Homemade Mulling Spices (for Wine or Cider)

Recipe by Catherine Pla

Makes about 1 cup

Homemade Mulling Spices (for Wine or Cider)

Make your home a cozy refuge during the winter months with the comforting smell of mullingspices. Use them in hot wine, cider, or plain water for the aromatic benefits.

• 8 whole nutmeg

• 8 cinnamon sticks

• 1 T whole black peppercorns

• 1⁄4 c whole allspice berries

• 1⁄4 c whole cloves

• 1⁄3 c dried orange peel

• 10 whole star anise

• Cheesecloth

• Kitchen twine

Place nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns in a sturdy freezer bag, seal, and beat with a rolling pin or heavy skillet to crush them into smaller pieces. Place crushed spices in a small bowl and add the allspice, cloves, orange peel, ginger, and star anise. Stir to combine.

If you’d like to make sachets, you’ll need double-layer cheesecloth cut into 5x5” squares and some kitchen twine or string. Place 2 tablespoons of the spice mix into the center of each square. Bring the corners in and tie securely with twine to make a sachet.