This Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine is the perfect mocktail to enjoy this winter! Made with pomegranate juice, orange slices, and a warm blend of spices, this cozy drink is perfect for everyone at your holiday gatherings.
The holidays are upon us, and everyone is enjoying delicious cocktails like my Christmas Gin Cocktail, Espresso Pumpkin Martini, White Christmas Cocktail, and Bourbon Eggnog.
Sometimes, it's nice to feel like having a cocktail without the added alcohol. That is what my Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine is for.
Pomegranate juice has a sweet-tart flavor that makes it an ideal substitute for red wine. Combined with sliced oranges and warming spices, it's like savoring a cup of mulled wine at a charming market in the French Alps.
You can make this recipe on the stovetop using a Dutch oven or in a slow cooker, which is great for parties when serving a large crowd.
Ladle into a mug and garnish with fresh orange slices, whole cranberries, a stick of cinnamon, and star anise for a stunning presentation.
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What is Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine?
Traditionally made with red wine, heated with sliced oranges and warming spices to infuse its cozy flavors.
A Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine removes the red wine and replaces it with a juice like a pomegranate, cherry, or cranberry juice. You can either use fresh juice or a bottle of alcohol-free red wine.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Stovetop or Crockpot options. Hosting a holiday gathering? This mulled wine recipe is perfect for a crowd and is easily made in large batches in the slow cooker or quickly prepared on the stovetop.
- Perfect for all ages. Since this recipe is made with pomegranate juice, everyone from kids to adults can enjoy this holiday drink.
- Ready in 20 minutes. Mulled wine can be prepared quickly on the stovetop.
- Tastes like the holidays. Serve at Christmas parties with delicious appetizers like my Air Fryer Baked Brie, and Spinach Artichoke Dip Without Mayo.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Here is a visual overview of the Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine Ingredients and some helpful substitutions. Scroll to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
See recipe card for quantities.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice was the perfect base for a mulled wine mocktail. The deep purple color resembles wine and the flavor is not overly sweet like some other fruit juices.
You can use cranberry juice or cherry juice; some grocery stores carry non-alcoholic red wine.
Oranges
Mulled wine traditionally features sliced oranges, though some recipes also incorporate lemon slices for a citrusy twist.
Brown Sugar
Pomegranate juice can be a little tart so we added a small amount of brown sugar to round out the flavors.
Other sweeteners to use are pomegranate molasses, maple syrup, or honey.
Warming Spices
Cinnamon sticks, cloves, cracked cardamon pods, and star anise spice this mulled wine.
How to make Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
I’ve provided step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the complete printable instructions and ingredient quantities, please scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post.
Stovetop Method
The stovetop method is a great way to make mulled wine in under 30 minutes, and you'll love how your kitchen will smell.
Step 1. Combine all ingredients (pomegranate juice, water, sliced oranges, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and cracked cardamon pods) in a Dutch oven or saucepan.
Tip - Make sure you crack the cardamon pods to release their flavor.
Step 2. Bring your mulled wine to a simmer, cook for 20-25 minutes, and allow your house to smell like the holidays!
Strain out the orange slices and warming spices because nobody wants to swallow a whole clove.
Serve in a mug or a whisky glass, and pretend you are in the French Alpes enjoying some mulled wine!
Garnish with orange slices, whole cranberries, a cinnamon stick, and a star anise.
Slow Cooker Method
The slow cooker method is my preferred way to make this mocktail. It's a great way to serve a large crowd of people, and you can keep the mulled wine warm so people can serve themselves.
Step 1. Combine all ingredients (pomegranate juice, water, sliced oranges, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and cracked cardamon pods) into your slow cooker.
Step 2. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 1 -1.5 hours.
Step 3. Strain to remove the orange slices and spices and return mulled wine back to the slow cooker to stay warm. Tip - I love the slow cooker method for a party, it's so easy to make and people can serve themselves.
Step 4. Ladle warm non-alcoholic mulled wine into mugs.
Chef Tips
- If you use alcohol-free red wine, omit the water addition from the recipe.
- Only use whole and not ground spices so you don't over-spice your mulled wine. Ground spices will float to the top and won't dissolve completely.
- Make sure you are using 100% juice with no added sugar.
- Don't steep oranges and spices for more than 1 hour. The flavor could become overpowering.
- Strain oranges and spices before serving.
FAQ
If you're using red wine, boiling would burn off the alcohol, but with fruit juice, that's not a concern. However, it's best to simmer to infuse the flavors because boiling can over-reduce the juice and make the flavors too concentrated.
Traditionally, mulled wine is served warm, but it’s also delicious chilled! Try it over ice with a splash of sparkling water, it's refreshing.
Traditionally, mulled wine is made with red wine, heated with sliced oranges and warming spices to infuse its cozy flavors.
A Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine removes the red wine and replaces it with a juice like a pomegranate, cherry, or cranberry juice. You can either use fresh juice or a bottle of alcohol-free red wine.
Yes, mulled wine is traditionally made with red wine. To make this recipe non-alcoholic, you can substitute the red wine with either a non-alcoholic red wine or pomegranate juice.
More Holiday Cocktails
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📖 Recipe
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups pomegranate juice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 8 cloves
- 3 star anise
- 4 cardamon pods cracked
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven and bring up to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove orange slices and spices.
- Serve in a mug or a glass of your choice.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into your slow cooker and cook on low for 1 hour.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove orange slices and spices.
- Serve in a mug or a glass of your choice.
Notes
- If you use alcohol-free red wine omit the water addition from the recipe.
- Only use whole and not ground spices so you don't over-spice your mulled wine.
- Make sure you are using 100% juice with no added sugar.
- Don't steep oranges and spices for more than 1 hour, the flavor could become overpowering.
- Strain oranges and spices before serving.
Mike Cleavenger says
Pomegranate juice is the perfect substitution for red wine!