Mulled Wine Ice Cream Recipe

This ice cream is gently but assertively spiced with floral, fruity, and citrusy flavors working in tandem.

By Max Falkowitz
Updated July 28, 2023
Two scoops of mulled wine ice cream displayed with whole spices: star anise allspice berries, coriander, mace.

Serious Eats / Max Falkowitz

Why It Works

  • Toasting whole spices instead of using mulling spice packets yields the best results.
  • If using your favorite mulled wine recipe, be sure to check the sugar content and adjust the amount of sugar you add to the custard accordingly.

Let's face it: Most mulled wine is boring. It's over-cinnamoned, over-allspiced, over-sweetened. If there's a holiday drink Not Looked Forward To as much as your average mulled wine, I don't know what it is.

A couple of years ago I spent a very lovely weekend mulling and tasting several bottles' worth of wine to figure out how to do right by this neglected tradition. The short answer: most prepackaged mulling spices are junk and you're best off mulling wine from scratch with whole spices. I wound up with a recipe that I've made ever since, one tinged with orange, star anise, brandy, and maple.

Mulled wine can be great. But mulled wine ice cream might be even better.

Close-up of assorted whole spices for mulled wine ice cream: star anise, coriander, mace, and allspice berries.

Serious Eats / Max Falkowitz

You can use your favorite mulled wine recipe in place of mine—the principle of spicing wine and reducing it fourfold into a syrup is a flexible one—but pay heed to the overall sugar content as you do so. If your mulled wine calls for added sugar, adjust the sugar you add to your custard base accordingly.

Frozen mulled wine is more of a demure suggestion than a wallop of steamy warmth. As Niki put it, this ice cream works a lot like vanilla bean: gently but assertively spiced with floral, fruity, and citrusy flavors working in tandem. It's a good general-purpose ice cream but with a point of view all its own. The way mulled wine should be.

September 2013

Recipe Details

Mulled Wine Ice Cream Recipe

Cook 75 mins
Active 60 mins
Churning/Freezing Time 13 hrs 30 mins
Total 14 hrs 45 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings
Makes 1 quart
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds

  • 6 allspice berries

  • 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

  • 2 blades mace

  • One 4-inch cinnamon stick

  • 1 star anise

  • 2 cups cheap Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 1 whole orange

  • 6 egg yolks

  • 3/4 cup sugar

  • 2 cups heavy cream

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1 tablespoon brandy

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. In a dry skillet over high heat, toast spices, stirring frequently, until they are fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  2. In a medium non-reactive saucepan bring wine and spices to a simmer over medium heat. Squeeze in juice of one orange through a strainer to remove seeds, then add spent orange to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until wine reduces to a thick, bubbly syrup that measures to 1/4 cup. Strain out spices and orange and set aside to cool.

  3. In another clean medium saucepan whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well combined and slightly thickened. Whisk in cream and milk until fully incorporated, add wine reduction, then cook over medium heat until a custard forms on a spoon and a finger swiped across the back leaves a clean line. Pour through a strainer into an airtight container, stir in brandy and salt to taste, and chill overnight in refrigerator.

  4. The next day, churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer ice cream to freezer and harden for at least 4 hours before serving.

Special Equipment

Ice cream maker, medium non-reactive saucepan, whisk, fine-mesh strainer

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
485Calories
27gFat
45gCarbs
9gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories485
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g35%
Saturated Fat 16g79%
Cholesterol 233mg78%
Sodium 165mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 45g16%
Dietary Fiber 4g14%
Total Sugars 36g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 92mg462%
Calcium 167mg13%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 438mg9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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