional orange, sliced; 30 g Light brown sugar, adjust to taste; 1 Cinnamon stick; 6 Cloves; 3 Cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 4 Slices fresh ginger; Rind of 1 Lemon

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The recipe

Mulled wine, with an alcohol-free version

Two cosy festive drinks in one post. Learn how to make classic mulled wine and a zero-alcohol cranberry version.

25 min prep
Takes a bit of care

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities

Measurements

Method

Mulled wine & mulled cranberry juice

Step 1
Pour the red wine (1 wine) into a saucepan and place over a low heat.
Step 2
Warm gently until the wine (1 wine) is just steaming - do not let it boil.
Step 3
Stir in the brown sugar (40 g) and adjust the sweetness later if needed.
Step 4
Add the vanilla (optional), cinnamon sticks (2 sticks), cloves (6), star anise (2 anise), sliced orange (1), and ginger (4 ginger).
Step 5
Leave the wine (1 wine) to infuse over a very low heat for 10-15 minutes, keeping it below boiling point so the alcohol doesn't evaporate.
Step 6
Remove from the heat, cover with a lid, and let it sit for another 30 minutes to infuse further.
Step 7
Strain if desired and serve warm. Garnish with fresh cranberries (1 l), orange (1) slices, or cinnamon sticks (2 sticks).

Mulled cranberry juice (alcohol-free)

Step 1
Pour the cranberry juice (1 l) into a saucepan and place over a low heat until gently steaming.
Step 2
Add the orange (1) juice and sliced orange.
Step 3
Stir in the brown sugar (40 g), adjusting sweetness to your preference.
Step 4
Add the cinnamon stick (2 sticks), cloves (6), cardamom pods (3 pods), ginger (4 ginger), and lemon rind.
Step 5
Let the juice infuse gently for 10-15 minutes, keeping the heat low.
Step 6
Remove from the heat, cover (with a lid or foil), and allow it to infuse for another 30 minutes.
Step 7
Strain if you like and serve warm. Garnish as desired.

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Also in Christmas dinner, start to finish.

Questions people ask

How long does mulled wine, with an alcohol-free version take?

About 1 hour 55 min from start to finish. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegan?

Yes, as written. Check the labels on anything shop-bought, which is where animal products tend to hide.

Mulled wine, with an alcohol-free version

Mulled wine, with an alcohol-free version

Ingredients

Mulled wine