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Cozy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Orange & Cloves

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This cozy slow cooker mulled wine with orange and cloves is a simple, set-it-and-forget-it drink that fills your home with a warm, spicy aroma. Perfect for cold evenings, it balances sweet and spicy flavors for a comforting, crowd-pleasing beverage.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Zinfandel, or Tempranillo)
  • 1 large orange
  • 8–10 whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 3–4 star anise pods (optional)
  • 2–3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: 1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur
  • Orange slices and extra cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep the orange: Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the orange in wide strips, avoiding the white pith. Then slice the orange into thin rounds. Set the slices aside for garnish.
  2. Stud the orange slices with cloves: Take a few of the orange slices and poke the whole cloves into the flesh.
  3. Combine everything in the slow cooker: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into the slow cooker. Add the orange zest strips, the clove-studded orange slices, the cinnamon sticks, star anise (if using), and the honey or maple syrup. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the wine, then toss the pod in too.
  4. Stir gently to dissolve the honey.
  5. Set the slow cooker to low. Cover and let it cook on low for 2-3 hours.
  6. Taste and adjust: After 2 hours, taste and add more honey if needed, or adjust spices.
  7. Add the vanilla extract (if using): Stir in about 10 minutes before serving.
  8. Serve warm: Ladle the mulled wine into mugs, garnishing each with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice. If desired, strain through a fine-mesh strainer before serving.
  9. Keep warm: Leave the slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting if serving over a longer period.

Notes

Don’t let the wine boil; keep it on low or warm. Use whole spices, not ground, to avoid a murky texture. Taste and adjust sweetness and spices as you go. For a party, prep ingredients the night before.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, slow cooker, orange, cloves, cinnamon, holiday drink, cozy, winter

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/cozy-slow-cooker-mulled-wine-with-orange-and-cloves/