This non-alcoholic mulled wine recipe is made with cranberry juice instead of red wine and can be prepared on the stovetop or in a slow cooker! It’s the perfect hot beverage to serve over the holidays or on cold winter nights! Try this Christmas drink at your holiday parties and gatherings.
I love enjoying non alcoholic warm drinks around the holidays, especially ones ladened with spices!
They’re so cozy and really help me get into the holiday spirit!
This alcoholic mulled wine recipe is one of my favorites to enjoy all season long.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unsweetened, 100% cranberry juice has a very similar tartness and color to red wine.
- It’s sweetened with maple syrup, fresh orange juice, and apple cider made with just apples – completely refined sugar free!
- Loaded with delicious fall spices – this not only makes for a delicious warm beverage but a fabulous smelling house, too!
- It’s alcohol free which means it’s kid and family friendly. Have as many glasses as you’d like!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- cranberry juice – It is important to use plain, 100% cranberry juice, not from concentrate. Be sure to read the labels. Most cranberry juices are made blended with other fruit juices because cranberry juice alone is very tart. I buy my 100% cranberry juice at Trader Joe’s!
- apple cider – Again, important to use apple cider that is just 100% juice from apples. I typically buy North Coast Organic Apple Cider.
- orange juice + orange zest – I highly recommend using freshly squeezed orange juice. It is SO much better tasting than bottled orange juice. And the orange juice just puts it over the top and makes for a super fresh tasting, high-quality mulled wine!
- maple syrup – An added sweetener is necessary to counteract the tartness from the cranberry juice. I love using maple syrup, but you could use a similar liquid sweetener.
- whole cloves – Cloves have a subtly sweet flavor and is incredibly aromatic. It’s one of the best spices to add in any warm holiday drink like hot apple cider, hot toddies, and chai lattes.
- star anise – Not only do star anise garnishes make this drink really pretty, they also offer a great sweet-like licorice flavor. It’s subtle, but so fantastic!
- cinnamon sticks – Essential in any mulled wine! I like to use 2 large cinnamon sticks, or 4 smaller cinnamon sticks.
A Note About the Spices
In order to make the best non-alcoholic mulled wine possible, I recommend using fresh spices and leaning on the heavier side instead of on the conservative side.
If you want a stronger spice flavor, I recommend lightly crushing the whole spices before adding them to the pot to simmer.
To do so, use a spice grinder, a coffee grinder, or a knife (crush them like a garlic clove!).
If you can’t find fresh spices, use a pre-spiced apple cider like the Trader Joe’s Spiced Apple Cider.
The mulled wine won’t taste as fresh, but it is better than making non-alcoholic mulled wine without spices at all.
Step by Step Instructions
- Add all of the mulled wine ingredients to a 4 qt. stock pot and bring to a light boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover with the lid and allow to simmer for 1-2 hours.
Alternatively, you can also make this non-alcoholic mulled wine in the slow cooker on low for 4 hours. Simply add all of the ingredients, stir, and add the lid.
- Pour the mulled wine into a large glass pyrex or bowl over a fine mesh sieve to remove the orange zest and spices.
- Return the mulled wine to the pot/crockpot and keep heated on low, if desired.
Tip! This is a great idea for parties, when you’d want to keep your mulled wine warm for an extended period of time.
How To Serve
After straining the spices, ladle the non-alcoholic mulled wine into individual drinking glasses and garnish with orange slices, whole cranberries, cinnamon sticks and star anise!
If making for a party, you can leave garnishes out beside the mulled wine for people to garnish their own drinks as they wish.
Enjoy immediately while warm!
FAQs
Yes, you can make this in the Instant Pot on the slow cooker setting on high for 4 hours. I do not recommend cooking this with high pressure because it will over boil and change the flavor of the warm beverage.
Yes! You can double or triple this recipe!
This recipe has only been tested with fruit juices. I cannot recommend a non alcoholic wine, sorry!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
One of the best things about this non-alcoholic mulled wine is that it can be reheated (and you don’t have to worry about the wine cooking off)! This is great for if you’ve over-estimated for a party or simply want to make a pot and drink it throughout the next few days!
To store, simply allow the mulled wine to cool completely at room temperature then transfer it to an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Storing in glass will allow it to last longer than storing it in plastic.
Reheat on either the stovetop or in the microwave.
Tip: If you know you’ll be storing and reheating, I recommend saving the spices you simmered with and allow them to steep with the mulled wine in the fridge. This will keep the spice flavor strong!
Tips for Success
- Don’t be shy with the spices! They add essential flavor!
- Simmer this mulled wine on low. If it boils vigorously it will really change the flavor profile and begin reducing the wine. We don’t want that!
- Serve in glass mugs so you can enjoy the gorgeous color!
Additional non-alcoholic holiday beverages
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Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice - should be 100% cranberry juice only
- 4 cups apple cider
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup orange juice - freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 4 star anise - plus more for garnish
- ½ tablespoon whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks - plus more for garnish
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a 4 qt pot over medium heat.
- Bring to a slight simmer, then reduce heat to low, add the lid and allow to simmer for 1 hour.
- Strain mulled wine through a fine mesh sieve to remove orange zest, cloves, and star anise.
- Serve immediately while hot with orange slices, star anise, cinnamon sticks and whole cranberries. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Add all ingredients to slow cooker bowl.
- Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Strain mulled wine through a fine mesh sieve to remove orange zest, cloves, and star anise.
- Serve immediately while hot with orange slices, star anise, cinnamon sticks and whole cranberries. Enjoy!
Storage and reheating instructions
- Once wine has cooled completely at room temperature, transfer to an air-tight glass container. It will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- To reheat, warm through on the stovetop or microwave.
- If I know I am going to be storing and/or reheating, I will keep the star anise and cinnamon sticks I simmered the wine with and steep them in the mulled wine in the fridge. This keeps the spice flavor strong!
Recipe Notes
- The slow cooker has a longer cook time because slow cookers warm up much more gradually than the stovetop. I love this method for parties or gatherings because you can keep the mulled wine on the “warm setting” throughout the party.
- Using fresh spices is optimal and highly recommended. If that is not an option, use a pre-spiced apple cider like the Trader Joe’s spiced apple cider is the next best option.
- If you’d like stronger spice flavor: crush the whole cloves and star anise prior to simmering. This will allow the spices to release more of their flavors.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
This recipe was originally published December 24, 2019 and was re-published on October 22, 2021 to include an improved recipe, new photos, step by step instructions, serving suggestions, and tips for success.
Could you substitute grape juice for the cranberry?