Crockpot Mulled Wine Recipes

SLOW COOKER MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients (except the slices of orange) in a slow cooker on low for 1 1/2 - 2hrs until hot. Ladle into heatproof glasses and serve with slices of orange. Using the 'keep warm' setting (if your cooker has one) will ensure the mulled wine stays hot during the party.

TRADITIONAL MULLED WINE IN THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Make the tea. Let it steep and cool slightly. Add to crock pot. (I added about 4 cups).
• Cut the lemons and oranges into slices. Add the red wine. Add the brandy (cognac could be substituted).
• Add sugar to taste.
• Add cinnamon sticks and cloves.
• Heat in the crock pot for approximately 3 hours, or until warmed. (I was turning the pot on/off when the wine got too hot/cold during the evening).
• Note: Never let the wine mixture boil, or it will spoil. I used home made wine that our friend had given us. I used Ginger Tea, but any herbal tea could be used ~ or ~ for a different taste, use orange or pineapple juice.

MOM'S MULLED CIDER FOR THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Set a medium or large crock pot to HIGH heat.
• Fill crock pot with cider- leaving room for the apple and orange to float around (we'll get to them in a minute).
• You will have extra cider at this point- use this for replenishing later.
• Wash the orange and apple and dry off.
• Poke cloves into the flesh of the orange and the apple- as many as you like.
• Set the cloves studded fruit into the crock pot.
• Add cinnamon sticks and some brown sugar to taste.
• Using a vegetable peeler, cut off two long strips of lemon rind from one of the lemons, being careful not to get any of the white pith.
• Drop these into the cider pot and save the rest of the partially zested lemon for another use.
• Slice the remaining lemon into thin slices and drop 4-5 slices into the cider pot.
• Save the remaining slices for later or another use (I set them in a dish for guests to use as garnish).
• Cover crock pot and let mixture come to almost a boil (this may take up to an hour- this will vary greatly depending upon the size of your crock pot).
• Once it is almost boiling,sprinkle with a very light dash of each ground spice to taste (don't add too much or it will be gritty).
• Turn the heat down to LOW and allow cider to cook at least another hour before serving.
• Leave the crock pot on LOW and allow guests to ladle out mugfuls.
• Keep replenishing more cider as the crockpot empties.
• You will NOT need to add more spices, etc, as long as you still have 1/4 of the original mulled cider left in the crock.
• No need to return to a boil, just pour in the new cider and continue to heat on LOW.
• The last dregs of cider will be very heavily spiced- I usually discard the remaining 1/4 of liquid after I am finished replenishing the cider for the day.

HOT MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Place cinnamon sticks, cloves and rosemary on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag., In a 1-1/2-qt. slow cooker, combine the wine, cranberries, sugar, bourbon, orange juice and zest. Add spice bag. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Discard spice bag. Serve warm.

SLOW COOKER CRANBERRY-ORANGE MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Add wine, orange juice, cranberries, and sugar to a 3-quart or larger Crock Pot. Stir to help sugar begin to dissolve.
• Wash orange thoroughly and stud the orange with the cloves - just stick the cloves directly into the peel, pointy end first. I like to poke it all over with a toothpick first to make holes for the cloves.
• Add the clove-studded orange and the cinnamon sticks to the wine.
• Cook on low for 2 - 3 hours, or until the berries are tender. You can cook it for an hour or two longer if you wish, but take care that it doesn't boil.
• Remove the orange and the cinnamon sticks, then VERY CAREFULLY pour the mulled wine through a fine-mesh sieve into a large heat-proof bowl. Using the back of the spoon, press on the cranberries to get all of the juices into the bowl. A berry or two may burst, so watch out!
• Return wine to the Crock Pot and stir in the brandy. Taste and add additional sugar until it's just sweet enough. I like it just past the pucker point; you may prefer a sweeter mulled wine.
• Ladle into mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick, an orange slice, and/or fresh cranberries pushed onto a cocktail stick, if desired.
• Keep your Crock Pot on the "warm" setting to keep the wine nice and hot. If your Crock Pot doesn't have a warm setting, try alternating between "low" and off.