This slow cooker spiced mulled wine is perfect for large holiday gatherings. So warm and comforting it’s bound to be the drink of the season. Plus it’s kept warm all night long by heating in the slow cooker.
I remember when I was a kid my parents would throw these awesome holiday parties that involved lots of drinking and playing of cards, usually euchre.
I always wanted to join in on the fun and play cards too, BUT let us face it – no group of adults really want to hang out with a little kid.
So I did the next best thing. I would go upstairs and look down into the living through my heater vent. (We had an old house that vents that went all the way through the floor so the hot air from downstairs would go upstairs.)
So I would lay down and listen in on the whole party. I would hear my parents telling dirty jokes* and in general just having a good time with their friends.
*True story: When I was little I was spying on my parents and heard them tell a joke to their friends. It was something dirty that had something to do with an elephant.
So in true Brandy fashion, I went to school and told EVERYONE this joke (including the teacher) not really knowing what I was talking about. Then my teacher had to call my parents and tell them all about how I came to school telling a very inappropriate joke that had something to do with an elephant and if I had to assume probably penises.
I can only imagine what it was like to be my parent.
I remembered thinking how awesome it must be to be an adult and how much I couldn’t wait to throw my own holiday parties.
Well now that I’m an adult I throw my parties, but with a little less dirty jokes (ok that’s not true. I love me some dirty jokes) and a lot less cigarette smoking.
What was up with all the smoking in the ’80s? But you know what remains the same? There is always spiced mulled wine.
Side note: there is also always aged eggnog. Christmas cocktails are the best.
When it’s 20 degrees outside, I need something warm and boozy. This cocktail is just that.
I took a dark red wine and threw in all the winter spices – star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and just a touch of nutmeg. Plus, I threw in a little citrus because citrus makes everything better. Am I right?
To keep it warm, I love keeping it in a slow cooker so it can be enjoyed warm all. night. long.
More holiday cocktail recipes
- Want something totally different? Try my Aged Eggnog.
- Craving an old fashioned cocktail? Try my Tom and Jerry Cocktail Recipe.
- Need an easy holiday cocktail? Try my Eggnog Martini.
- Want to try to make mulled wine the old fashioned way? Try my Holiday Spiced Mulled Wine.
Slow Cooker Spiced Mulled Wine
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2 cups Cranberry Juice
- 2 cups Apple Cider
- 1/4 cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Oranges Divided, one to be juiced, the other peel thinly removed (take off the peel without taking too much of the pith)
- 6 Whole Cloves
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 2 Star Anises Whole
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg Freshly grated
- 1/4-1/3 cup Brandy
- Orange Slices For garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except brandy and sliced oranges to a slow cooker.
- Top with the lid and place on high heat.
- When the mixture is hot, move the slow cooker to the “keep warm” setting and stir in brandy.
- Serve hot with orange slices.
Nutrition
Juliana
Sunday 20th of November 2016
Making this for taking to thanksgiving! A couple questions: what happens to the peeled (but not pithed) orange? Does that get juiced or sliced? I've never peeled before either of those orange uses before? Also, I'm I could pre-steep the juices and spices the night before, but leave the brandy and wine out, then reheat and add the boozy parts at the hosts house the day of serving (so the alcohol doesn't burn off or the wine turn with two rounds of heating and storing). Any thoughts on this idea? It would reduce all the bits and pieces to carry along (and lose track of while traveling) I think.
nutmegnanny
Monday 21st of November 2016
Hi Juliana! I'm so happy to hear you're making this for Thanksgiving! One of the oranges is totally juiced and put in the mulled wine, the other is peeled. Now, with that peeled orange you can juice and add more juice to the mixture (this recipe is super customizable) or you can take off a bit more of the pith and add the slices to your drinks or just throw it right into the mulled wine. If I were taking this to a party I would just bring all the ingredients (and slow cooker if needed) and make it at the party. I would throw it in, turn the slow cooker to high and once warm pop it down to the "warm" setting. If you don't want to do that pre-steeping the juices to ensure that slow cooked spice flavor would totally work.
Krayl @ An Appealing Plan
Tuesday 29th of December 2015
I love the colors and spices in this drink!! And I also love that this can sit in a slow cooker during the party! Well done!
Joanie@ZagLeft
Saturday 26th of December 2015
My son who is visiting for the holidays just asked me if I could make mulled wine. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon your recipe. It looks fantastic!
Isabelle @ Crumb
Thursday 24th of December 2015
I love to do a big crockpot of mulled apple cider at my parties, but for some odd reason, it's never occurred to me to do the same with wine. Sounds absolutely delicious, though! Also, what party is complete without a dirty joke or two? :)
janelle
Wednesday 23rd of December 2015
This. All of this. Looks so delicious. Perfect for this time of year!