Holiday Mulled Spice Drinks

Create fabulous holiday teas and drinks with our Holiday Mulled Spice Mix! This aromatic seasonal blend of fruit and spices can be turned into mulled apple cider, mulled cranberry spice, warming mulled wine, a bowl of holiday wassail or spiced hot chocolate. Make all the holiday drinks you love to sip with one spice mix!

Holiday Mulled Spice Drinks

Makes 4 cups of Holiday Mulled Juice or Wine

INGREDIENTS AND HOW TO:
• In a large saucepot add 1 liter (or 4 cups) of apple juice or cranberry juice  (or a mix of 1/2 apple juice and 1/2 cranberry juice)
OR
• 1 – 750 ml bottle of fruity white or red wine, plus 1 cup of water or apple juice, to equal 4 cups of total liquid
• Add 2 heaping tablespoons (1/2 package) of Holiday Mulled Spice Mix, along with 1 each of the included cinnamon sticks, orange slices, apple slices and bay leaves
• Put saucepan over medium heat and bring just to the simmer. Do not boil!
• Turn heat to lowest setting, cover and steep for 15 minutes. Again, do not allow to boil (turn off heat if necessary.) If juice or wine becomes too strong simply add a bit of water to dilute
• If desired, sweeten with 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar, maple syrup or honey to taste
• Strain and ladle into mugs or wine glasses
• Stir in optional spirits if using
• Garnish with slices of orange, apple or float a few cranberries on top
OPTIONAL: Brandy, rum or orange liqueur

SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE:
• In a sauce pot put 4 cups milk of choice and add 1 tablespoon of Mulled Holiday Spice Mix with 1 cinnamon stick (omit the fruit and cranberries that are in the mix, use those to make mulled juice or wine)
• Stir in 1/4 cup each of Dutch processed cocoa powder and brown sugar
• Warm over medium heat, stirring frequently, bringing mixture to the simmer. Be careful it doesn’t come to the boil and spill over!
• Turn heat to lowest setting and steep 5 minutes
• OPTIONAL: Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• Strain into mugs and garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream
• Dust with cocoa powder or ground cinnamon
• OPTIONAL: Delicious with a drizzle of chocolate liqueur. If adding liqueur, cut back on the amount of brown sugar in recipe

TIPS
• For Spiced Hot Chocolate: When making hot chocolate add  to every 2 cups of hot milk.
• Add a spring of rosemary to the pot while steeping juice or wine. For extra fruit flavour add additional slices of fresh orange and apple.
• Holiday Fragrance Tip: To fill the air with a natural holiday scent, simmer used spices and fruit in a pot of water on the stovetop. Or use a crockpot if you’ere not able to tend to the stovetop. Add a sprig of cedar, pine or rosemary to enhance the woodsy aroma. Top with water as needed. Discard or compost leftover spices once finished.