Mulling Spice, A Holiday Favorite
Nothing says holiday like the smells and tastes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove. My recipe for mulling spices has all these delicious rich warm spices and makes a thoughtful hostess or holiday gift. Use the spice packets to make hot apple cider or spiced mulled red wine. I have even been known to put a packet in a pot of simmering water to make the house smell good!
The quality of your mulling spice packets will be directly impacted by the quality of the spices you begin with. It’s so important to invest in good ingredients. I order many of mine from the Internet. I usually make a big batch in mid-November to have on hand to give as gifts to friends, family, your kids’ teachers, the hairstylist or a last-minute hostess gift. If stored in a cool dark spot, they will keep a long time much like tea.
I start mulling spice day by gathering all of the ingredients along with packaging so I can spend a couple of hours in the kitchen mixing and assembling. A little holiday music makes it even more festive.
A Great Gift Idea
To package these as gifts, I like to add two bundles to a box or glass jar along with one cinnamon stick for each bundle. I then tie a holiday ribbon around the box and add a tag with the recipe for hot spiced apple cider or mulled spiced wine.
YOUR MULLING SPICE ESSENTIALS HERE!
Mulling Spice
Looking for a great DIY food gift to give this holiday season? Try Mulling Spice. This blend of warm spices spreads holiday cheer when used to Mull Wine and Apple Cider. Nothing says happy holidays more than a warm mug of Hot or Spiked Apple Cider aka Wassail.
Ingredients
- 8 organic whole nutmeg
- ½ cup organic cardamom pods
- 1 cup organic cinnamon chips (sweet)
- ½ cup organic orange peel (dried or candied)
- ½ cup organic lemon peel (dried or candied)
- ½ cup organic crystalized ginger (pieces work better than powder)
- ¼ cup organic whole cloves
- ½ cup organic whole allspice berries
- 4 organic vanilla beans, optional
- 14 Organic star anise, whole pods
- 14 Organic cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Put cardamom and nutmeg in a thick plastic or cloth bag and crush with a meat mallet, rolling pin or
hammer to break into pieces. - In a large bowl, add the nutmeg and cardamom and the next six ingredients. Mix well.
- Slice the vanilla beans lengthwise, scrape out the interior and add to the bowl. Mix the vanilla thoroughly.
- Using a ¼ cup scoop, measure mixture into empty tea bags (or you can wrap it in cheesecloth and tie
into a bundle). Drop-in one or two, star anise before closing. - To package these as gifts, I like to add two bundles to a box or glass jar along with one cinnamon stick for each bundle.
- Then tie a holiday ribbon around the box and add a tag with the recipe for hot spiced cider or mulled spiced wine
Assembly:
Notes
You can save the vanilla beans to infuse into sugar or honey.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 142Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 17mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 5gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g
I like to serve hot apple cider with a bottle of Knob CreekFireball or Jack Daniels green apple whiskey so my guests have the option of drinking a virgin mug or adding a little kick as they wish.
The Qui Ingredient
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Star Anise
Star Anise is such a beautiful addition to the mulling spice packets. Star anise is a small star-shaped fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree. It has an aniseed or licorice flavor similar to anise or fennel, although it is not related to either. It is rich in bioactive compounds – flavonoids and polyphenols. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. As a tea, it is often used to cure respiratory infections, nausea, constipation and other digestive maladies.
In cooking, star anise can be used whole (as in the mulling spice recipe) or as a powder. It is most prevalent in Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern foods. It is used in both savory and sweet dishes. As a caution, a little of this spice goes a long way so use a light hand when adding it to your favorite foods. Try it in everything from soups and stews to baked goods and desserts.
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