Mulling Spice
Holiday Recipes
From traditional wassail to festive mulled wine, discover warming Christmas drinks made with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, orange peel, and star anise.
A Christmas Tradition in Every Cup
The aroma of warming spices has filled holiday kitchens for centuries. Our Mulling Spices bring together classic botanicals traditionally used to flavor apple cider, wine, fruit juices, and seasonal punch.
These six holiday recipes include family-friendly favorites and festive alcoholic drinks. Each recipe uses The Leaf and Cup Mulling Spices.
Before you begin: Use a fine-mesh strainer or reusable spice bag. Gently simmer spices rather than boiling them aggressively. For alcoholic recipes, keep the heat low to preserve flavor.
🍎 Nonalcoholic Christmas Favorites
🍎 Classic Spiced Apple Cider
Sweet apples and fragrant Christmas spices.
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 tablespoons Mulling Spices
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, optional
Directions
- Pour cider into a large saucepan.
- Add Mulling Spices and orange slices.
- Heat until gently steaming.
- Simmer on low for 20–30 minutes.
- Strain and sweeten if desired.
- Serve warm in mugs.
🍊 Christmas Morning Wassail
A bright, citrusy, family-friendly holiday drink.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 3 cups orange juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons Mulling Spices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, optional
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
Directions
- Combine juices in a large saucepan.
- Add spices and sliced apple.
- Warm gently over medium-low heat.
- Simmer 20 minutes without boiling.
- Strain the spices and adjust sweetness.
- Serve warm with fresh apple slices.
🍒 Cranberry Orange Christmas Punch
Ruby-red cranberry with warming winter spices.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 tablespoons Mulling Spices
- 2 tablespoons honey, optional
- Fresh cranberries and orange slices
Directions
- Combine juices in a saucepan.
- Add Mulling Spices.
- Simmer gently for 15–20 minutes.
- Strain and sweeten to taste.
- Garnish with cranberries and orange slices.
- Serve warm.
🍷 Festive Alcoholic Holiday Classics
🍷 Traditional Christmas Mulled Wine
A European holiday favorite with red wine and spices.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry or semi-dry red wine
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons Mulling Spices
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2–3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
- ¼ cup brandy, optional
Directions
- Combine wine, cider, spices, and orange in a pot.
- Warm over low heat without boiling.
- Keep warm for 20–30 minutes.
- Stir in sweetener to taste.
- Strain out spices.
- Add optional brandy and serve warm.
🥃 Winter Spiced Hot Toddy
Whiskey, honey, lemon, and warming spices.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon Mulling Spices
- 3 oz whiskey or bourbon
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 lemon slices
Directions
- Bring water and spices to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Strain into two heatproof mugs.
- Add whiskey, honey, and lemon juice.
- Stir and garnish with lemon slices.
🍷 Christmas Spiced Sangria
Red wine, winter fruit, and festive spice.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine
- 2 cups apple cider
- ¼ cup orange liqueur or brandy
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Mulling Spices
- 1 tablespoon honey, optional
Directions
- Heat cider and spices gently for 15 minutes.
- Strain and cool completely.
- Combine cooled cider, wine, and liqueur.
- Add apple and orange slices.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Serve chilled with fruit.
📜 The History of Mulling Spices & Wassail
Ancient Rome: The Roots of Spiced Wine
The tradition of flavoring wine with herbs, spices, and sweeteners reaches back to the ancient world. Roman sources describe seasoned wines, including recipes associated with the culinary collection traditionally attributed to Apicius.
These early beverages helped establish a long European tradition of combining wine with aromatic ingredients. The exact mixtures changed across regions and centuries.
Medieval Europe: Spices and Hospitality
During the Middle Ages, spiced wines such as hippocras became fashionable in parts of Europe. Cinnamon, cloves, and other imported spices were valued for their flavor and expense.
Spiced beverages were served at feasts and gatherings, particularly among households able to afford imported ingredients.
Wassail: An English Winter Tradition
The word wassail comes from an Old English expression meaning roughly "be in good health." Over time, it became associated with drinking to someone's health, communal celebrations, and seasonal customs.
Wassail traditions developed in England across the medieval and early modern periods. Celebrants shared warm drinks, sang songs, and exchanged good wishes.
In some English cider-producing regions, orchard wassailing developed into a custom of visiting apple trees, singing, and making noise to encourage a successful harvest. These traditions varied by region.
From Wassail Bowls to Christmas Kitchens
By the early modern period, wassail bowls and spiced drinks had become part of English seasonal hospitality. Recipes varied widely, sometimes including ale, cider, wine, sugar, spices, roasted apples, or eggs.
Modern mulling spice blends often feature cinnamon, cloves, allspice, citrus peel, and star anise. These ingredients are now popular for flavoring hot cider, mulled wine, and nonalcoholic holiday punches.
Keeping the Tradition Alive
Today, mulling spices bring familiar holiday aromas into kitchens and gatherings. Whether prepared as classic mulled wine, a family-friendly cider, or a modern cranberry punch, the tradition remains closely tied to hospitality and celebration.