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Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine: Perfect Winter Drink with Orange & Cinnamon

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This easy slow cooker mulled wine with orange and cinnamon is the perfect winter drink. With just 10 minutes of prep, the slow cooker does all the work, filling your home with a cozy, aromatic scent and delivering a smooth, flavorful drink that’s ideal for holiday parties or quiet nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine (dry red like Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
  • Optional garnishes: orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange thoroughly under warm water. Slice it into rounds about 1/4-inch thick. Set aside a few slices for garnish if desired.
  2. Pour the entire bottle of red wine into the slow cooker. Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and honey. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the wine, then add the pod. If using vanilla extract, hold off until the end.
  3. Stir gently to dissolve the honey and distribute the spices.
  4. Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Set to low heat and cook for 2 to 4 hours. For a quicker version, set to high for 1 to 2 hours, but flavors will be less deep.
  5. The wine should be steaming hot but not boiling. If bubbles form at the edges, turn the slow cooker down to ‘Keep Warm’.
  6. About 10 minutes before serving, stir in the vanilla extract (if using).
  7. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice as needed. Add more honey if too tart, or a splash of brandy if too sweet.
  8. Ladle the mulled wine into mugs, including an orange slice and a cinnamon stick in each cup for garnish. Optionally, strain through a fine-mesh sieve before serving.

Notes

Use whole spices, not ground, to avoid cloudiness and grit. Keep heat low to prevent boiling off alcohol. For deeper flavor, toast spices in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes before adding. Can be made a day ahead and reheated. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: mulled wine, slow cooker, winter drink, orange, cinnamon, holiday, easy, crockpot

Find it online: https://evadinnerideas.com/easy-slow-cooker-mulled-wine-perfect-winter-drink-with-orange-and-cinnamon/