Although I try to cling to my margaritas all year long, it’s time to get a bit more festive in the booze department. With temperatures dropping below 40 in Charleston, the whole city is in a panic. Instead of the usual casual patio sippin’, people are stuck inside their houses under every blanket they own. While you’re huddled under those blankets, I have the perfect drink to warm you up even more: mulled wine. This recipe was adapted from my personal hero Ina Garten, so you know it’s gonna be good.
What you need:
- 1 slow cooker (you can use a large saucepan if you don’t have one)
- 2 bottles red wine (keep it on the cheap, people)
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 cups brandy
- ½ cup honey
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 oranges, zested and juiced
- 8 whole cloves
- 6 star anise
Booze it up!
The original recipe uses a saucepan, but this is something you want to keep warm for the whole length of a holiday party, so I decided to make it in a slow cooker. You can set it, and you definitely won’t forget it. Start by setting the slow cooker to high. Before it gets too hot, pour in the wine, brandy, and apple cider.
Zest and juice the oranges right into the slow cooker. Next, add in the honey. To measure the honey without it sticking, spray your measuring cup with cooking spray before hand.
Lastly, add in all the spices. Put a lid on it and wait for it to slowly boil Once it boils, reduce the heat to “warm” and simmer it for 10 minutes.
Serve it up in festive mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick. This recipe definitely gets me in the holiday spirit. Have a mug of this by the fire and you’ll be happily asleep on the couch in no time!
