Holiday Spice Mulled Wine

The winter season is soon approaching and everywhere, there is a thick blanket of snow. With the shorter days and chilling temperatures, you'll welcome anything warm enough to stave off the biting cold.

This time of year, we love to warm up with a bold and boozy beverage, delightfully simmered in joyous spices like cinnamon and clove.

This warm wine favorite is fun, festive and will utterly floor your guests at your next holiday gathering!

Brown Sugar Holiday Spice Mulled Wine

(makes 1 bottle)

(approx. 40 mins)

1 (750ml) bottle of sweet red wine
1 1/4 Tbsp of mulling spices
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 large orange
About 2 Tbsp of whole cloves
Star anise for garnish

The most important thing about mulling your own wine is starting with a nice (and inexpensive) sweet, red wine. You don't need or want to use anything too fancy here, the one we used was $5 a bottle. a nice, smooth, fruit-forward wine should do you just fine.

We'll start by prepping the clove-studded orange. use a small knife or toothpick to poke holes in the skin of the orange before pushing in your cloves. Go all the way around, encrusting the whole thing in spicy cloves.

In a pot on medium-low, add the mulling spices and brown sugar.

Cut the studded orange in half and add to the pot. Pour in about 1/2 cup of wine, enough to cover the spices and simmer for 3 minutes.

Add the remainder of the bottle and continue to simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from the heat and strain out the spices before serving right away!!

With its festive flavors and boozy punch, each sip will have you feeling all warm and cozy no matter how blisteringly cold it may be outside!