Homemade Mulling Spices – for Apple Cider and more!

If you are an adult craving a little magic in your life, maybe a little potion making, then make your own mulling spices. Yes, you can buy pre-made mulling spices if you prefer. But you won’t feel like an autumn witch like I do. Plus, if you make your own you can customize them to your own preferences.

What are mulling spices for? To mull something simply means to heat it as well as sweeten or flavor. You can mull wine, hot toddies, cider, tea, yourself in a bath I suppose, etc. I mostly use these homemade mulling spices in mulled wine, wassail or apple cider. They also would be perfect for a stove simmer or as a homemade gift.

Related: homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball and Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Mulling Spices Ingredients

• Cinnamon sticks
• Cardamom pods
• Allspice berries
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• Dried orange peel
• Whole black peppercorns

You can add other spice ingredients like whole nutmeg or other dried citrus rinds like lemon peel. This is one of those ‘recipes’ that is super customizable, but I do give a detailed list in the recipe card below if you prefer to follow something exact you can!

How to make Mulling Spices

In a large ziplock bag add the cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves, star anise and black peppercorns. Use something heavy, like a rolling pin, to smash the mixture a few times. Then add the dried orange peel to the mixture.

The goal to have something that resembles a potpourri, not a well blended spice mix. You can smash these in a food processor or blender but pulse only a few times if you do because again, you don’t want a fine grain but rather something that will impart flavor but can then be easily removed from a liquid.

You can store the mulling spices all together or in individual bottles or bags. You can also easily double or triple this recipe if you are making a bunch for gifts.

Notes & How to Use Mulling Spices

• The goal with smashing the spices is to break them into small pieces, but not necessarily pulverize it. The mulling spice mix should still be the consistency of potpourri.
• Use 1/4 cup of this mix (or more) to one gallon of apple cider.
• Use 2 tablespoons of this mix (or more) to one bottle of wine.
• Add the mulling mix, in a small cheesecloth bag, to the liquid and simmer for 15-20 minutes or more. The longer the mixture simmers the stronger the flavors will become.
• If you are giving this as a gift it’s nice to add a note on how much / how long to simmer.

More Hot Drink Recipes

• Hot Buttered Rum
• Glühwein – German Mulled Wine
• Eggnog
• Pumpkin Spice Syrup
• Pumpkin Juice
• Hot Chocolate