Mulling spices are made from a mixture of different spices and herbs. They are used to fill the house with the aroma of Christmas, or winter, or fall. Mulling spices are used in the preparation of hot drinks that are meant to warm and entertain those who have gathered at home around the fire.
There are many different mulling spice recipes available and many different ways to use them. The original recipe for mulling spice was created by Germans in Pennsylvania, but it has been changed over time to suit individual tastes. Mulling spices can be purchased ready-made from stores, but many people prefer making their own because they can control exactly what goes into them.
Fancy mulling spice blends contain anise seed, nutmeg, cinnamon bark, cloves, ginger root and allspice berries. These spices may be used alone or combined with others. Some people like to add orange peel and dried fruit such as raisins to their mulling spice recipe.
Mulling spices make your holiday a little more festive.
I’ve been mulling spices for years for the holidays. I use them to flavor hot cider or coffee, and they are quite easy to make.
Mulling spices are typically used in Northern Europe and the Americas during the winter months. They are a great way to spice up your holiday menu.
The recipe is really simple, but you must remember to store these in an airtight container, away from heat and sunlight. Otherwise they will lose their potency.*
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*From my experience, this holds true with any type of spices that you buy in bulk. I had some cinnamon sticks I bought from Sam’s Club left out on the counter (in a clear vase) for about two months and they lost their scent completely by then. Also, when storing these mulling spices, remember that you need to keep them in the dark so that they do not lose their flavor!
Mulling spices are available in most grocery stores, but not all of the recipes are created equal. The flavors of the spices can be unpredictable, and often the mixture will include ingredients you wouldn’t think to have in your cupboard because they are not part of your everyday cooking.
Trying a new mulling spice mixture is a great way to expand your horizons. Play around with the recipes, adding other fruits or spices that you think might complement it. You’ll find that mulling spices can add a nice flavor to both hot and cold drinks.
¶It’s also an inexpensive way to get started with making your own custom recipes for special occasions. Once you know how different spices work together, you can start adding them to other recipes for things like cookies or cakes, which is less expensive than purchasing boxed mixes and save money over buying pre-made baking ingredients from the store.
I make my own mulling spices for Christmas and this year I added more cinnamon sticks. My favorite store is a small local grocery store. They have all of the hard to find ingredients like whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange peels, nutmeg, ginger, dried cranberries and they are always willing to order in anything else that I may be looking for. You can also get great deals on bulk spices. So far I have found bulk cinnamon sticks and ground mace at an amazing price. I think it was only $8 for a pound of each!
I love the fragrance of mulling spices and they make the house smell so cozy during the holidays. These spices can be used in so many wonderful ways. After dinner you can serve them hot as a beverage with brandy or rum added. You can also add them to coffee or hot chocolate. Some people even use them as a topping for pancakes or waffles. The possibilities are endless!
As we get close to the holiday season, mulling spices are offered by retailers. Mulling spices are convenient because they are a ready-made mix. The ingredients of mulling spices have been well tested to blend well together, without overpowering each other.
Taste is very subjective so it is hard to know if a flavor will suit your taste buds. So it is not a bad idea to look at recipes that use mulling spices to see what flavors might work for you.
Ingredients used in mulling spices include: Cinnamon sticks, Allspice, Nutmeg, Cloves and Ginger/Gingerbread Spice Mix.
Mulling spice mixes also include different amounts of these ingredients. For example, the amount of cinnamon sticks will vary from 1 cinnamon stick per cup of water to 2 cinnamon sticks per cup of water when making a batch of mulled wine or cider.
Mulling spices are a combination of various spices and are used to add a festive touch to your holiday drinks. Mulled wine is the original concoction made with these spices.
Mulling spices may also be used to flavor cider, hot chocolate or even regular coffee if you want a warm drink that is perfect for a cold winter day.
Originally this recipe called for ingredients such as cloves and allspice berries but if you cannot find them in your area or you would like to make it more convenient, then purchase mulling spice mix instead. It will still give you the taste you want but it will be easier to make.
Mulling spices are a great way to give your holiday drinks a festive flair. You’ve probably heard of mulled wine, but did you know you can make mulled cider or tequila?
Mulling spices are so easy to mix up and use in your favorite hot drink. They’ll add a bit of holiday cheer to any party, and will keep for months in an airtight container. Just mix up your favorite combination of flavors, and add it to your drink of choice. For example, try mixing a pinch each of cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg with a slice of lemon peel and a bay leaf. Your drinks will be extra special with the addition of these mulling spices!