christmas - Bites by Bekah

16 December 2018

Christmas Spiced Drink

A simple Christmas spiced drink recipe, with flavourful and fragrant ingredients that are easily thrown together to get you into the festive spirit.

This year I’ll be home for Christmas! Since I went to study in the UK five years ago, Christmas at home has been a rare occurrence. So this feels like a special treat!

I’m not gonna lie, I quite like the way the British do Christmas. There are so many quintessentially British ways of celebrating Christmas: mince pies, Christmas lunch, Christmas crackers, Christmas pudding, Christmas TV specials. I had not experienced most of these traditions until I came to the UK, and this year I’m hoping to bring some of them across the pond.

One of my favourite Christmas discoveries upon first arriving in the UK were mulled drinks. I’d never before had the pleasure of holding a cup of hot mulled apple juice, filled with warming spices, and smelling like Christmas.

I’m telling you, it’s wonderful.

For my birthday last week, I tried my hand at putting together a mulled drink recipe for my guests to enjoy. I was pretty pleased with the results! The mixture was incredibly easy to whip together, and I used my Instant Pot to keep it warm throughout the evening. It actually didn’t end up lasting long, so next time I’ll make a double batch. And believe me, there will be a next time.

Fast Five Reasons to Try: Christmas Spiced Drink

Smells like Christmas.
Tastes like Christmas.
Looks like Christmas. (Now I’m just running with a theme – but it does apply! The deep red colour is gorgeous, and I love the star anise).
Filled with warming spices and just the right balance of sweet and tart flavours.
Easily adjusted to fit your own personal tastes and spices you have on hand.

I hope you you get the chance to try this Christmas Spiced Drink out this Christmas season . If you do, let me know! Take a photo and tag me on Instagram @bitesbybekah. I’d love to connect with you and it always makes me so happy to see your creations!

Christmas Spiced Drink

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 15 servings

Ingredients

2 bottles pomegranate juice (I used @pomwonderful’s 750mL bottles – you could also use apple juice)
1 L orange juice
4 packets mulled spice (I used @schwartz’ Mulled cider spice, or you could use individual spices of allspice, orange peel, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg)
2 star anise
2 slices lemon with peel
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

On the hob or in the Instant Pot, add the pomegranate juice and orange juice. Turn on the heat (or set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’) until the juice begins to simmer; then set the heat to low (or set the Instant Pot to ‘Keep Warm’).
Add the packets of mulled spice and let them steep for about 10 minutes or until the mixture reaches your desired depth of flavours.
At the same time add the star anise, lemon, and vanilla, adjusting quantities as needed.
Keep the mixture warm (on the hob, or in a slow cooker/Instant Pot), serve up, and enjoy!