Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (2024)

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The Williams Sonoma mulling spices make the most delicious mulled cider. These DIY homemade holiday mulling spices are a great gift idea for hostess gifts, teacher gifts, or just keeping on hand to spice up apple cider and wine during the winter season.

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (1)

I have a free printable instruction tag for you to print and add to the jar. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the free downloadable printable.

Simple ingredients including cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, and dried orange peel will put this spice blend on your holiday menu each year.

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  • Want To Save This Recipe?
  • What are homemade mulling spices made of?
  • How to make mulling spices
  • How do you make a large batch of mulled apple cider for a crowd?
  • What are the benefits of mulling?
  • How much mulling spices for a bottle of wine?
  • Giving mulling spice as a gift
  • Want To Save This Recipe?
  • More Holiday Recipes:
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  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock
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What are homemade mulling spices made of?

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (2)

This recipe for homemade mulling spices is a combination of crushed cinnamon sicks, whole cloves, whole allspice berries along with dried orange rind.

How to make mulling spices

  1. Combine all the spices together and mix until thoroughly combined.
  2. Store in an air-tight container until ready to use.
Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (3)

This is a copycat recipe of the Williams Sonoma mulling spice and I have done my best to literally deconstruct a sample size of the mulling spices you can purchase at W&S. I am not using the exact variety of spices called out on the label but ones I had in my kitchen cabinet. Also I am not including the oils that care called out on the ingredient list on the label. It is not exact for these reasons.

1 cup of Williams Sonoma mulling spices:

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (4)

How do you make a large batch of mulled apple cider for a crowd?

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (5)

I like to make mulled cider for a crowd in a large crock pot or slow cooker. For every ½ gallon of cider you are going to need ¼ cup of mulling spices. For every gallon of cider you are going to need ½ cup of mulling spices.

Add your homemade mulling spices to a reusable spice ball, muslin tea bag or double layer of cheesecloth. Warm in the crockpot for a minimum of 2 hours on low or 1 hour on high. Remove the spice ball or spice bag before serving your hot mulled cider or wine.

What are the benefits of mulling?

The process of mulling infuses drinks hot apple cider and red wine with aromatic spices that provide a complex, robust flavor profile. Common mulling spices can include; cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, and orange peel.

You could also add ginger, lemon peel, cardamom pods, star anise or whole peppercorn to the spice bag or tea bag. When these spices are added to heated cider or wine, they impart a delicious warmth and aroma that is perfectly cozy for cold weather.

Top Tip

Strain the whole spices out before serving.

Breathing in the fragrant steam from a mulled drink can be relaxing thanks to the aromatherapy benefits. Additionally, mulling is an easy way to create a tasty, festive drink using common ingredients that most people have on hand already.

The scents and presentation make mulled beverages ideal for holiday gatherings and evoke a spirit of community and celebration.

How much mulling spices for a bottle of wine?

To make mulled wine the amount of spice mix can vary based on personal taste, but 3-4 tablespoons of mulling spice is a starting point for a well-balanced mulled wine with a 750ml bottle. For stronger spice flavor, use the full 4 tablespoons per bottle. For more subtle spice notes, stick to around 3 tablespoons.

I like to select a dry red wine when I am making spiced holiday wine. Allow the wine to steep with the spice mixture for at least 20 minutes, up to a few hours to fully infuse.

Strain the whole spices out before serving if you don't want floating bits in the mulled wine.

Want to give this as a gift?

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (6)

I have made a free printable tag for you to add to your jar. Instructions are on the tag and directions on where to go to make a refill of this recipe.

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (7)

Printable tag tips:

  • Download the PDF.
  • Make sure to print the tags in a landscape or horizontal orientation.
  • Print on card stock (110 lb)
  • Use the guide marks to help cut apart the tags.

Giving mulling spice as a gift

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (8)
  1. Make a batch of mulling spices.
  2. Print and cut out the tags.
  3. Fill a 8 ounce canning jar with 1 ½ cups of mulling spices.
  4. Close with a lid and a ring.
  5. Cut 27 inches of twine or string.
  6. Punch holes in the top of the tag.
  7. Lace the twine or string through the holes and tie around the neck of the jar.
  8. Optional: include a spice ball with the jar, tying the chain under the twine.

Free Printable Tag:

Click here to download the printable

I don't have a tea ball? What else can I use?

Not a problem if you don't have a tea ball for the mulling spices! Use a square of cheese cloth, tied up with string instead of the tea diffuser. Alternatively, you can use a paper coffee filter, tied with string as well.

How do you make a small batch of mulled cider?

Fill a large tea ball infuser with 2 tablespoons of these mulling spices and in a medium sauce pan, gently simmer 4 cups of apple cider over medium heat for 20 minutes. After the simmer time is up, gently remove the infuser ball and serve the mulled cider in a mug with a garnish of a whole cinnamon stick and a grate of fresh nutmeg.

What's the best cider for mulled cider?

I am a big fan of using a local, unfiltered apple cider. By it being un-filtered or partially filtered, it is going to have more body to the drink and contain more nutrients than a filtered cider. You can change up your flavors by switching out part of the cider for apple juice, pear juice, cranberry juice or cherry juice.

How many times can you use the spices?

I recommend using fresh spices for each batch of mulling. Once the spices have infused the drink for a few hours, they have done their job.
That being said, during a party I have been known to add a heavy splash of wine or cider to the pot or slow cooker just to 'stretch' the drink. The longer the drink mulls, the stronger it gets. By adding fresh liquid to the end of a batch it can brighten it up and mellow out any strong, concentrated flavors.
If I see that the drink container is empty, I will start the process of mulling over with fresh spices. The choice is up to you but this is what I do in my home.

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📖 Recipe

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (13)

Mulling Spices Recipe

Sarah Mock

The William Sonoma mulling spices make the most delicious mulled cider. These DIY homemade holiday mulling spices are a great gift idea for hostess gifts, teacher gifts, or just keeping on hand to spice up cider and wine during the winter season.

4.50 from 46 votes

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Note From Sarah

There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Prep time for the recipePrep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook time for the recipeCook Time 0 minutes mins

total time to prep and cook the recipe.Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks - Non Alcoholic

Cuisine American

Makes 2 cups

Per Serving 75 kcal

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients and store in an air tight container.

To serve:

  • 2 tablespoons of these mulling spices in a tea ball and in a medium sauce pan, gently simmer 4 cups of apple cider over medium heat for 20 minutes.

  • For every ½ gallon of cider you are going to need ¼ cup of mulling spices.

  • For every gallon of cider you are going to need ½ cup of mulling spices. Warm in the crockpot for a minimum of 2 hours on low or 1 hour on high.

  • Remove the spice ball from the cider before serving.

Notes

  • crush cinnamon sticks in a zip top bag with a rolling pin.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 1g

Nutrition Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (14)

👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock

CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

    Mulling Spices Recipe ☕ for Mulled Cider, Apple Cider or Wine (2024)

    FAQs

    What are mulling spices made of? ›

    The combination of spices varies, but it usually consists of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, and less frequently star anise, peppercorn, or cardamom. It also usually includes dried fruit, such as raisins, apples, or orange rind. Mulling spices can be bought prepackaged.

    Is mulled wine the same as mulled cider? ›

    Mulled wine is a hot beverage that's made by mixing wine with various spices and letting it simmer before serving warm. Mulled cider is the same concept, just with cider instead of wine!

    What is the best cider for mulled cider? ›

    The cider should be a medium brown color and cloudy. The cloudiness indicates the juice hasn't undergone the filtering process, leaving the rich apple flavour pulp in the juice. Skip the commercially available brands and go straight for the good stuff: whole spices in the spice aisle.

    How many apples do you need to make 1 gallon of cider? ›

    How many apples does it take to make a gallon of cider? - It will take just a little over a peck or 36-42 medium apples to make just one gallon of cider.

    What is the best wine for mulled wine? ›

    The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

    Do mulling spices go bad? ›

    Dried herbs and spices don't truly expire or “go bad” in the traditional sense. When a spice is said to have gone bad, it simply means that it has lost most of its flavor, potency, and color. Fortunately, consuming a spice that has gone bad is unlikely to make you sick.

    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!)

    What to use instead of mulling spices? ›

    Mulling spices are pretty simple to substitute. Because a lot of the ingredients are pretty common, you'll find a lot of DIY mulling spice recipes. The base of the recipe should include cinnamon, cloves, and allspice - try a simple 3-2-1 ratio of those ingredients (by weight) in a pinch.

    Does the alcohol cook out of mulled cider? ›

    Spiking Mulled Cider

    Add alcohol to a single mug or the batch of cider after cooking so the alcohol doesn't cook off.

    Can you buy ready made mulled cider? ›

    Order our ready-made mulled cider bag in a box in volumes of 5, 10 and 20 litres. The best addition to your winter celebrations, our Mulled Cider is perfect for Bonfire night, Halloween and Christmas. Served in tin mugs by a crackly fire, it's an ideal winter warmer!

    What do Americans call mulled wine? ›

    Mulled wine goes by many names—spiced wine, hot wine, glögg, glühwein, and vin chaud are a few I hear used interchangeably.

    Why is my mulled cider bitter? ›

    Between day 9 and 12 of active fermentation the cider loses all apple flavor and becomes bitter.

    What is the difference between apple cider and spiced apple cider? ›

    The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.

    What is the best alcohol to add to apple cider? ›

    Many alcohols mix well with apple cider. Dark liquors like bourbon (my pick) or dark rum are traditional, but they are by no means the only option. Vodka pairs well with apple cider and is a good light option. You can even let guests each pick their own.

    How much hops to add to cider? ›

    Depending on what kind of result you want, the quantity of hops per gallon can vary quite a bit. Stem Ciders scaled down what they typically do to a 5-gallon batch, which came out to approximately 0.25 oz. of hops per gallon.

    How much acid blend per gallon of cider? ›

    Acid blend is also added at between 1/4 tsp – 1/2 tsp per gallon. Note: The 1/4 tsp – 1/2 tsp per gallon quantity is from all acid sources. Don't add 1/2 tsp of malic acid and 1/2 tsp of acid blend to a gallon.

    How many cinnamon sticks per gallon of apple cider? ›

    Per gallon of cider, I recommend using 4 cinnamon sticks and 1 teaspoon each of your chosen spices. Use whole ones, if you can—ground spices will give your cider an unpleasant gritty texture.

    How much yeast do I need for 2 gallons of cider? ›

    Add yeast and nutrients: Add ½ teaspoon (~2 grams) of yeast nutrient (Fermaid K) per gallon of juice. Carefully swirl to mix. Add ¼ teaspoon (~1 gram) dry yeast per gallon of juice by sprinkling across the surface of the juice. After a few minutes, gently swirl to mix.

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