When the weather turns cool and the days are shorter, there's nothing I like more than curling up inside and spending time with my family. Something about the flavors and aroma's of Fall and Winter make my home feel even more – well, homey. Cinnamon, citrus, and cloves are just some of those wonderful spices. My homemade mulling spice mix is just the thing for a cool evening or cool-weather entertaining.
This mulling spice mix is so lovely to look at, smell and of course, taste. You'll want to make an extra big batch. You can package it beautifully in mason jars and add some baker's twine or a gold ribbon. I've also made you a free printable label you can download after you read about it. It's an elegant easy to make housewarming or hostess gift.
For the holidays, you can also place a pot of water on the stove with a little homemade mulling spice mix in it to make your house smell wonderful. Just bring the water to a boil then turn it down to simmer and smell the magic happen.
- 8 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1/2 bottle of whole cardamom seeds
- 5 whole nutmeg
- 1 jar .75oz whole allspice
- 1 har .75oz of whole cloves
- 5 or 6 Star Anise
- Dried peel of 2 Tangerines or (1) Orange (directions below)
- Peel the citrus and scrape off as much as you can of the white bitter part. I use a sharp knife and hold it at the very tip to scrape everything off easier. Once that's done, slice the peel into thin strips and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place in a preheated oven to 275-degrees for around 30 to 40 minutes. Once cooled they should be very dry and break easily.
- In a resealable bag add the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and cardamom. Cover it with a kitchen towel and give it several good whacks with a rolling pin or mallet. You want to break down the spices a bit.
- Add all the remaining ingredients to the crushed spices and store in an airtight container until ready to use.
- To steep, use your tea infuser, muslin sachets or just cheese cloths
To make a 1/2 a gallon of Hot Cider, I recommend 2 tablespoons of the mulling spice. Add the spices to a large loose tea leaf strainer or tie them in a cheese cloth. Allow the spices to soak for a good 30 minutes, while the cider simmers on low. For entertaining, place the mulling spices and cider into a slow cooker and let steep for a half hour before first serving. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and other spices as desired.
Click the image below to download this free printable label for your mason jars. These are for Avery 5294 labels or equivalent 2-1/2″ round labels.
Get More DIY Spice Mix Inspiration
Follow Juggling Act Mama – Ang Paris's board DIY Condiments & Spice Mixes on Pinterest.
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