It’s fun to blend your own cranberry mulling spices! Simply follow these easy instructions! Make a few extra to give as hostess gifts!
Are you looking for a flavorful, warm drink for the chilly autumn evenings? Mulling spices are made by blending a variety of fragrant spices together to add seasonal flavor to a variety of beverages.
Cranberry Mulling Spices can easily turn a jug of a full-bodied red wine, apple cider or even cranberry apple juice into a tasty culinary delight!
Let’s answer a couple of questions first before I get into the recipe part!
What Does Mulling Mean?
Do the spices have a decision to make and they are pondering over it? Well, no. In culinary terms, to mull means to heat, sweeten and flavor with spices. The only decision the mulling spices need to make is what type of liquid they are going to be flavoring!
Why Mulling Spices and Not Mulling Herbs?
Herbs and spices both originate from plants. The difference is in what part of the plant they come from. The green, leafy part of the plant is the herb. A spice comes from the root, stem, seed, fruit, flower or bark of the tree or plant.
Herbs can be used either fresh or dried. Herbs can be less aromatic than spices. Spices are generally more aromatic and used in their dried form. Since spices are most often used in their dried form, they are longer lasting. Given that the grinding process exposes the spice to oxygen, whole spices can be stored for the longest period. Fresh herbs have the shortest shelf live while ground spices and dried herbs can be kept longer than their fresh counterpart.
Fresh herbs are often delicate. The heating process of making the mulled beverage would greatly diminish the flavor of the fresh herb. The spices can better withstand the heating process. In fact, the heating process helps release the flavor of the spices .
What Types of Liquids are best to use with the Mulling Spices?
This delicious blend of spices can be used to flavor apple cider, cranberry juice or red wine. If you are going to make Mulled Wine, you will want to choose a full bodied red wine such as a Syrah . A delicate red wine such as a pinot noir is going to be overwhelmed with the flavors from the mulling spices.
For a non-alcoholic version, any type of apple cider, cranberry juice, apple juice or a cran-apple juice can be used.
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Cranberry Mulling Spices
Equipment
- small drawstring muslin bags
Ingredients
- 3 small cinnamon sticks broken in half
- 2 tsp whole allspice
- few pieces of dried orange peel
- 3 -4 whole star anise
- 1 Tablespoon dried cranberries
Instructions
- Mix cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, dried orange peel, dried cranberries and the star anise together and place in the muslin bag. Tie the drawstring securely. A square of cheesecloth or even a coffee filter can be used in place of the drawstring bag. Use twine to securely tie the cheesecloth or coffee filter into a bundle. Bring two quarts of liquid* to a simmer, add the tied drawstring bundle of spices to the liquid and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve warm in mugs. *cider, apple juice, cranberry juice or a robust red wine
Notes
The recipe for regular mulling spices can be found here:
Yum – this sounds delish for a cool night by the fire!
Thank you so much, Patti! I hope you make it for one of your fireside nights!
What a great recipe, Kim! This is perfect for fall! I am excited to feature your post at this week’s Tuesday Turn About link party. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much, Lynne! I appreciate the feature!
Great post Kim! I didn’t know the difference between herbs and spices – thanks for the info!
Glad you enjoyed it Cindy!