Traditional Christmas favourites across Europe, mulled wine & mulled cider make winter so worthwhile! Vegan recipes for both in this post!
This time of year can be cold and damp and miserable, but for me, there are two things which make me forget all that, and really and truly appreciate midwinter; seeing snow-topped Alps from my kitchen window, and mulled wine!
Mulled wine, or kuhano vino as it’s called in Slovenia, is surely the greatest winter quaff known to humankind. I adore it, I really do (and yet curiously, I only ever want to drink it during the winter).
Speaking of winter, Slovenia is, in my opinion, THE best place to be during the cold season. It's the stuff that fairy tales are made of. In fact, living in Slovenia is a quite literally childhood dream come true for me.
Why is Slovenia so utterly wonderful?
We have Zlatorog...
Lots of snow...
Lect (similar to gingerbread)...
And pretty Christmas decorations...
I always really, really look forward to the Christmas market opening up in Ljubljana, and I have something of a personal tradition in that the first cup of mulled wine I have, must come from one of the fairy light-bedecked chalets along the river. After that, I make it at home.
Do check out these other vegan Christmas recipes!
Because there are some odd people around who don't actually enjoy wine (I know, right!), I’m also including a traditional French recipe for Cidre Chaud à la Cannelle (hot cinnamon cider).
For both of these recipes you can sub juice for alcohol.
Both mulled wine and mulled cider are incredibly easy to make; simply pour the wine or cider (or grape/apple juice if making non-alcoholic versions) into a large heavy-bottomed pan, add the spices and fruit, and then gently heat for 20 minutes. Serve with a cinnamon stick, and a slice of fruit, and rejoice in the fact that winter is a beautiful season, and the cold really isn’t so bad after all!
Na zdravje... vesel božič!
Mulled Wine
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red or white wine or red grape juice for a non-alcoholic version
- 4 Cinnamon stick
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 4 black peppercorns
- 4 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 lemon thinly sliced
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 80 ml Cognac (omit if making a non-alcoholic version)
Instructions
- Place everything into a heavy-bottomed pan, and gently warm over a low heat for around 20 minutes.
- Serve in mugs with a halved cinnamon stick and a halved slice of orange.
- 1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
- 1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
- 1 fl oz = US = 30 ml
Cidre Chaud à la Cannelle (Mulled Cider)
Ingredients
- 1 litre cider (or apple juice for a non-alcoholic version)
- 4 Cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 4 black peppercorns
- 1 star anise
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 apple thinly-sliced, to serve
Instructions
- Place everything into a heavy-bottomed pan, and gently heat over a low flame for around 20 minutes.
- Serve in mugs, with a halved cinnamon stick and slices of apple. Or, if you really want to impress, scoop out the insides of some apples, and use as cups!
- 1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
- 1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
- 1 fl oz = US = 30 ml
Katie Bryson
I adore mulled wine and cider... but weirdly didn't get around to making any this season! I love how you've used scooped out apples to serve the cider in - what a gorgeous idea. Thanks again for joining in with Simple and in Season
Nico
The apples were necessity - we have a very limited selection of glasses here, and the ones that were suitable for the cider, I'd already used for the wine! But hey, less washing up, right?! Ha ha! xx
Charlotte Oates
I love mulled wine and cider, I usually get my Dad to make it on Christmas day so we can have a glass while we open our presents. The spices in yours and the additional cognac sound delicious.
Nico
Fantastic - what a fab dad you have! xx
Corina
There really is nothing better than mulled wine drunk outside in the snow to warm you up! I remember drinking it at the Christmas markets quite a few years ago when I lived in Germany. Now I don't get to drink it in quite such atmospheric settings but I'd still happily drink it - and the mulled cider too! Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice.
Nico
Oh, I agree wholeheartedly, Corina - mulled wine and chilly winter evenings are made for each other! I keep promising myself that I'll go to Germany to a Christmas market but I've still not done it. Mind you, Austria is only an hour and a half's drive away, on the other side of the mountains, so maybe we'll nip over when we get back from Britain! I love advent markets!
Mandy
Ok I'm coming to visit! You live in such a beautiful place. One day I'll send you a pic of the view from my kitchen! Lovely recipes - you can't beat mulled wine at Christmas time. Thanks for adding to #CookBlogShare
Nico
I'll get the mulled wine on, then!
One day I would love to meet up with all my favourite bloggers for a huge picnic or something - wouldn't that be lovely? Imagine how stuffed we'd all be too! LOL! x
Eb Gargano
Oh I LOVE mulled wine...it is absolutely one of my favourite things about winter and this looks like a FAB recipe. And thanks for sharing all the gorgeous photos of Slovenia - it looks like such a beautiful place!! I'd love to go there one day - I think the Slovenian Tourist Board should put you on commission! 😉 Eb x
Nico
Funny you should say that, Eb - I've been considering getting in touch with them to see if they want to commission a few posts! I'll have to show them all the comments people leave! Maybe they could sponsor me to do a food tour. Yum! x
Sharon @ Bit of the Good Stuff
That has to be the most beautiful kitchen window view I have ever seen! Lucky you!
I've never visited Slovenia before but I'm definitely putting it on the travel wish list now 😉
Your mulled wine/cider shots are so warm and inviting. I don't personally drink alcohol as I'm a practising Buddhist, but I'm keen to try the juice version. Sounds delicious!
Nico
Oh, Sharon, Slovenia is soooo beautiful - I suspect you'd love it as much as we do. Think the Yorkshire Dales on steroids! LOLOL!
Kevin is a lifelong teetotal, so I always make non-alcoholic ones too. For the 'wine' version, it's best to use still grape juice, as opposed to something sparkling, such as Schloer. I don't whether you can get it there but over here, I buy it in cartons, and it's in the same aisle as the apple and orange juices.
I hope you love your mulled juice! x
Jessica Cantoni
wow - this makes me want to visit Slovenia!! Also will definitely be trying the mulled cider! xx
Nico
Hey Jessica - thanks for stopping by!
Slovenia is awesome (in the literal sense of the word), and I love that the total population is just over 2 million, and that most of the land is still rural. A couple of years ago, our friends came over to spend Christmas with us, and the first thing they said when we met them at the airport was that Slovenia is completely "Mountain-y and tree-y"! Yep, pointy and leafy!
There are no words to adequately convey how much I love Slovenia. 🙂
Sophie
What a lovely mulled wine recipe!.
I Will make it tomorrow,...Ooh yes!,????
Nicole
Cool - did you make it? Did you enjoy it?