Spiced Mulled Wine
This warm drink is made with dry red wine, a generous amount of brandy, and is infused with spices that taste like fall! If you’re looking for a festive seasonal drink to kick of the season, this one is a crowd pleaser. I actually tested the concoction on a couple of my girlfriends last weekend and they both asked for the recipe. Between the three of us, one batch one was gone pretty quickly.  If you’re looking for an easy fall drink this weekend, look no further!
It’s infused with warmth and fragrance that are the epitome of cool weather, falling leaves, and the changing of seasons. When making this recipe, it fills your entire kitchen (and house) with the most wonderful smell. Here’s what you’ll need for the recipe…
Mulled Wine // makes 4 – 6 servings
1 tablespoon green cardamom pods, crushed
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 bottle dry red wine
1 cup brandy
2 tablespoons citrus juice, plus the rind (lemon, orange, or clementine)
1/4 cup honey or agave
1 bosc pear, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4″ cubes
Place the cardamom, peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon into a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat until fragrant- about 3 minutes. Carefully add wine, brandy, citrus juice and rind, and honey… bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard the solids. Return the mixture to the same saucepan and add diced pairs. Simmer over medium-low heat until the pears are fork tender, but still retain their shape (about 10 minutes). Serve hot!
This cocktail can easily be multiplied to serve a crowd. If you’re planning a fall party, prepare the recipe in a large dutch oven and serve it straight from the rustic pot with a ladle.
With the perfect color palette and spicy undertones, this hot beverage will warm you from the inside. I have a Halloween birthday and I’m thinking sipping a little of this fireside with friends, sounds like the perfect way to ring in a new age!
On a sidenote, Target has the best fall collection this year! I picked up the fun brass and marble bar tools last week… find my favorite moody & dark cocktail accessories in the shopping slider below. Cheers!! Happy Thursday, you guys.
