The holiday season is here, and spending time with friends and family is a great way of celebrating it. What makes it even more memorable is an intimate gathering with your loved ones, along with good food and good wine. And because it’s so cold these days, make your holiday season a little cosy and merry with these easy and unique mulled wine recipes. Whether you like red wine or white, there is a mulled wine recipe in here for everyone.

Related: Christmas Recipes For Sweet Treats To Bring In A Little Holiday Cheer

1. Classic Mulled Wine

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Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine

1/4 cup brandy

4 tbsp honey (adjust according to taste)

1/4 cup water

1 and 1/2 cinnamon stick

1 lemon

2 star anise

1 orange (keep some spare slices for garnish)

Method:

2. Mulled Apple Cider Sangria

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Ingredients:

3 cups apple cider

6 cloves

3 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp nutmeg

1 vanilla bean or 2 tbsp vanilla essence

2-3 cups white wine

1/2 cup apple-flavoured vodka

1 apple chopped

1/2 cup cranberries

Method:

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine, fruity

1/2 cup brandy (you can use apple flavoured for better taste)

2 cups pomegranate juice (freshly squeezed, if possible)

1 cup cranberry juice

1/2 cup orange juice

8 tbsp honey (adjust according to taste)

1 orange, sliced

6 star anise

1 apple, sliced

3 cinnamon sticks

12 cloves

Method:

Take the oranges, slice them thickly, and add cloves into the skin of the oranges. This will help in removing the cloves after the wine is prepared. Next, slice the apples. Add all the liquid ingredients into a slow cooker and stir well. To this, add the clove-studded orange slices, apples, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Turn the flame to medium heat and let the mixture simmer for about an hour. Your cranberry pomegranate mulled wine is ready to be served. You can store the leftover in the refrigerator in a tight container for up to 3-4 days.

4. Spiced Raspberry Mulled Wine

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Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine (prefer something fruity)

500 gms raspberries

Peel of 1 large orange

3 star anise

2 tsp allspice (nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon mixture)

3 cinnamon sticks

2 tsp cloves

1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

2 sprigs rosemary

Method:

Take a pot and place all the ingredients into it and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it has boiled, turn it down to low and let simmer it for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Your wine is ready. Use a sieve to remove any seeds or spices before serving. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, star anise, fresh thyme, and an orange peel.

5. Mulled White Wine

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Ingredients:

1 bottle white wine, dry

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1/2 cup brandy (optional)

4 tbsp cup honey or sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

8 whole cloves

2 star anise

For garnish (optional): orange, lemon, and/or lime slices, extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise

Method:

Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan, place it over a medium flame, and bring it to a simmer. Don’t let it boil, just let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Keep the heat on low because you don’t want to boil out the alcohol. Once it is ready, strain it out into cups and garnish it with the orange slices, a cinnamon stick, and some star anise if you like.

6. Swedish Mulled Wine (Glogg)

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Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine, dry

1 cup white rum

1/2 cup brandy

1 cup bourbon

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup raw almonds, blanched (almonds with no skin)

3/4 cup dark raisins

1 orange peel

1/4 teaspoon whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

5 cardamom pods

Method:

In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and place over medium-low heat. Do not use an aluminium or copper pot since the metal can impart a metallic taste while the alcohol is warming. Then, allow the concoction to warm up until small bubbles form along the edges. Remember to make sure the mixture does not boil as it will decrease the alcohol content. Once it comes together, strain the solids from the liquid, serve warm, and enjoy!

7. Slow Cooker White Spiced Wine

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Ingredients:

1 bottle white wine, dry

2 rosemary sprigs plus additional for serving

1 cup cranberry juice

1/4 cup light rum

5 whole cloves

1 orange

1 cup fresh cranberries plus additional for serving (do not use dried)

2 cinnamon sticks

1 whole star anise pod

2-3 cinnamon sticks

Method:

8. Mulled Pear Sangria

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Ingredients:

2 ripe pears, plus extra slices for serving

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup water

5 whole cloves

1 whole cinnamon stick

1/2 cup maple liqueur (combine maple syrup with whiskey if you don’t have maple liqueur)

1 bottle white wine

Method:

Peel and core the pears and roughly chop them into cubes. Place the pear cubes, sugar, water, cinnamon stick, and cloves in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer the mixture until the pears are soft, for about 8-10 minutes. Then, use a spoon to remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and discard them. Next, puree the mixture till it gets smooth, in a regular blender or using a hand blender. Put the pear syrup back in a saucepan and add the liqueur, wine, and heat it over low heat until just steaming. Once done, remove from the heat, pour into cups, garnish with a few slices of pear, and serve.

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