Mulled Wine or Cider

Mulled wine is one of those old fashioned holiday beverages that conjure up images of carolers in bonnets and top hats with that hands warming in muffs being greeted at a home with a cup of mulled wine or cider

For this tutorial, I made mulled wine, but these spices can be used to make mulled cider as well. You can  plan ahead and to dry or dehydrate, but if you are making it right away you can use fresh orange and lemon rind. 

I wasn't thinking about this until I starting writing this post, but preparing this dried spices in advance and putting then in a pretty jar would make a perfect gift with a bottle of wine. I have to remember that for next year.

To Make Mulling Spices - stir together all of the following ingredients.

Dried Mulling Spice (makes enough for 2 batches)
3 strips orange rind, dried
2 strips lemon rind, dried
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 tbsp whole allspice, crushed
4 cinnamon sticks, crushed

To Make Mulled Wine or Cider - In a spice bag made from cheese cloth or in a large tea ball, put in 2 Tablespoons of dried mulling spice. In a pot, combine 1 Qt of burgundy wine/cider, 1/2 C sugar and 2T of mulling spices. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve warm or hot.

To Make Dried Orange/Lemon Rind - Let sliced rinds dry on cookie sheet for 24 hours or until brittle.

This recipe will make enough to serve all your friends. :)