Nothing says festive period quite like a warming cup of mulled wine! And, deciding to go alcohol free, doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Thankfully, the options for alcohol free drinks are continuously growing and making alcohol free mulled wine is just as easy as making the alcoholic version. What’s more, the alcohol free version comes sans headaches, vomiting & embarrassment!
I was always a little obsessed with mulled wine in my drinking days. If it was on sale, I was buying it – which proved quite problematic in places like Winter Wonderland where Gluhwein is sold every 10 meters. It was a sign of Christmas & festivities that I adored over indulging in… at the time. But, here’s what I really loved about mulled wine…
- It made me feel cosy & festive – mulled wine being sold meant Christmas was coming!
- I love warming, spiced drinks
- It kept my hands warm
The good news is, the alcohol free version still ticks all of these boxes. I can drink it & still get up feeling fresh the next day, ready to tackle the insane amount of social events that occur through November & December! So, let’s look at how to make your own alcohol free mulled wine so you can get your house smelling glorious & get into the festive spirit! If you’re loving the idea of mulled drinks, make sure you check out my alcohol free cider recipe!
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What Does Alcohol Free Mulled Wine Taste Like?
Unlike alcoholic mulled wine, which is often spiked with something stronger like Cointreau, alcohol free mulled wine won’t provide that burn commonly delivered by spirits. It will however, warm up you up nicely, taste deliciously festive and keep that hangover at bay!
When people first make the switch to alcohol alternatives, they can be disappointed by the lack of burn. Take a look at some AF product reviews on the likes of Tesco and you’ll see many comments along the lines of “tastes nothing like the real thing, threw it away“. It’s true that when you remove the alcohol, drinks taste different. The beauty of spiced drinks is that the flavours are so intense, you won’t stop to think that anything is missing. (And it doesn’t matter if you drink it too fast & go back for seconds).
Recipe
- Cooking Time: 30 mins
- Serves 7 (7 x 290ml glasses)
Ingredients
- 2 75cl Bottles of alcohol free red wine
- 400ml orange juice
- 45g dark brown sugar
- 1 – orange, zest & cut into thin slices
- 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 – whole cloves
- 2 – star anise
OR
If you can’t be bothered with the separate spices – you can use 1 or 2 pre made spice tea bags & infuse them instead.
Schwartz works well & is affordable.
To Prepare
Pour your alcohol free wine, orange juice & sugar into a saucepan & gently heat on a very low temperature. You do not want this to start boiling or reducing. Just gradually, gently, heat it up. If you don’t like your mulled wine too sweet, consider adding the sugar towards the end, bit by bit to taste.
While the sugar is dissolving, prepare the other ingredients. Grate your orange zest straight into the saucepan & slice up the orange – adding to the pot as you go. Snap the cinnamon sticks in half before adding them in. Add the cloves and star anise (or the Schwartz bags if using). Stir to combine and leave to heat for 30 minutes.
To Serve
Choose your heatproof vessel of choice.
Using a ladle, fill up your mugs or glasses with the alcohol free mulled wine.
Optional: Add a stick of cinnamon &/or a slice of orange into your cup of choice.
FAQ
Where Can I get More Information or Support?
For links to charities, sober community groups, helplines or sites to locate therapists check out our resources page here.