As Christmas approaches, there’s nothing better than a glass of mulled wine to make you feel cozy and warm. In winter, the biting cold wind outside always makes you want to drink a hot drink to warm yourself up, and hot drinks also make people look forward to the festival even more.
Mulled wine is always a classic thing in winter. Imagine returning home and your family sitting together, sharing the sweet and fragrant mulled wine floating in the hot pot. No matter how tired and cold you are, one cup is enough to make you forget Today’s worries. We also make mulled wine every winter. Every time we make mulled wine, I know that the end of the year and the holidays are coming soon, which also symbolizes a new beginning.
After many adjustments, I got my favorite version, which is moderately sweet and has no obvious bitter taste. If you also want to try making mulled wine, then read on.
What is mulled wine
Mulled wine, as the name suggests, is heated wine. But it is not as simple as heating the wine. You also need to add some additional fruit spices and spirits for seasoning. The overall taste is sweet, which is very suitable for winter. This type of wine is also called glühwein and is available in large quantities during the Christmas season in Europe. In winter, almost every family will prepare mulled wine to share.
Ingredients needed
Image From NY Spice Shop
You need to prepare these ingredients before making mulled wine, and then the subsequent making process will be very simple and smooth.
Red wine: There is no need to buy wine that is particularly expensive and worth collecting. You can just take out the red wine you usually like to drink or go to the supermarket and pick up a bottle of affordable wine. It’s best to choose a fruitier red wine.
Brandy: Brandy is a spirit whose main ingredient is fruit, so it is very suitable for mixing with red wine to make mulled wine.
Orange: You will need a medium-sized fresh orange. If you don’t like the bitter taste of mulled wine, you can peel the orange.
Spices: Spices can add to the overall taste of mulled wine, especially for those who like cinnamon. But stewing whole spices may produce some particles at the bottom of the mulled wine, so you can put them into a spice bag for stewing.
Honey/maple sugar: Because red wine itself has very low sweetness and oranges do not add much sweetness, you need to add some additional honey or maple sugar to increase the sweetness.
How to make mulled wine
Step 1:
Pour the red wine, brandy, spices, and maple syrup into the saucepan, stir, and turn on the heat to heat.
Step 2:
After mixing, heat over medium heat. Do not turn the lid too high, as the alcohol will evaporate quickly. You can cover it and simmer until the red wine in the pot boils.
Step 3:
After boiling, you need to continue to simmer on low heat for at least 30 minutes to allow the spices to fully release their aroma in the red wine. At this time, you can put the oranges in and heat them together.
Step 4:
Finally, pick up the spice packet and keep it warm before drinking.
Image From Amazon
When simmering mulled wine, the family can sit together and wait for the mulled wine to be finished, or even make it together. Not only can you enjoy delicious mulled wine together, but you can also bring your family closer together. It should be noted that mulled wine should not be simmered for too long, as it may taste bitter. Once you make it a few times you’ll realize how easy and fast it is, and how flexible it can be to suit your own taste. Come join me in making hot wine this Christmas season.