Ginger Cranberry Mulled Wine
Wrap yourself in the coziest hug of the holiday season with this Ginger-Cranberry Mulled Wine. Tart cranberry juice meets spicy fresh ginger, warm cinnamon, star anise, and a generous pour of red wine, then simmers into the most fragrant, ruby-red potion you’ll sip all winter.
When the north wind howls and snowflakes dance outside, the only place to be is curled up by a crackling fire with a steaming mug of this Ginger-Cranberry Mulled Wine in hand. Spicy fresh ginger, tart cranberries, a whisper of pear, warm cinnamon, star anise, and a generous splash of brandy come together in the most soul-warming, toe-tingling elixir of the season. One sip and you’ll feel the holiday glow from the inside out.
Picture it: you and your favorite person, wrapped in blankets, trading stories while the ruby-red potion bubbles softly on the stove and fills the house with Christmas magic. This isn’t just a drink; it’s a love letter to winter nights. Grab two mugs and make it happen.
Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s the effortless, crowd-pleasing drink that makes your house smell like Christmas morning and tastes like pure celebration. Perfect for parties, fireside nights, or simply treating yourself (you deserve it). One pot, endless cheers!
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This Ginger-Cranberry Mulled Wine with a whisper of pear and a generous splash of brandy is ridiculously easy to make and tastes like bottled holiday cheer. One pot, a handful of cozy spices, fresh ginger, tart cranberries, and a bottle of red wine transform into a fragrant, ruby-red elixir that’s ready in under 30 minutes and keeps your house smelling like Christmas all season long.
Whether you’re hosting a party or just stealing a quiet moment by the fire, this is the drink that wraps you up and warms you straight down to your toes. You’ve officially found your new winter favorite—let’s get simmering!
Ginger Cranberry Mulled Wine Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Allspice Berries
- Star Anise
- Whole Cloves
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Slices of Fresh Ginger
- Pear Slices
- 1 cup Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
- ½ cup Sugar
- Bottle of Red Wine (750 ml)
- ½ cup of Brandy
- Tall Cinnamon Sticks, for garnish
Equipment:
- Saucepan
- Thick Wall Glass Mugs
🥣 Recipe Pro Tips
- Spice infusion hack for bold flavor without bitterness – Toast your mulling spices (allspice, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks) in a dry saucepan over medium heat for 1–2 minutes before adding the ginger, cranberries and pears. This quick step awakens their oils for deeper, cozier notes that infuse the wine perfectly during the simmer—stop at a gentle bubble to avoid cooking off the alcohol or turning it tannic.
- Sweetness dialed in, every pour – Taste the wine after 15 minutes of simmering and adjust the sugar (start with ¼ cup less if your cranberries are super tart). For a grown-up twist, swap half the sugar for honey or maple syrup—it dissolves smoother and adds a subtle floral layer that plays beautifully with the gingery zing. Pro move: If it’s too sweet post-brandy, a splash of fresh orange juice brightens it right up.
- Batch-and-bottle for holiday hosting glory – Double the recipe and strain into a heat-safe pitcher or mason jars after cooling; it keeps in the fridge for up to a week (reheat gently on the stove, never microwave). This make-ahead magic means you’re always 5 minutes from serving—garnish with those tall cinnamon sticks and a few floating cranberries for Instagram-worthy pours that make you look like the ultimate holiday bartender. Cheers to zero last-minute stress!
How to Make this Holiday Spiced Wine:
Gather your mulling spice squad: 8 allspice berries, 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise and 2 cinnamon sticks
Drop a handful of thin pear slices into a large saucepan, then add the bundle of mulling spices (allspice berries, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks). The pears will quietly perfume everything with subtle sweetness while the spices work their cozy magic.
Toss in 6 thin slices of fresh ginger (no need to peel) and a generous handful of fresh cranberries. The ginger brings that gentle, warming kick while the cranberries pop with tart, jewel-bright flavor—your mulled wine is already starting to smell like pure holiday joy!
Pour one bottle red wine into the saucepan, then stir in ⅓–½ cup sugar (start low, taste later). Bring it to the gentlest simmer over medium-low heat—barely bubbling is perfect. Let it simmer for 30 minutes so all those gorgeous flavors can mingle.
Turn off the heat, fish out the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice berries with a slotted spoon (leave the ginger and cranberries for extra prettiness). Finally, swirl in ¼–⅓ cup brandy. Taste, adjust sweetness if needed, and get ready to pour the coziest drink of the season.
Ladle the steaming mulled wine into heavy glass mugs (those chunky Irish-coffee ones are perfect—they keep every sip hot). Pop a long cinnamon stick in each as a fragrant stirrer, maybe float a couple extra cranberries for that ruby-red glow, and hand one to someone you love.
One sip of this spicy, gingery, cranberry-kissed potion and you’ll feel the holiday spirit slide all the way down to your toes. It’s cozy in a cup, magic in a mug, and guaranteed to make you the hero of every winter night. Go ahead—pour two. You’ll be toasting (and thanking) us later.
There you have it: one pot, 30 minutes, and you’ve got the most aromatic, ruby-red Ginger-Cranberry Mulled Wine that turns any evening into a holiday celebration. The spicy ginger kick, tart cranberry brightness, and cozy spices will fill your house with Christmas magic while warming everyone from the inside out. Make a double batch, keep it on low for the party (or just for you), and let the cheers flow. This is officially your new winter tradition—cheers to cozy nights and full mugs!
Other Christmas Cocktails:
🥣 Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- Allspice Berries
- Star Anise
- Whole Cloves
- Cinnamon Sticks long and short
- 7 Slices Fresh Ginger
- Pear Slices
- 1 cup Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
- ½ cup Sugar
- 1 750 ml Bottle Red Wine 750 ml
- ½ cup Brandy
- Long Cinnamon Sticks for stirrers
Instructions
- Gather your mulling spice squad: 8 allspice berries, 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise, 2 cinnamon sticks.
- Drop a handful of thin pear slices into a large saucepan, then add the bundle of mulling spices (allspice berries, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks). The pears will quietly perfume everything with subtle sweetness while the spices work their cozy magic.
- Toss in 6 thin slices of fresh ginger (no need to peel) and a generous handful of fresh cranberries. The ginger brings that gentle, warming kick while the cranberries pop with tart, jewel-bright flavor—your mulled wine is already starting to smell like pure holiday joy!
- Pour one bottle red wine into the saucepan, then stir in ⅓–½ cup sugar (start low, taste later). Bring it to the gentlest simmer over medium-low heat—barely bubbling is perfect. Let it simmer for 30 minutes so all those gorgeous flavors can mingle.
- Turn off the heat, fish out the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice berries with a slotted spoon (leave the ginger and cranberries for extra prettiness). Finally, swirl in ¼–⅓ cup brandy. Taste, adjust sweetness if needed, and get ready to pour the coziest drink of the season.
- Ladle the steaming mulled wine into heavy glass mugs (those chunky Irish-coffee ones are perfect—they keep every sip hot). Pop a long cinnamon stick in each as a fragrant stirrer, maybe float a couple extra cranberries for that ruby-red glow, and hand one to someone you love.
Nutrition
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