CHRISTMAS MULLING SPICE PARTY FAVORS
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Each container of fresh, homemade mulling spice is designed to flavor one bottle of apple cider or a fruity red wine.
Author:
Recipe type: Beverage
Serves: 16
Ingredients
  • 8 Lb. Bag Seedless Oranges
  • 5 Lb. Bag Cuties (Mandarin Oranges)
  • 64 Four Inch Cinnamon Sticks
  • ¾ Cup Whole Allspice Berries
  • ¾ Cup Whole Cloves
  • ¾ Cup Whole Star Anise Pods
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees F.
  2. Thoroughly wash the skin of the citrus fruit.
  3. Slice the oranges and Mandarins as thin as possible (about ¼" thick) using a mandoline or a very sharp knife.
  4. Discard the end pieces.
  5. Line large sheet pans with parchment paper and lay the fruit out in a single layer.
  6. Space the pans evenly from top to bottom in the oven.
  7. Bake for about 2 hours.
  8. Halfway through the baking process flip the fruit and rotate the pans from bottom to top inside the oven.
  9. If using a food dehydrator, layer fruit in a single layer on the dehydrating trays and set the temperature to 145°. Also flip the fruit halfway through the drying process.
  10. Check the progress periodically. You'll know the fruit is sufficiently dried when the slices no longer feel tacky to the touch and the peel is crisp.
  11. Keep a close watch on the fruit in the oven, as it was easy to over dry the slices which would become darkened and tasted bitter. This does not happen in a food dehydrator.
  12. Remove the fruit from the oven or dehydrator and allow it to cool on the baking/drying sheets.
  13. Transferred the dried fruit to a large bowl.
  14. Depending on how much fruit you are drying at one time, you will need to repeat the drying procedure several times until all the fruit is dried.
  15. Drying this quantity of fruit tooks many hours. This recipe will fill 16, 4" x 4" containers.
  16. These containers hold about 2 cups of Mulling Spices.
  17. If you need less than 16 party favors simply cut the recipe down accordingly, and in the process you will save yourself time as well.
  18. Once you have dried all the fruit you can assemble the Christmas Mulling Spice mix.
  19. First fill each container halfway full, arranging the slices attractively, placing some sideways.
  20. Slide 4 cinnamon sticks along the side of the container, spacing them evenly.
  21. Into each container sprinkle 1 teaspoon each of the Whole Allspice Berries, Whole Cloves and
  22. Whole Star Anise Pods.
  23. Top off the containers with more dried fruit and repeat the addition of another 1 teaspoon each of the 3 spices.
  24. Place the cover on each container, tie it up with ribbon and add a pretty gift tag with mulling instructions.
  25. MULLING INSTRUCTIONS
  26. Add contents to 2 quarts Apple Cider or a bottle of fruity red wine such as a Zinfandel.
  27. Bring to simmer and cook, covered for 2 minutes.
  28. Remove from heat and steep, covered, for 15 minutes.
  29. Strain the cider/wine through a fine sieve.
  30. Ladle the cider into mugs and enjoy piping hot.
Notes
If you’re in need of a party favor, hostess gift, a teacher gift or small gift for the folks in the office or the neighborhood, Christmas Mulling Spice is the perfect thing to give. These packages can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 months.
Recipe by After Orange County at http://afterorangecounty.com/2017/12/22/christmas-mulling-spice-party-favors/