Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce

Mulled wine cranberry sauce is the best I’ve ever had, and I’m a cranberry sauce fanatic. I’ve been professionally developing recipes for over 15 years and I can tell you that this easy cranberry sauce hits all the high points of a great recipe:

FULL BODIED FLAVOR: cranberry sauce can be one note: sharp and tart. This recipe mellows it and adds a warm lingering hint of spice. It’s incredibly festive and perfect for the holidays.

EASY INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE: I make it right in the microwave in minutes. And you can store it in the same bowl.

UNIQUE FACTOR: this is something your friends and family haven’t had, the combo of red wine and the warm mulling spices gives your regular tart cranberry sauce a whole new personality. It’s a fresh new recipe you can feel proud to share.

Mulling is the process of gently heating a beverage (wine, cider, or juice) with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to infuse it with warm, aromatic flavors. Mulling originated in ancient Rome where people heated wine with spices to preserve and enhance flavor in colder months. This practice spread to Europe, becoming popular in medieval England (wassail) and Germany (Glühwein).

what you need to make mulled wine cranberry sauce

• fresh or frozen cranberries
• sugar
• red wine
• whole mulling spices

mulling spices don’t need to be complicated

You can use a readymade mix, or make your own custom blend mulling spice mix. But for this recipe I simply use a cinnamon stick, broken in two, and a couple of star anise. This gives the red wine cranberry sauce just the right amount of rounded warm spice flavor without overwhelming it.

Whole mulling spices vs ground spices: whole spices impart a milder more subtle flavor which infuses gradually. In contrast, ground spices provide a stronger flavor that can be too intense for mulled drinks, and they can add a slightly gritty texture to the drinks.

This delicious cranberry sauce is innovative in a few ways:

• I replace the plain water in a regular cranberry sauce recipe with red wine. Right there it’s a huge upgrade ~ the complex fruity flavor of the wine goes beautifully with the berries.
• I add a few whole mulling spices to the mixture to add a second layer of incredible flavor. Using whole spices infuses a soft, rounded spice flavor to the cranberry sauce. Using just a few ensures they will not overpower.
• I make this right in the microwave! It takes 6 minutes and it’s so convenient for the busy holidays. I’ll be making all my cranberry sauces like this from now on ~ no more spitting and sputtering cranberries!

how to make cranberry sauce in the microwave

This genius game changing method is easier, quicker, uses one bowl, and avoids the messy splattering of cranberries all over your stove. You get the same cranberry sauce without any hassle. Why would you make cranberry sauce any other way?

1. Add your cranberries, sugar, wine, and spices to a large glass bowl: an 8 cup pyrex measuring cup is perfect.
2. Place a loose cover or paper towel over the bowl.
3. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then stir.
4. Microwave for another 3 minutes, and stir again.
5. Let cool and then cover and chill until ready to serve. The sauce will thicken as it cools but will still have a ‘saucy’ consistency, which is what you want.

mulled wine cranberry sauce tips

If you use a readymade mulling spice mix

• you’ll want to place it in a muslin pouch so you can fish it out later. I use just a few whole spices which can easily be removed and you don’t need a pouch.

Choosing the wine

• any drinkable red wine you like will work; I like a merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. No need to spend extra money or get fancy, a regular table wine is best.

You can use wine that has already been mulled

• as long as it’s good enough to drink, you can use it. Do not add additional spice if you use mulled wine.

Add orange peel

• orange is a common addition to mulled drinks and would work well in this cranberry sauce. Simply cut strips of orange peel and add along with the spices. Remove before serving.

Add additional whole spices

• add whole green cardamom pods and cloves to the mix, but be sure to contain them in cheesecloth or a muslin pouch so they can be fished out before serving. You might garnish your cranberry sauce with dried orange slices for a festive touch.

Mulled wine cranberry sauce can be frozen

• but honestly it’s so quick to make, why bother? If you want to freeze this sauce remember the alcohol in the wine will prevent it from freezing solid: it will maintain a softer consistency in the freezer.

Double the batch

• when making a larger batch of mulled wine cranberry sauce you won’t need to increase the spices. Whole spices have plenty of flavor to give for a bigger batch.

This is for the adults

• This recipe is not for children, and be sure to flag it for any guest who is avoiding alcohol. But for the rest of those at your table it’s going to be a game changer.

why you need mulled wine cranberry sauce in your life

You simply have to try this. I’m a huge cranberry sauce fan, it’s the first thing I grab for on the holiday table, and I can confidently say this is the best I’ve ever had. The red wine and mulling spices balance out the tartness of the cranberries and give the sauce a whole new warmth and depth of flavor it never had before. The effect of the flavors with turkey or anything else on your plate is amazing. And think about serving it with roast beef tenderloin, too.

Definitely use mulled wine cranberry sauce on your leftover turkey sandwiches and Turkey Cranberry Sliders too! It will add a gourmet touch to your next Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole.

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce

5 from 3 votes

A uniquely delicious and festive cranberry sauce made with red wine and simple mulling spices for your holiday tables and the leftover sandwiches to come!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Cook Time:6 minutes minutes

Total Time:11 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• 2 qt (or larger) microwave safe bowl I use a pyrex measuring cup

Ingredients

 

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup red wine
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise

Instructions

• Rinse the cranberries and put them into your 2 quart microwave safe bowl. Add the sugar and wine and stir to combine.
• Break the cinnamon stick in half. If it's very thick you may want to use a chef's knife. Add it and the star anise to the bowl.
• Cover loosely with a plastic microwave cover or paper towel and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir.
• Microwave for a final 3 minutes. Be sure to keep a loose cover on your bowl as the cranberries will foam up as they boil.
• Stir again and let the bowl cool at room temperature. Then refrigerate until cold, or overnight. Your mulled wine cranberry sauce can be made up to 4 days in advance. Pull out the whole spices before serving.
• The cranberry sauce will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Notes

*You can use 1 tablespoon of prepared mulling spice in place of the cinnamon and star anise if you prefer. Be sure to place it in a little pouch or cheesecloth bundle so you can fish it out later.

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Course: condiment

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: Chrismtas, condiment, cranberries, Thanksgiving

Nutrition

Calories: 118 kcal · Carbohydrates: 25 g · Protein: 0.4 g · Fat: 0.2 g · Saturated Fat: 0.01 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05 g · Sodium: 3 mg · Potassium: 91 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 19 g · Vitamin A: 37 IU · Vitamin C: 8 mg · Calcium: 15 mg · Iron: 0.4 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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