This warmed Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine is easy, delicious, and full of festive winter flavors. This recipe is perfect for kids or anyone who wants to enjoy mulled wine without the alcohol and hang over. Stove top and slow cooker instructions included.
For more alcohol free mocktails, browse these!
This easy Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine is hands down, my favorite Christmas drink. The flavor is out of this world! It is slightly sweet, fruity, and rounded out with a cinnamon spiced flavor. It also has a subtle tart and citrusy flavor. My recipe uses alcohol free merlot and bourbon whiskey, you would never even know there was no alcohol in it.
Why You’ll LOVE This Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine Recipe
- It warms the soul- not to mention, it is the perfect alcohol free drink for the holiday season.
- Makes your kitchen smell great- thanks to the spices and simmering juices. It is a simmer pot you get to drink!
- So versatile- the ingredients can be adjusted to your liking or based off what you have on hand.
- Great for serving a crowd- everyone can drink this one, including the kiddos. So you may want to triple this recipe.
What Is Mulled Wine?
Mulled Wine has been around for many, many years. Essentially it is red wine infused with spices, winter fruits, and warmed to perfection.
It was created as a way to help people avoid illnesses, which makes total sense because the spices in mulled wine have a lot of nutritional value and anti-bacterial properties. Over time this warmed wine and spice beverage has become wildly popular during the winter/ Christmas season.
Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine Ingredients
- Alcohol Removed Merlot: Make sure the bottle says 0.0% ABV, anything different then it is not alcohol free. Popular brands are Fre Merlot (which is what I use), Gruvi, and Eisberg. Any non alcoholic red wine will work, but Merlot compliments the other flavors best.
- Non Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey: I use Lyre’s American Malt 100% of the time. It is my all time favorite. Other brands include Ritual, Kentucky 74, and Free Spirits.
- Orange Juice: Feel free to use store bought or freshly squeezed that is pulp free.
- Maple Syrup: This adds a little sweetness and boosts the spice flavor.
- Orange Slices: For another level of orange flavor, the extract from the peel and juices from the fruit steep in the mulled wine.
- Fresh Cranberries: As these are cooked in the mulled wine they pop and release tart cranberry flavor.
- Whole Spices: Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. These can be bought in the baking aisle of your grocery store or online. Just make sure they are food grade spices.
Watch This Quick Video Tutorial!
How to Make Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine at Home
This is a quick overview of how to make it, the recipe card will have more details.
On The Stove Top:
- Add the ingredients to a Dutch oven. Non alcoholic wine, alcohol removed bourbon whiskey, orange juice, maple syrup, half of the orange slices, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Simmering for more time means it will have a stronger spice flavor.
- Add the remaining orange slices. This gives the alcohol free mulled wine some fresh and bright flavor which is needed.
In A Slow Cooker:
- Add ingredients to the slow cooker. Non alcoholic wine, alcohol removed bourbon whiskey, orange juice, maple syrup, half of the orange slices, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.
- Heat on low for 1 to 1.5 hours. Simmering longer means the spice flavor will be stronger.
- Add the remaining orange slices for a fresh and bright flavor.
PRO TIP: Mulled Wine is meant to be simmered and not boiled. Boiling or heating mulled wine for too long makes it extremely bitter and unpleasant.
Serving Information
Ladle the alcohol free mulled wine into heat safe glasses or mugs. You can garnish with more orange slices, fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick.
To keep it warmer longer, place a lid over the mulled wine. If you love where the flavor profile is at, feel free to remove the orange slices and spices to keep it from steeping any longer.
Storing Information
Leftover alcohol free mulled wine should be stored in a pitcher or jug in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend removing the fruit and spices or it will continue to steep and become very strong.
When you are ready to drink the leftovers, simply warm them up in the microwave, in a saucepan on the stove, or in the slow cooker.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
This recipe uses alcohol removed spirits, but if you have non of those on hand, don’t fret! You have options.
Use concord grape juice in place of the merlot wine. Just make sure you are using 100% juice or your mulled wine will be too sweet. You can also use 100% cranberry juice or pomegranate juice too.
Try vanilla extract in place of the alcohol removed bourbon whiskey. It mimics the deep, rich flavors very well.
You can also use other sweeteners in place of the maple syrup. Use brown sugar, honey, granulated sugar, agave, or simple syrup.
Add additional whole spices like 2 crushed cardamom pods or some grated nutmeg.
Use an alcoholic merlot and bourbon whiskey if you are wanting to make this a boozy option. I like to make both alcoholic and non alcoholic mulled wine for holiday parties. This makes it great for anyone to enjoy together whether you are wanting booze or not.
I also love to make this non alcoholic Mulled Apple Cider recipe. It is the perfect option for those who maybe do not like red wine but love the mulled spices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine
Yes you can! Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and heat over low for 1 to 1.5 hours. Do not let it warm much longer or it will become too reduced and bitter.
The short answer is no, some of the alcohol would cook off but not enough for it to have no alcohol in it. If it did, the mixture would be too far reduced and you would have a gravy rather than a drink. This is why I recommend buying alcohol removed merlot wine or using grape, pomegranate, or cranberry juice.
They can drink this recipe because it has absolutely no alcohol in it, but still has all the mulled wine flavor.
More Non Alcoholic Drinks You Might Enjoy:
- Moscow Mule Mocktail
- Smoked Whiskey Sour Mocktail
- Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail
- Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail
- Grapefruit Ginger Beer Mocktail
- Espresso Martini Mocktail
- Apple Cider Mule Mocktail
- Lemon Mojito Mocktail
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Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine
EQUIPMENT
- glassware - Irish coffee mugs
INGREDIENTS
- 1 bottle non alcoholic merlot - Fre Merlot
- ⅓ cup alcohol removed bourbon whiskey - American Malt from Lyre's
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 orange - sliced thinly
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks - or 4 small
- 4 star anise
- 4 cloves
INSTRUCTIONS
Mulled Wine on the Stove Top
- To a large Dutch oven, add non alcoholic wine, alcohol removed bourbon whiskey, orange juice, maple syrup, half of the orange slices, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Stir to combine.
- Heat the mixture over medium-high until it begins to boil.
- Immediately reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes (5 minutes for a mildly spiced mulled wine, and 10 minutes for a spicier mulled wine).
- Remove from heat and add the remaining orange slices.
- Ladle into heat safe glasses or mugs. Feel free to garnish with an additional orange slice, fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick.
- Place a lid on the Dutch oven to keep the Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine warmed longer.NOTE: Remove the orange slices and spices from the non alcoholic mulled wine if the flavor profile is reached.
Mulled Wine in the Slow Cooker
- To a large slow cooker, add non alcoholic wine, alcohol removed bourbon whiskey, orange juice, maple syrup, half of the orange slices, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and heat on low for 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
- Turn off the heat and add the remaining orange slices.
- Ladle into heat safe glasses or mugs. Feel free to garnish with an additional orange slice, fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick.
- Place a lid on the slow cooker to keep the Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine warmed longer.NOTE: Remove the orange slices and spices from the non alcoholic mulled wine if the flavor profile is reached.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
Storing Information:
- Refrigerated, in a pitcher or jug, for up to 5 days.
- Frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- NOTE: I recommend removing the fruit and spices or it will continue to steep and become very strong.
Reheating Information:
- Warm up leftovers in the microwave, on the stove top, or in the slow cooker until it is at the desired temperature.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Glad I’ve found this recipe. It has easy-to-follow instructions, and what I love about it is that there’s no hangover. I will make sure to introduce it to everyone during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s better than drinking soft drinks, and I know the kids will love it too.
Highly recommend to everyone. Thanks for sharing! I would love to try your other recipe too. It looks so delicious. 😋