Last Christmas, I was frustrated by fussing over party drinks and needing to get guests a top up while I was cooking.
This year, I've got a trick up my sleeve for effortless hosting that will mean guest's glasses are always full: the CrockPot 6QT Cook & Carry, now $44.99 at Target in the beautifully festive, deep burgundy colorway. It's perfect for large-batch mulled wine, cider, or boozy hot chocolates. It will not only heat the drinks but keep them warm, and looks good enough to leave out so that guests can serve themselves.
One of the best slow cookers, this CrockPot is the easiest way I've found to create warming winter drinks for family or friends – leaving me free to focus on the company, the candles, and the cozy atmosphere.
Our expert team of product testers highly rates CrockPot. The 6 Quart Capacity should be able to serve 15-20 people with perfectly warm, mulled drinks. Or, seven bowls of slow-cooked stew or casserole. It is a great hack for hosting a cozy dinner party with zero stress.
There’s nothing quite like a cup of fragrant mulled wine or a hot toddy to welcome guests on a cold winter's night. The rich scent of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise instantly sets the scene for a relaxed gathering.
Making slow cooker mulled wine is similar to how you'd do it in one of the best Dutch ovens, but with a CrockPot, you don't need to be on hand to stir and watch the pot from boiling over. Simply follow a trusted recipe, with red wine, warming spices, a touch of sweetness (like fresh orange juice and brown sugar), and a splash of brandy.
Set your the CrockPot to low and let the mixture gently heat for 1½ to 2 hours, until the spices have infused the wine. Remember to reserve a few cinnamon sticks and slices of orange rind (use a sharp swivel peeler, like this Microplane from Amazon) and set aside for garnish.
When ready, carefully ladle the mulled wine into heatproof glasses (I use the best-selling festive icon mugs from Williams Sonoma) and top your slow Cooker mulled wine with the garnishes.
There's also a helpful ‘Auto warm’ setting on the CrockPot, so your mulled wine will be warm enough to drink throughout the evening – and guests can happily serve themselves a top-up. Plus, the process always fills my kitchen with a naturally sweet aroma that smells like Christmas.
Essentials for Perfect Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Williams Sonoma is the most popular store for heat-proof mugs, combining these adorable festive icon designs with safely designed, double-wall construction.
If you have more mouths to feed, Ninja's Multicooker presents an extra-large better option. With 8.5 quarts of capacity, it can serve enough mulled wine to satisfy a crowd of around 35 people.
When you're ready to serve your slow cooker mulled wine, you need a great ladle. OXO is one of the best I've tested, with accurate pouring spouts and a comfortable silicone handle. It will limit mess if your guests are self-serving.
A Red Dot Design Award winner, the famous Microplane uses ultra-sharp stainless steel blades to grate and zest ingredients with ease. The walnut handle not only looks gorgeous but feels comfortable in the hand.
If you don't use all the wine in the bottle for the mulled drinks, you can use these icon stoppers to keep the rest fresh. It's a great way to keep a bottle on hand to serve guests who don't like warm drinks, while sticking to the festive theme.
Serving slow cooker mulled wine on a beautiful tray is a great way to elevate what was really a very easy recipe. I love the rich burgundy colors of this Addison Ross tray I found in the Bloomingdale's sale.
If slow-cooker mulled wine isn't your thing, I've compiled more cozy slow-cooker ideas, which include a beautifully fragrant mulled cider or big-batch hot chocolate (which you can easily dial up for the grown-ups with a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream, or serve with bountiful marshmallows and dipping biscuits for the kids).
Seriously, once you have a CrockPot, it's so fun and handy at the holidays – you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.
