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    You are here: Home / Spice Mix Recipes / Mulling Spices

    Mulling Spices

    Published: December 12, 2020. Last Updated: December 11, 2020 by: Ginny McMeans

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    Jump to Recipe -
    Close glass jar filled with mulling spices with an orange behind.
    Close glass jar filled with mulling spices with two mugs of cider behind.

    Mulling Spices are a blend of fragrant spices that are added to warmed drinks for a comforting aroma and taste. A wonderful DIY holiday gift too. The most popular drinks using mulling spices are mulled apple cider and mulled wine.

    Canning jar filled with earthy flavors and a spice filled scoop.

    Making your own spice mixes is a lot of fun. Not only is it easy but you save money when combining the ingredients yourself.

    Mulling spices are a little different than the spice and seasoning mixes that I already have on the blog. They are different because this time around the mixes are used in nice hot drinks not in food recipes.

    The spice mixture is added to wine or apples and cooked for a while at a very low temperature. Then you strain the liquid and sip a very aromatic and tasty drink.

    Another way to handle the spices is to put 2 tablespoons of the mixture into a small cloth bag for every ½ gallon of wine. These small drawstring muslin bags work really well.

    Add to the wine and cook. Doing it this way makes it so you only have to lift the bag out of the wine and no straining is necessary.

    Jump to:
    • What are the ingredients
    • Mulling spices recipe how to
    • How can you use mulling spices
    • FAQ's
    • More seasoning and spice mixes
    • 📋 Recipe
    A spice jar and scoop gilled with homemade mulling spice mix.

    What are the ingredients

    There are a variety of spices that can be used as additions to a basic mulling spice mixture. To me, these seven spices make the best combination and these are the spices I use in this recipe.

    • cinnamon sticks
    • cardamom pods
    • allspice berries
    • whole cloves
    • star anise pods
    • dried orange peel - store-bought or dried in an oven
    • black peppercorns
    Two photos - one with the ingredients separated and one with them added to a bag,

    Mulling spices recipe how to

    • As in the photo above, you can see all of the spices separated.
    • Next, you place the first five spices in a ziploc bag. Not the dried orange peel and the black peppercorns.
    • In the photo below you'll see how to use your rolling pin and crush the spices together.
    • Dump the bag of crushed spices into a bowl and add the dried orange peel and peppercorns. I used dried orange peel zest that I bought.
    Two photos showing the crushed ingredients and two additional spices in a bowl.
    • That's pretty much it!
    • Just mix it all together and place in a pretty jar for yourself or friends.
    Two photos with the spice mix in a bowl and then in a canning gift jar.

    How can you use mulling spices

    • Besides the mentioned mulled apple cider and mulled wine you can also use this mulling spices recipe in other ways.
    • You can make your house smell wonderful for the holidays. Add a scoop of this spice mix to a pot and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Let it simmer while the water holds out (about 2 hours) and enjoy the fragrance. You can double and triple these amounts for the aroma to last hours.
    • Crush the spices in a coffee grinder, I have a coffee grinder that is used specifically for spices, not coffee. You can substitute the ground spices for pumpkin pie and apple pie spice. Mix it in any recipe you have that calls for pumpkin pie spice such as pancakes, waffles, and muffins.
    • Don't forget about gifting. Place it in one of those small muslin bags that I mentioned above and tie it up with a red string or ribbon.
    Overhead look at mixture and two mugs of mulled cider.

    As it gets cooler outside you'll be using this mixture more and more. It goes well with autumn and winter.

    FAQ's

    How do I store mulling spices?

    Storing your mixture in an airtight container is the way to go. Any jars that you have with a tight fitting lid would be perfect.

    Are mulled drinks always warm?

    Traditionally, yes. This is how you can really enjoy the aroma of mulling spices. Room temperature mulled drinks will work also as they taste really good too.

    Can I use ground allspice?

    Not for the mulling process. It is too fine and much of it will go through the strainer.

    Can I substitute white or pink peppercorns for black?

    Yes, but it won't be quite as spicy.

    This recipe makes 2 cups which isn't too much but if you think 1 cup will do you then cut the recipe in half , by all means, If you want to gift go ahead and double the recipe.

    Close up glass jar filled with fall and winter spices.

    More seasoning and spice mixes

    • Homemade Chili Seasoning will be used all year long. It's simple and adds a lot of flavors.
    • Another mix that you will be using over and over again is Taco Seasoning. It even has a secret ingredient.
    • Garam Masala has deep rich flavors and really dresses up the flavors of lentils, rice and beans.
    Small square glass jar filled with spices with a scoop on the side.

    📋 Recipe

    Square jar with mulling spices and a scoop on the side.

    Mulling Spices Recipe

    Ginny McMeans
    Mulling spices are a blend of fragrant spices that are added to warmed drinks for a comforting aroma and taste. A wonderful DIY holiday gift too.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Save Saved
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Seasonings
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 2 Cups
    Calories 637 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ounces Cinnamon sticks
    • ½ cup Cardamom pods
    • ¼ cup Allspice berries
    • ¼ cup Whole cloves
    • ¼ cup Star anise pods
    • ⅓ cup Dried orange peel - zest store-bought or dried in oven
    • ¼ cup Black peppercorns

    Instructions
     

    • Place cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves, and star anise in a large resealable bag.
    • Gently crush with a rolling pin.
    • Add orange peel and peppercorns to a bowl or bag and toss to mix well.
    • Store in an airtight container.

    Video

    Notes

    To serve - add 2 tablespoons per ½ gallon of apple cider. Serve warm or room temperature
    PLEASE IGNORE THE NUTRITION CALCULATOR.  It would not calculate for the flavoring only.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 32ServingsCalories: 637kcalCarbohydrates: 153gProtein: 20gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 131mgPotassium: 2309mgFiber: 69gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 653IUVitamin C: 54mgCalcium: 1383mgIron: 31mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Blue graphic snowflake as Vegan in the Freezers logo.

    More Spice Mix Recipes

    • Homemade Garam Masala Seasoning
    • Homemade Apple Pie Spice
    • Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
    • Homemade Italian Seasoning Mix

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jen

      December 12, 2020 at 6:13 am

      5 stars
      We had mulled wine at an outdoor event a few nights back and it help us perfectly warm. Can’t wait to try this at home.

    2. Jessica

      December 12, 2020 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh this has been SO helpful and turned out to be the perfect gift for my friend who has EVERYTHING! Thank you!

    3. Toni

      December 12, 2020 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      I'm so excited to make my own mulling spices! I buy them every year to make apple cider and hot wine but never have made them myself. A great gift too!

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    For years I dabbled in cooking vegan food, but since I became a mom it has become more important for me than ever. What I’m after is a great collection of healthy and not time-consuming vegan recipes that make the whole family look forward to meals together.

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