• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathleen's Cravings
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer and Snack Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Meatless Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • How To
  • Welcome!
    • Welcome!
    • Work With Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Fave Tools
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Summer Recipes
    • About
    • Work With Me
    • Fave Tools
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Drink Recipes

    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (with apple cider)

    Published: Dec 7, 2023 · Modified: May 6, 2025 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine is cozy and perfect for the holidays. Mulled wine is red wine that has been spiced and slightly sweetened with apple cider. Making a batch in the crock pot is so easy!

    red mulled wine in mug

    Making mulled wine in the slow cooker is the easiest method! Just add the wine, apple cider, honey, fruit, and spices to your crock pot and let it warm. A comforting, but festive drink for the holidays. For another festive cocktail try this Christmas Moscow Mule or Cranberry Gin Cocktail.

    ⭐Why I Love It:

    • Festive Recipe - I love how cozy and festive this recipe is for the holidays. Other festive favorites include Candied Pecans, Puff Pastry Brie Bites, Brussels Sprout Salad with Pears.
    • Slow Cooker Recipe - Let your crockpot do all the work!
    • Slightly Sweet and Spiced - Adding apple cider and honey to the red wine adds a touch of sweetness, while the spices give it that mulled flavor.
    red wine with apples and oranges in crockpot

    🥘Ingredients:

    • Red Wine - I like to use a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Red Blend
    • Apple Cider - If you use apple juice instead of apple cider, you can add extra cinnamon.
    • Honey - you could also use pure maple syrup.
    • Fresh Orange
    • Apple
    • Spices - Cinnamon Sticks, Whole Cloves, Star Anise. You can use extra spices to make stovetop potpourri!
    • Optional - Brandy - I often make mine without, but you can add brandy to make the mulled wine stronger.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    🍷Serving

    Place an assortment of coffee mugs next to the crockpot along with a ladle for serving. I also like to set out a bowl of extra garnishes such as:

    • Orange Slices or Strips of Orange Peels
    • Apple Slices
    • Fresh Cranberries
    • Cinnamon Sticks and Star Anise Pods

    🔪Step by Step Instructions

    Making Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with Apple Cider is as easy as adding all of the ingredients to the crockpot and letting it warm up.

    mulled wine with apple cider in slow cooker.

    Photo 1 - Add the wine, apple cider, and honey to your large crockpot. Top with the sliced fruit and whole spices. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 1-2 hours until hot. You can then switch the crockpot to warm to maintain the heat.

    crock pot mulled wine in mugs with orange slices.

    Photo 2 - Mulled wine can be served warm or at room temperature. I prefer to serve warm with mugs.

    📖Variations - Stovetop

    If you prefer to make mulled wine on the stovetop instead of in your crockpot, you can do that!

    1. Combine Ingredients - Add the wine, apple cider, and honey to a large pot. Top with the sliced fruit and whole spices.
    2. Cook - Cook on medium-high heat until it ALMOST comes to a simmer, then lower the heat. You do not want the mulled wine to bubble. Reduce the heat to low and allow to stay warm and the spices infuse the wine for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.
    3. Serve - Mulled wine can be served warm or at room temperature. I prefer to serve warm with mugs.
    red wine with mulling spices and orange in mug

    🍽Storage and Reheating

    • Storage - Leftover mulled wine can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to store it in large mason jars after straining away the fruit slices and spices.
    • Reheating - The leftovers can be drank at room temperature or warmed gently on the stove, in a crockpot, or in the microwave.

    💭 Recipe Tips

    • Heat on LOW not HIGH - Depending on your crockpot, it takes about an hour or two to heat the mulled wine. Heating on LOW is best as if you put it on HIGH, the mulled wine could simmer which can cook off the alcohol.
    • Easily Halve Recipe - If you only want to use one bottle of wine, you can easily halve the recipe. Halve the wine, apple cider, and honey. You can use the same amount of apple slices, orange slices, and spices if you'd like. Still heat on LOW until hot - if will take less time if you still make it in a large crockpot.
    close up of mulled wine in crockpot

    🍹Related Drink Recipes

    • vegan banana pineapple smoothie in a glass
      Vegan Banana Pineapple Smoothie
    • raspberry tequila cooler cocktails with basil
      Raspberry Tequila Cooler
    • mango orange smoothie with chia seeds
      Mango Orange Smoothie
    • blueberry smoothie in a glass
      Blueberry Almond Smoothie

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

    Print

    Recipe

    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine (with apple cider)

    red wine with apples and oranges in crockpot
    Print Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine with apple cider is cozy and perfect for the holidays. Mulled wine is red wine that has been spiced and slightly sweetened. Making a batch in the crock pot is so easy!

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    • Yield: 10-12 servings
    • Category: Drinks
    • Method: Slow Cooker
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    • 2 750-ml bottles of red wine, such as Cabarnet Sauvignon or a Red Blend
    • ½ cup honey
    • ½ gallon apple cider
    • 1 orange, thickly sliced
    • 1 apple, thickly sliced
    • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
    • 4-5 whole cloves
    • 3 star anise
    • ½ cup brandy, optional
    • Garnishes - Orange peels or quarters, fresh cranberries, extra spices

    Instructions

    1. Combine Ingredients - Add the wine, apple cider, and honey to your large crockpot. Top with the sliced fruit and whole spices.
    2. Slow Cook - Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 1-2 hours until hot. You can then switch the crockpot to warm to maintain the heat.
    3. Serve - Mulled wine can be served warm or at room temperature. I prefer to serve warm with mugs.

    Notes

    See blog post for instructions on how to make on the stove!

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/10 of Recipe
    • Calories: 198
    • Sugar: 17.2 g
    • Sodium: 3.8 mg
    • Fat: 0.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 23.6 g
    • Fiber: 1.4 g
    • Protein: 0.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @KathleensCravings on Instagram

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

    More Easy Drink Recipes

    • Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Matt Schroeder says

      December 04, 2021 at 3:44 pm

      This mulled wine is oh so fine.
      The perfect way to keep the cold at bay.
      Thank you, Kathleen, for your cuisine.

      Reply
      • Kathleen says

        December 04, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Ha! Love it! Thank you!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Kathleen and welcome! My favorite place to be has always been in the kitchen and I love creating recipes that are easy and approachable. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions!

    More about me →

    Single Serve Recipes

    • Single serve banana bread in a ramekin.
      Single Serve Banana Bread (1 Banana)
    • Single serve chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.
      Single Serve Chocolate Cupcake (Makes Two)
    • Single serve oatmeal chocolate chip cookie split in half.
      Single Serve Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie (Small Batch)
    • Single serve sugar cookie on a plate with sprinkles.
      Single Serve Sugar Cookie (Small Batch)

    Summer Recipes

    • Single serve blueberry crisp in a ramekin with an oat topping.
      Single Serve Blueberry Crisp (Air Fryer or Oven)
    • Scoops of mixed berry sorbet in a bowl with fresh berries.
      Ninja Creami Mixed Berry Sorbet
    • Blackstone Garlic Butter Steak Bites on a plate with parsley.
      Blackstone Steak Bites (Garlic Butter)
    • Flatbread pizzas on the Blackstone griddle.
      Blackstone Flatbread Pizza
    • stack of s'mores bars with mini marshmallows
      S'Mores Bars
    • Single serve cornbread on a plate cut in half.
      Single Serve Cornbread (Small Batch)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2025 KATHLEEN'S CRAVINGS ON THE SEASONED PRO THEME

     

    Loading Comments...