Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (2024)

Published: Dec 9, 2022 by Emily Miller · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

If you are looking for a delicious festive drink to serve at your holiday gatherings, look no further than Vin Chaud, the traditional French mulled wine!

This classic vin chaud recipe with winter spices will surely be a hit with your guests, making your holiday parties or New Year's Eve even more special.

Several years ago, my husband and I first enjoyed vin chaud (hot wine) in Alsace, France, while visiting the French Christmas markets.

This hot alcoholic drink is similar to German glühwein or gluhwein. We have fond memories of strolling the Christkindlmarkets in Germany and Switzerland while carrying a mug of this warm wine. And now, I'm excited to share this recipe with you so you can enjoy this comforting drink on cold winter nights!

One of the best things about the holiday season is spending time with family and loved ones and enjoying wonderful conversations over delicious food and drinks. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the festive aromas wafting from your kitchen!

Vin Chaud is an excellent option for entertaining because it can easily be made ahead of time and kept warm in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. In addition, you can add extra spices such as ginger or allspice for additional flavor. With this recipe at your fingertips, entertaining has never been more effortless!

Try this Blood Orange French 75, Pomegranate Gimlet, or Meyer Lemon French 75 for more holiday drinks. If you'd like to serve something non-alcoholic, check the variations below and this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail.

Try this vegan Cranberry Orange Bread or these vegan Linzer cookies for a delicious homemade treat to accompany this drink!

Ingredients

To make this hot mulled wine recipe, you'll need these ingredients, including whole spices:

• I recommend an inexpensive fruity red wine you enjoy drinking, such as Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others. I recommend the site Barnivore to choose a vegan wine.
• Apple cider - not to be confused with apple cider vinegar! I add apple cider because I enjoy the rich apple flavor, and it makes the vin chaud a little less alcoholic.
• Orange juice - I used mandarin oranges to make fresh orange juice.
• Organic cane sugar - to sweeten the vin chaud. You may need to adjust the amount depending on how sweet your oranges are.
• Whole spices - cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and green cardamom pods.

How to make this Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)

It's simple to make this delicious French mulled wine recipe!

• Step 1: Add the apple cider, orange juice, organic cane sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and cardamom pods to a large saucepan on medium heat. Occasionally stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Step 2: Add wine once the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to low, keeping the mixture at a simmer for 20 minutes. You should see steam rising and occasional bubbling.
• Step 3: Strain the vin chaud through a fine mesh strainer and serve warm in mugs or glasses with handles, garnished with orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks.

Cheers! As they say in France, Santé (or À votre santé), which means, to your health!

Hint: Do not boil the vin chaud; this will affect the flavor. If you see vigorous bubbling, reduce the heat.

Roll fresh oranges under your hand on the kitchen counter to get the most juice from them.

Storage

Store the leftover vin chaud in the refrigerator in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for two to three days.

FAQ

More Festive Vegan Drinks

Looking for other holiday drinks like this? Try these:

Recipe