This is the only mulled wine recipe you need this Christmas (and it’s super easy!)

Christmas is a time for many things, but relaxing usually gets shoved right to the bottom. With to-do lists the length of our arms and a mind full of “don’t forgets”, it can be easy to prioritise more pressing matters. But, it’s important to leave room to embrace relaxation too. This means changing into your comfies, putting your favourite festive flick on TV, and trying to incorporate cheese into every meal of the day. Give us a real challenge, why don’t you?!

While it’s anyone’s guess whether we’ll get snow on the big day, it’s pretty bitter out there and there are few things as warming as a cup of mulled wine on a cold winter’s eve so ‘tis only right that you brew up a large pot and really lean into the spirit of things.

Avoca’s spiced mulled wine recipe requires minimal ingredients and combines all our favourite seasonal flavours. Delicious and Christmassy all in one, it’s much easier to make than you might think too – though your guests don’t need to know that (we won’t tell if you won’t!).

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 bottle full-bodied fruity red wine (Malbec, Syrah, or Chianti)
• 1 large orange, peeled & juiced
• 80 ml brandy
• 100 grams caster sugar
• 4 allspice berries
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 star anise pods
• 1 cinnamon stick

To garnish

• Cinnamon stick for each glass, orange peel, or lemon peel

Method

1. In a medium-sized pot, add red wine, orange peel and juice, brandy, sugar and all the spices.
2. Simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring throughout.
3. Keep on low simmer for 25 more minutes to let all the spices infuse. (Your kitchen will smell glorious!)
4. Serve warm, garnished with a cinnamon stick and extra citrus peel of your choice.

Feature image via Hannah Pemberton on Unsplash