In France in cold weather you can order vin chaud at any café or brasserie. This spicy punch is perfect for New Year’s celebrations. Simmering the wine cooks away much of the alcohol, making it very easy to drink.
2 quarts red table wine
2 whole oranges, cleaned, seeded, and thinly sliced
2 whole lemons, cleaned, seeded, and thinly sliced
2 sticks cinnamon
12 whole cloves
1 large bay leaf
2 tablespoons honey
Whole grated nutmeg to taste
In a large chef’s pan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat, combine the wine, oranges, lemons, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, and honey. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer, if desired. DO NOT BOIL. Serve hot in glasses with slices of orange and lemon garnished with freshly grated nutmeg.
Makes 16 4-ounce glasses.
TIP: To sanitize the whole oranges and lemons, scrub them with white vinegar and water.
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Looks good… but Jan. 2 and already I’ve failed the New Year’s Resolutions. Is there a way to put the alcohol back IN to this recipe?!?
I was thinking more along lines of my Christmas Eve buffet, six hours of twenty-plus friends and family coming and going, mostly in cars. I always worry about guests drinking more than they should for driving. This vin chaud is very tasty, and even the most dedicated wine lovers at Christmas Eve this year kept saying, ‘Wow! This stuff is really drinkable!’