Give someone a hug in the form of a warm, spiced drink with mulling spices.

Who doesn’t love a hot drink on a chilly day? Not only will these spices create a delicious beverage when simmered in wine or apple cider, they will also make the house smell amazing. And by putting the spice mix in little sachets made of cheesecloth, one can easily remove them from the mulled drink for a mess-free pour. This gift is like giving someone a big warm hug!

Mulling Spices

Yield: 4 sachets

Active Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes

4 sheets of cheesecloth, cut into 6×6 inch squares
4 pieces of cooking twine, cut into 8 inch lengths
4 cinnamon sticks, 3 inches in length
2 nutmeg pods
8 dried orange slices*
1/2 tsp. allspice berries
1/2 tsp. cloves, whole
1 tsp. candied ginger, chopped
12 pepper corns, black or red

1) Lay each sheet of cheesecloth out flat and stack all spices in the middle.
2) Gather all edges together to form a pouch (aka sachet), and tie shut with a piece of cooking twine.

* Chef’s Note: If dried orange slices are hard to find, you can easily make your own at home. Simply lay 1/4 inch slices of oranges in a single layer on a cookie rack and bake in the oven at 175 F for 4 hours.

Gifting Idea:

These sachets make a great gift on their own or as a group in a little coffee tin. To make them look even more decorative, tie the stick of cinnamon to the twine bow on the outside. When ready to enjoy, add one sachet of mulling spices to 4 cups of apple cider or wine. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Discard the sachet before serving.

Adorning the sachet with a stick of cinnamon will make the gift look even more elegant and unique.