Ingredients
1bottle of dry red wine,(750 ml)
1orange,sliced into rounds also peeled, if you would like a less-bitter drink
8whole cloves
2cinnamon sticks
2star anise
2-4tbspsugar, honey, or maple syrup,or your desired sweetener to taste
¼cupbrandy,or your favorite liqueur, optional add-in
citrus slices orange, lemon or lime,extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise, optional garnishes
Preparation
Add wine, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, 2 tablespoons of sweetener, and brandy to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.
Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer; avoid letting it bubble. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
Using a fine-mesh strainer, remove, and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in extra sweetener if needed.
Serve warm in heatproof mugs, topped with your favorite garnishes.
