Mulling Spice Sachets: Week 5 of Twelve Weeks of Christmas Treats

It's Week 5 of 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats, hosted by Meal Planning Magic! If you're a blogger, it's never too late to sign up! Head on over and fill out the form.

I'm sure you've seen them while walking through kitchen stores: tins of mulling spices. Maybe the store has some samples of mulled cider, so you can smell and taste the result. The spicy-sweet aroma is intoxicating. It smells like The Holidays.

Reach for a tin (would make an adorable stocking-stuffer, right?), check the price — $12 for 4 ounces?!?

Don't fall for it this year! With just a few supplies, you can make your own pretty mulling spice sachets to give as gifts this holiday season, at a fraction of the cost. Buying spices from bulk bins can save additional money. Purchasing the spices this way cost me a mere $4.57.

Each sachet will mull 6 to 8 ounces of liquid. I found individual spice bags (a packet of 4) at Bed Bath and Beyond. They are also available at several sites online. You can also purchase sheets of cheesecloth (again, at Bed Bath and Beyond, or home improvement stores, or online), and cut them into 5-inch squares. You'll want a double layer of cheesecloth for each sachet.

These sachets are also completely customizeable! Add whole peppercorns, 1-inch segments of vanilla bean, cracked whole nutmeg, star anise, cardamom pods, fresh or crystallized ginger, even cocoa nibs! One thing to keep in mind is to always use whole herbs and spices, not ground, otherwise, your liquid will become murky and sticky.

What liquids can you mull? My favorites are apple cider, and red wine (you may want to reserve 8 ounces of mulled cider for tomorrow's recipe!). You can also use them to mull maple syrup, any flavored cider (I've seen pomegranate cider, cranberry cider, etc.), mead, apple cider vinegar (whisk together 1 part vinegar with 3 parts oil for a vinaigrette!), or simply simmer the sachet in plain water to fill your home with a warm aroma.