Make the holidays even merrier with this easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
This post is sponsored by our friends at FitVine
Warm, spiced and very European
I did’t grow up in a mulled wine kind of family so I’d never even conceived of such a thing until I was in college when I somehow fell into step with a handful of Swedish foreign exchange students in my junior year. I just happened to be walking down a hall in the student union when I heard the most angelic singing coming from an open door. I peeked inside and there was a group of students singing the traditional Swedish songs that go along with Santa Lucia day. Before I knew it, one of friends had me by the hand and in the choir – thrusting the music sheets in my hand and telling me to sing.
What does any of this have to do with slow cooker mulled wine? Other than the fact that mulled wine, otherwise known as Gluehwein or Gluhwein, is a European staple sold in outdoor winter markets and offered up in homes when guests come calling, this unexpected invitation to join this sweet candle-filled Swedish tradition is what introduced me to this warm, spiced mug of delightfulness.
To this day my family continues to celebrate Santa Lucia day in our home and our school community and when the adults gather to make merry I always set out a pot of slow cooker mulled wine. The warm red wine is deeply infused with fresh orange, sweet cinnamon and clove and licorice-y anise to make the perfect warm drink to sip and savor.
When I first learned how to make mulled wine in college I used a recipe that called for the addition of brandy and sugar which made the wine extra boozy and sweet. Over the years I’ve swapped out the sugar for honey and dropped the brandy for the sake of simplicity and not wanting such a potent and sugary concoction.
This year just as I was starting to think about mulled wine, winter nights and candlelit gatherings I was introduced to FitVine Wines, a line of wines that have no residual sugar with 1/3 fewer carbs and sulfites. You didn’t have to ask me twice to try out this new wine. I love wine but I don’t love the sulfites (hello foggy head and flushed face) and I’m all about lowering sugar without compromising taste. Healthy wine for the win!
Fewer carbs, calories and sugar means more celebration
Now that’s not to say that you should drink twice as much. What it does mean, however, is that now you can fully enjoy a glass of this slow cooker mulled wine without guilt – not that you can’t enjoy a drink without guilt but this is even more guilt-free when made with such a clean wine. (Did I mention that all of the grapes are pesticide-free and non-GMO? And it’s doubled filtered and cold stabilized to remove impurities? It sure it is – Learn more here)
Wondering how alcohol can fit into a healthy lifestyle? Check out our 5 Tips to Help You Drink Smarter
Make more merry this season with this easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Seriously, do it. Whether you’re new to mulled wine or a mulled wine newbie you’ve got to give this recipe a try. It’s perfect for entertaining or for post-caroling – people still carol, right? If not, they should. Because singing brings people together and we can all use more connection in our lives. You literally just dump everything into the slow cooker and let the oranges, cinnamon, cloves and anise infuse the red wine. It can’t get much easier than that.
- 2 750-mL bottles FitVine cabernet sauvignon (or other red wine of choice)
- 2 oranges, sliced into rounds
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 4 star anise
- 12-14 whole cloves
- Optional garnish: orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, etc.
- Place all ingredients (except garnish) in a slow cooker. Turn heat to LOW and cook 2-3 hours.
- Ladle into glasses or mugs and garnish as desired. Slow cooker may also be turned to ‘Keep low’ if you’d prefer guests to serve themselves.
Are you a mulled wine lover too? In what ways do you make your holiday favorites healthier? Share in the comments below!
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