Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (2024)

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I’m letting you in on my easy-to-make CHEAT’S recipe for low-carb crockpot mulled wine. Just promise me you won’t tell everyone our secret!

This recipe is the perfect lazy way to entertain guests this festive season.

Crockpot mulled wine is a beautiful blend of cozy winter warm spices with red wine and brandy.

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (1)

This delicious red wine is made with mulling spices. Since it’s put together in the crockpot, you don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting!

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Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (2)

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Serve with a few keto snowball cookies to be the perfect host!

If you need more ideas for the holidays, I have 70+ healthy keto Christmas recipes for you, 61+ best Thanksgiving recipes, and the best ways to use Christmas leftovers.

The next time you have guests visiting over the holiday season, you can easily whip up a batch of this crockpot mulled wine and impress them all!

As bonus points, this crockpot mulled wine will smell absolutely amazing as you are cooking it.

What is mulled wine?

Depending on where you live, mulled wine is also known as glühwein, spiced wine, smouldering wine, German mulled wine, vino caliente, glögg, vin brulé, and a hot toddy. It is often served at Thanksgiving and Christmas parties or a European Christmas market.

Mulled wine is a mixture of spices, warm red wine, and brandy or rum. It can be served hot or warm, and there are also non-alcoholic mulled win recipes too.

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (3)

Why use the crockpot?

  1. It’s easy to make ahead of time.
  2. It’s easy to serve for guest throiughout the night.
  3. It’s easy to top up with more red wine.

By turning this low-carb recipe into a crockpot mulled wine, it keeps infusing the flavor throughout the wine for the entire party.

No more heating up saucepan after saucepan of mulled wine when it runs dry.

Simply warm your slow cooker low-carb mulled wine on LOW for 1 hour to allow the flavors to infuse the wine, then keep it on the WARM setting for the remainder of the party.

You can even top it up with more wine as the night progresses. You may just need to add a little more sweetener (if desired).

Mulled wine ingredients

This mulled wine recipe (spiced wine) just requires a few ingredients. Making mulled wine is as simple as putting together red wine, brandy, and mulling spices!

Traditional mulled wine might contain honey, orange juice, corn syrup, apple cider, and brown sugar. To make a keto version of mulled wine we avoid all of those. I love mulled wine and this is my favourite alcoholic beverage and favorite recipes.

  • red wine – the best wine to use is a fruity wine such as a cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, syrah, or pinot noir
  • brandy or rum – the extra alcoholic spirit is optional
  • orange – a fresh whole orange or orange slices plus additional orange zest.
  • cinnamon stick – sticks are best because ground cinnamon will sink to the bottom of your crockpot.
  • star anise pods – gives the wonderful warm spicy taste of traditional mulled spiced wine
  • ground nutmeg – another delicious Christmas spice
  • sweetener of choice – use your favourite sugar replacer. I like to use erythritol, xylitol, allulose, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener.

Instructions

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (4)

Making this crockpot mulled wine recipe is so simple, with very little prep time.

1: First, add 1 bottle of red wine into the slow cooker.

2: Press whole cloves into an orange, cinnamon sticks, spices, sweetener (optional), and star anise. Add brandy or rum as desired.

3: Set the crockpot to the LOW setting for 1 hour to allow the mulled wine spices to infuse throughout the warm wine.

4: Serve in heatproof glass mugs.

How to keep mulled wine warm

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (5)

It’s so easy to make a huge batch of mulled wine for a party and keep it in the slow cooker. The mulled wine stays warm throughout the night and you can it’s the perfect easy way to entertain guests during Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Everyone at the party can serve themselves from the slow cooker. When you make mulled wine this way, it will remain warm throughout the evening.

In fact, that’s my favorite thing about slow cooker mulled wine! It truly is the best holiday drink.

I make this hot wine every year (even though it’s a summer Christmas here).

Equipment

The only thing you really need is a slow cooker (crockpot). Other than that, it is definitely helpful to have a ladle for easy serving.

If you don’t own a slow cooker and want to make mulled wine on the stove top, you certainly can do that as well. Just put the spiced wine recipe together in a dutch oven or a large pot and make sure it’s served warm.

However, I definitely encourage you to splurge on a slow cooker! It has been invaluable to me for making low-carb meals and doing meal prep!

A few of my favorite crockpot recipes include slow cooker keto pulled pork, this beef rendang, and my yummy vegan pumpkin soup.

FAQs about crockpot mulled wine

How do you serve mulled wine?

Crockpot mulled wine should be served while it is still warm. The easiest way to do this is to use a soup ladle to add it to a glass.

The mulled wine can be served in a wine glass or even a mug. I personally think this homemade mulled wine does well in warm mugs with handles. The handles make it easier to drink!

One note – don’t serve the cinnamon sticks or orange slices into the cups. They are there for flavor – you don’t want people to actually drink those!

What are traditional mulling spices?

While this crockpot mulled wine is cooked in a non-traditional method, the actual recipe is quite traditional!

Mulling spices are what take this festive drink above and beyond. Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole cloves are standard additions to this holiday drink.

I highly suggest you use whole spices instead of ground spices for a smoother, more flavorful spiced wine.

How hot should mulled wine be?

Mulled wine should be hot, not boiling otherwise the alcohol will evaporate. Mulled wine should be just warm enough to drink, but never simmering or boiling.

Which wine is best for mulled wine?

Full-bodied fruity sweet red wines such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, or syrah. You can use a few bottles to make a big batch for a party. It will be a huge hit.

How to store, reheat, and freeze mulled wine?

Allow any leftover mulled wine to cool, then it can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, place it back in the slow-cooker and heat on a LOW setting, microwave for 1 minute, or warm on medium heat in a saucepan.

If you want to freeze mulled wine, pour into an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. To defrost, keep the container at room temperature for a few hours then reheat gently in the slow cooker, in a saucepan, or microwave. Add a splash of fresh red wine or brandy to bring the mulled wine recipe back to life.

What to serve with mulled wine?

Festive snacks such as sugar-free candied almonds, sugar-free gingerbread cookies, or low-carb Christmas cake (keto fruit cake).

I hope you give this crockpot mulled wine a try this holiday season! Cheers!

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (6)

Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe

The perfect CHEAT'S recipe for low-carb crockpot mulled wine – the perfect lazy way to entertain guests.

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Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain free, Keto, LCHF, Low Carb, No Sugars, Paleo, Wheat Free

Keyword: Christmas mulled wine, crockpot mulled wine, Low-carb alcohol

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 5

Calories: 155.2kcal

Author: Thinlicious.com

Want to lose weight and get healthy for life—without dieting, drugs, or making yourself miserable?We can help! Tell me how!

Equipment

  • Slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle red wine
  • 1 orange whole or quartered
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 2 sticks ground cinnamon
  • 1 star anise
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp granulated sweetener, of choice optional, and to taste
  • 60 ml brandy

Instructions

  • Pour 1 bottle of red wine into the slow cooker.

  • Take the whole orange and push 10 cloves (or more) into the skin. Place the orange in the slow cooker with the cinnamon sticks, star anise, nutmeg, and brandy.

  • Stir through and add sweetener to taste (optional). Only add a small amount at a time. You can always add more if required, but you don't want to risk making it too sweet, or if using stevia, too bitter. No one wants a wasted bottle of wine.

  • Turn your slow cooker on to LOW and warm through for 1 hour, stirring occasionally so all the spices infuse.

  • Turn the slow cooker onto the WARM setting, and serve into glasses, or allow guests to serve themselves.

  • As the evening progresses, you may top up the low-carb mulled wine with extra bottle of red wine. The flavours will still infuse for the orange, cinnamon, and star anise. You may just require some additional sweetener.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 147mlCalories: 155.2kcalCarbohydrates: 3.9gProtein: 0.1gSodium: 6.1mgPotassium: 190.7mgSugar: 0.9gVitamin A: 3IUCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.7mg

More keto Christmas recipes

  • Creamy low-carb eggnog – another indulgent treat
  • Christmas Mince Pies – low-carb style
  • Tiramisu – boozy
  • – perfect as a gift too
  • Low-Carb Christmas Cake – optional extras such as almond slices, berries and nuts depending on carb limits
  • Chocolate Mint Truffles – perfect after a meal
  • Strawberry and lemon syllabub (whipped cream with wine)
Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (Cheat's Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What wine is best for making mulled wine? ›

The best wines for mulled wine are richly fruity, medium-bodied ones with little oak aging, because these stand up to the bold sweetness and spice of the hot drink without tasting too tannic. For example, try a Chilean Merlot, a Zinfandel from California or a Grenache from Spain.

Can you cook mulled wine for too long? ›

One important thing to remember when making your mulled wine – don't boil or heat it for too long! You'll cook off all the alcohol and be left with tasty but boozeless mulled grape juice.

How long to cook off alcohol in mulled wine? ›

Does the alcohol cook out when making mulled wine? In short, yes, some of the alcohol burns off when boiling mulled wine, but you should only be gently bringing up to the boil and simmering for around 15-30 minutes which isn't enough time to completely remove all alcohol traces.

How do you keep the alcohol in mulled wine? ›

Ainsley Harriott recommends mulling wines in a slow cooker and says two hours at low temperature gives excellent results and should retain most alcohol content.

Can you use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›

Mulled Wine Ingredients:

Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — a mid-range bottle of dry red or white wine will do. (Or if you're making a big batch, this is a great recipe to break out a nicer boxed wine too!)

Is Merlot or Pinot Noir better for mulled wine? ›

Ideally you want to use bigger and bolder red wines like Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, or Cabernet, but any fruity red wine your family members are leaving around will do. I've used Pinot Noir before to success. Honestly, whatever red wine that you're stuck with and you don't want to drink, they'll work.

Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›

You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.

Why is my mulled wine bitter? ›

The Spices

Ground spices are much easier to overdo, which can lead to a bitter mulled wine that tastes more like raw cinnamon than a delightful, warming beverage. Cinnamon is the most essential spice in mulled wine.

What happens if you accidentally boil mulled wine? ›

If your mulled wine reaches its boiling point, two things will happen. You'll evaporate off more alcohol than necessary, resulting in a weak final product. Boiling also affects the flavor of the wine, leaving you with a bitter and unpleasant beverage.

How much of the alcohol is boiled off in mulled wine? ›

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.

What to add to bottled mulled wine? ›

Here are a few fun ways to garnish the mulled wine:
  1. Drop in a cinnamon stick.
  2. Drop in an orange slice.
  3. Dot cloves into orange peels and drop the studded peel in.
  4. Drop in whole spices (like star anise)
  5. Drop in a few cherries or brightly-coloured berries.
Nov 5, 2022

Is mulled wine healthy? ›

The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits. Resveratrol is associated with heart health benefits and may help protect the lining of blood vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent blood clots. When consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.

How to keep mulled wine warm at a party? ›

Heating the mulled wine slowly over a low temperature will ensure the flavours infuse without the risk of the alcohol evaporating away. If your slow cooker has a 'keep warm' function, use it so you don't have to repeatedly reheat your mulled wine during a Christmas party.

How do you make shop bought mulled wine better? ›

Serve them in little glass cups with handles, add a bit of orange peel and nobody will know that you didn't make it yourself. And finally, whether you're buying it in or making it yourself, a glug of port, sloe gin or even rum before serving will lift the whole thing.

Does the quality of wine matter in mulled wine? ›

Red wines are traditionally used to make mulled wine, and while any red wine can work, sweet reds will give you a nice, sweet base, meaning less sugar added in later. If you use a dry red, keep in mind you may need to add more sugar than a recipe calls for.

Is cabernet or merlot better for mulled wine? ›

Merlot is an ideal choice of wine for making mulled wine. Its bold, juicy fruit flavor has notes of red cherry, plum, and cranberry.

What kind of dry red wine for mulled wine? ›

The best wine for mulled wine is dry and full-bodied, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Syrah. These will stand up to the other flavors and ensure the spiced wine won't be too sweet.

Is Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon better for mulled wine? ›

As wine forms the base for the mulled wine, you do want to be careful with your selection. A bottle of Levant Shiraz makes the perfect base - we don't recommend Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon is too high in tannin, and Pinot Noir is too light to carry the spices.

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