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–+ servings
Two Red and yellow mugs filled with mulled wine recipe crockpot.

Crockpot Mulled Wine

Cozy, spiced, and gently sweet, this crockpot mulled wine warms up red wine with citrus, cinnamon, cloves, and a pinch of cardamom for an easy, hands-off holiday drink.
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Author Kori
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Course Beverages
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 214 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 750 mL bottle merlot or other inexpensive dry red wine
  • 2 cups apple cider or apple juice
  • ¼ cup honey or granulated sugar (plus more to taste)
  • 1 orange (washed and sliced into rounds, use half for brewing and half for garnish)
  • ½ small lemon (washed and sliced into rounds, use half of the slices for brewing and half for garnish)
  • 2 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 2 whole star anise
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
  • 3 slices fresh ginger (peeled and sliced about ¼ inch thick)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup brandy (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Add the red wine, apple cider, sugar, half the orange slices, half the lemon slices (if using), cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and ginger to a small slow cooker, about 3 to 4 quarts.
    Adding wine and aromatics to a white oval slow cooker for mulled wine recipe crockpot.
  • Cover and cook on low for 1½ to 2 hours, until the mixture is very warm and steaming but not boiling.
    Covering and slow cooking the mulled wine recipe crockpot and then removing the aromatics.
  • Sprinkle in the ground cardamom, if using, and stir well. Add the brandy and vanilla extract, if using, and taste; add a little more sweetener if you like it sweeter.
    Adding in spices and brandy to the slow cooker for mulled wine recipe crockpot.
  • Turn the slow cooker to warm for serving. If you plan to hold it for more than 2 to 3 hours, remove the citrus slices and whole spices so the does not become bitter. Ladle into heatproof mugs, straining through a fine-mesh strainer if desired, and garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks. Serve warm.
    Sifting the wine of any extra ingredients and the serving mulled wine recipe crockpot in a red mug.

Notes

For more helpful hints, substitution ideas, slow cooking tips, and other delicious recipe ideas, check out my post above.
CROCKPOT COOKING TIPS: Every slow cooker heats a little differently, so cooking times can vary. Once you know how your crock pot runs (hotter or cooler), you can adjust as needed.
TIPS: Use an inexpensive, medium-bodied red wine like Merlot or Garnacha and avoid heavily oaked bottles. Slow cookers all heat differently, so keep it just steaming, not boiling. For a smoother sip, strain into a pitcher, then pour it back into the slow cooker on warm. Test the spice level after a couple of hours, remove citrus and whole spices if it's becoming too strong. Also, remove if you need to keep it warm longer than 3 hours. 
VARIATIONS: Swap some apple cider for cranberry juice for a tangier twist, or skip the brandy and add extra cider for a lighter version. For a kid-friendly “mulled cider,” use apple cider and grape juice instead of wine and brandy, and keep the same spices.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve in heatproof mugs with orange slices and cinnamon sticks alongside simple cookies or a small cheese and nut board. Keep the crockpot on warm so guests can ladle refills as they go.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 55IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
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