Mulled Everything
A warm cup of either mulled cider or wine has been nothing short of an obsession this winter. I’ve made pots nearly twice a week for various functions, including our Christmas market themed holiday party. There are plenty of recipes around the internet but I wanted to share my two favorites, as well as some modifications and tweaks I’ve made over time. Save this to come back to next holiday season — I most certainly will!
WHISKEY MULLED CIDER
This recipe is adapted from Food Network
For a large batch, follow the ingredients below. To serve four to six people, cut the measurements in half.
1 gallon of apple cider (I use the spiced cider from Trader Joe’s)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp allspice
A pinch of grated nutmeg
2 tsps whole cloves
1 orange
2 cinnamon sticks + more for garnish
In a dutch oven or large pot over medium heat, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, allspice and nutmeg and bring the mixture to a low boil. Wash the orange and slice half of it into rounds. Once the cider is boiling, reduce to a simmer and add the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange slices. Squeeze the other half of the orange into the pot for a little extra citrus zing. Now, you’re supposed to cover and simmer for another 20 min at this point, but I’ve mostly gotten impatient and only simmered for 5 to 10 min and it’s still delicious.
To serve, add an ounce of whiskey and a dash of orange bitters to a mug. Top with cider and garnish with a cinnamon stick, whole star anise, and a dried orange slice. Or of course, enjoy alcohol free!
MULLED WINE
This recipe is adapted from Gimme Some Oven
2 bottles of red wine (most recipes call for a dry wine but I actually like it best with a juicy pinot. Any cheap bottle will do!)
1/2 cup triple sec or other orange liqueur (I prefer orange to brandy)
1 orange sliced into rounds
16 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
4 tbsp honey
After nearly setting the house on fire several times making this on the stovetop, I’d definitely recommend a crockpot. Otherwise, I’d say ignore the direction to cover the pot while it simmers. Any condensation from the lid dripping into the alcohol sets off a fireball in my experience. Combine everything in a crockpot and turn it to low for a few hours. Keep a careful on it to make sure it doesn’t bubble, otherwise the alcohol will evaporate.