There are few things that make a house feel quite as cozy as a pot of mulled wine simmering on the stove. The oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise fill the kitchen with the. most. wonderful. smell.
In my head, Ina Garten welcomes all of her guests with a warm cup. So why wouldn't I?
I love it on cool days after gardening in the yard, on rainy Sundays by the fireplace, and especially on those autumn evenings when staying home sounds infinitely better than going anywhere. And come Christmas afternoon? It's a family tradition!
And the best part? It's sooo easy. A bottle of red wine (or close enough!), a couple of oranges, a handful of spices, and a little honey. That's it.
Nothing fancy. Just something warm, delicious, and a little festive to sip slowly. A warm hug in a mug!
YOU’LL NEED
2 oranges, sliced into rounds
2 cinnamon sticks
2–3 whole star anise
8–10 whole cloves
1 generous tablespoon of honey
A bottle of red wine
Add the sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and honey to a medium saucepan. Pour in the red wine and give everything a gentle stir to help dissolve the honey.
That's the recipe! The rest is simply waiting while everything warms over low heat for about 15–20 minutes, allowing the oranges and spices to infuse the wine. Keep it gently steaming without letting it boil.
Taste and add a little more honey if you prefer it sweeter.
Ladle into mugs, leaving the whole spices behind. Add an orange slice or cinnamon stick if you're feeling particularly festive, and enjoy while warm!
Oh, and you don't need an expensive bottle of wine for this recipe. The spices do most of the heavy lifting here.
I also love that you can make this ahead of time and gently warm it again when you're ready to serve. Perfect for hosting! Cue Ina's knowing smile :-)
