Blood Orange Mulled Wine with Star Anise

Visually beautiful, fragrant and delicious, seasonal blood oranges combine with red wine and star anise in this mulled wine recipe sure to keep you warm on cold nights. Star anise is a dried spice pod typically used in Asian cuisines with a slight anise and licorice flavor that complements the wine and citrus perfectly. If you’re unable to find blood oranges, look for another sweet varietal such as Cara Cara or you can even use navel oranges as well.

2 bottles red wine

2 blood oranges, sliced and divided

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup whole star anise, plus extra for garnish

1 tablespoon whole cardamom seeds

3 sticks cinnamon

1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier

2 blood oranges, juiced

Place the red wine, 1 sliced blood orange, honey, 1/4 cup star anise, cardamom seeds and cinnamon sticks in the stockpot.

Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring just to a simmer. Immediately turn the heat down to low and cover. Let the mulled wine simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Use a fine mesh strainer to remove all of the solid ingredients from the pot. Stir in the orange liqueur and the blood orange juice. Taste for seasoning, adding more honey if a sweeter wine is desired.

Serve the mulled wine warm, garnished with a slice of orange and a whole star anise.