Apple Cider Mulled Wine

If you’re looking for a festive fall drink, this Apple Cider Mulled Wine is a must-try. The combination of crisp apple cider, honey, spices, and wine creates a warming sip that’s full of flavor. It comes together quickly with simple ingredients, and you can even add a splash of bourbon, spiced rum, or brandy for extra depth. Serve it in mugs with slices of apple and orange for a cozy seasonal touch.

Here on Inspired by Charm, I’ve shared a delicious mulled wine AND a tasty mulled cider. Today, I’ve combined the two to create this fabulous Cider Mulled Wine. It’s the best of both worlds!

One of the things I associate with crisp autumn days is mulled cider. It’s always on my fall bucket list. Even though the official start of fall for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere is still a few days away, I’ve just checked that item off my list by whipping up a batch of this Apple Cider Mulled Wine.

What I love about this recipe is that it requires only a few ingredients, and most are things you’re likely to have on hand. Plus, if you don’t count the mulling time, everything comes together in mere minutes. You can make this recipe on your stovetop or in a slow cooker. I chose to use my stove because I’m always looking for an excuse to pull out one of my Staub Cocottes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s the essence of fall in a cup. Apple cider, warming spices, and a splash of wine come together to create a cozy drink that feels like autumn wrapped in a blanket. It’s festive, familiar, and perfect for any gathering or quiet evening at home.
• Simple ingredients, big results. You don’t need anything fancy to make this recipe. With just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a comforting, aromatic drink that tastes like it took much longer.
• Flexible and foolproof. Whether you simmer it on the stove or let it slowly warm in your crockpot, this recipe works beautifully either way. Plus, you can easily adjust the sweetness or add an extra splash of something spirited to make it your own.
• Crowd-pleasing and cozy. This is the kind of drink that invites people to gather, linger, and enjoy the season. It makes your kitchen smell incredible, looks beautiful garnished with fruit and cinnamon sticks, and is sure to impress with very little effort.

Looking for more fall cocktail recipes? You’ve got it! Check out my ultimate collection of the best fall cocktail recipes. I also have a collection of apple cider based cocktail recipes. There are dozens of autumnal recipes to explore!

Ingredients

Before I can walk you through the recipe for this tasty fall drink, let’s gather all the ingredients to make this dish.  Here’s what you’ll need:

• Mulling Spices – A mix of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice that infuse the drink with cozy autumn flavor. You can use what you like best. I highly recommend my homemade mulling spices. They are so god!
• Dry White Wine – A crisp white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, adds brightness and balances the sweetness of the cider. I used Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a staple at my house so I typically have a couple of bottles on hand.
• Apple Cider – Fresh apple cider provides the base of this recipe, giving it natural sweetness and a deep apple flavor.
• Honey – A touch of honey adds gentle sweetness while rounding out the spices and fruit.
• Orange – Sliced orange lends a citrusy brightness that keeps the drink from feeling too heavy.
• Apples – Fresh apple slices echo the cider and bring a pretty garnish that makes the drink feel festive.
• Cinnamon Sticks – Used for garnish, these add a lovely aroma and an extra hint of spice in each cup.

How to Make

And with all of our ingredients assembled, I think we’re ready to mix up this Apple Cider Mulled Wine. I’ll walk you through the steps below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

1. Begin by filling a spice bag with your mulling spices.

2. In a heavy-bottom saucepan or a slow cooker, add the bagged mulling spices, wine, cider, and honey. Mix to combine. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Remove the bagged mulling spices and discard them.

3. Before serving, stir in the orange and apple slices. Serve immediately or keep covered and set on low heat. The added benefit is that while it simmers, your kitchen will smell amazing…like when you walk into Williams-Sonoma! That smell is one of the reasons I enjoy serving this recipe when I have friends and family over to my house.

4. You can keep this warm on the stove (or in your slow cooker) for up to two hours. If desired, add a splash of spiced rum, brandy, or bourbon just before serving. (I usually don’t do this because I think the depth of flavor is delightful as is.)

And that’s a wrap. This know this recipe will becoming a go-to for warming up chilly autumn nights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use red wine instead of white wine?

Yes, absolutely. Red wine will give this drink a deeper, richer flavor. I recommend something dry like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot so it doesn’t become overly sweet.

How do I keep this warm for a party?

A slow cooker is the easiest way to keep mulled wine warm for several hours. If you’re using the stovetop, keep it on the lowest heat setting and covered, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t simmer or reduce too much.

What should I serve with Cider Mulled Wine?

This drink pairs beautifully with fall snacks and desserts. Think cheese boards, roasted nuts, or pumpkin bread. Check out some of my favorite fall recipes for even more ideas.

More Fall Drinks You’ll Love

• Pumpkin Old Fashioned
• Butterscotch White Russian
• Apple Cider Sidecar
• The BEST Mulled Wine
• Caramel Apple Martini
• Autumn Harvest Fall Sangria

That’s it, my friends! I hope you will find lots of reasons to make this Cider Mulled Wine during the cooler months ahead. Once you make it, I’d love to know what you think. Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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Really Good Cider Mulled Wine

This Cider Mulled Wine is my latest fall go-to. It’s a delicious way to warm up on a cool autumn day, plus it will make your kitchen smell incredible.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cider, cocktail, fall, mulled cider, mulled wine

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 206kcal

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons mulling spices*
• 1 750 ml bottle dry white wine I used Sauvignon Blanc.
• 4 cups apple cider**
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 orange sliced
• 2 apples sliced
• Additional cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions

• Begin by filling a spice bag with your mulling spices.
• In a heavy-bottom saucepan or a slow cooker, add the bagged mulling spices, wine, cider, and honey. Mix to combine. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Remove the bagged mulling spices and discard them.
• Before serving, stir in the orange and apple slices. Serve immediately or keep covered and set on low (warheat.
• If desired, add a splash of spiced rum, brandy, or bourbon just before serving. (I usually don’t do this because I think the depth of flavor is delightful as is.)

Notes

*You can get my recipe for Homemade Mulling Spices here. You could also substitute your favorite mulling spice blend. Alternatively. you can use a couple of cinnamon sticks, five whole cloves, and five whole allspice.

**Feel free to add another cup of cider if you want more apple flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg