Christmas is in the air, onogrammed sweaters, chilly evenings, twinkling lights, and the scent of cinnamon, cloves, and citrus wafting from a simmering pot of mulled wine. There is no better way to awaken the holidays than holding a mug of warm spiced wine in your hand. If you really want to take your Christmas holiday up a notch, you will need the perfect festive food options to complement your mulled wine. 

Even if you are preparing for a Christmas party, planning a cosy winter date night, or hosting a market-style food spread at home, serving your spiced wine with the right combination of snacks, cheeses, and desserts will round out your holiday menu.

What Makes Mulled Wine So Perfect for Food Pairings?

Mulled wine is naturally bold, aromatic, and warm. The base is usually red wine, gently heated with spices like cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cloves, and orange peel.

 Because of this complexity, mulled wine pairs well with foods that either:

• Match its warm spices
  
  
• Balance its sweetness
  
  
• Cut through its richness
  
  
• Complement its fruity, tangy profile

This is where the fun begins, savoury snacks, creamy cheeses, rich desserts, charcuterie, roasted winter vegetables, and even festive Indian bites all shine alongside warm, spicy wine.

1. Best Snacks With Mulled Wine (Perfect for Parties)

Samosas, Pakoras & Indian Festive Snacks

If you're serving mulled wine for an Indo-Western Christmas gathering, this is a must.

• The wine’s acidity cuts through fried textures.
  
  
• Its sweetness softens bold spices.
  
  
• The warm spices mirror Indian festive flavours beautifully.
  

Great pairings:

• Veg samosas
  
  
• Aloo tikki
  
  
• Paneer pakoras
  
  
• Onion bhajis
  
  
• Masala peanuts
  

These options are ideal for anyone searching for mulled wine and Indian festive snacks.

Mini Quiches, Sausage Rolls & Christmas Market Classics

Bring the magic of European Christmas markets home.

Top picks:

• Sausage rolls
  
  
• Mini quiches (cheese + spinach or mushroom)
  
  
• Pretzels
  
  
• Soft garlic knots
  
  
• Bacon-wrapped dates (sweet–savoury perfection!)
  

Sausage rolls and bacon-wrapped dates especially complement the warm, spicy wine pairings, thanks to their contrast of richness and sweetness.

2. Mulled Wine and Cheese Board: A Festive Favourite

A mulled wine and cheese board is visually beautiful, incredibly shareable, and effortless to prepare.

Best Cheeses for Mulled Wine

Mulled wine LOVES cheeses that offer creaminess, saltiness, or bold pungency.

Brie & Camembert (Soft, Creamy)

These melt-in-your-mouth cheeses bring out the fruity sweetness in mulled wine.

 Blue Cheese (Roquefort, Stilton)

If you’re searching for a mulled wine and blue cheese pairing, here’s why it works:

• The sharp, salty intensity of blue cheese
  
  
• Cuts through the sweet and spiced wine
  
  
• Creating a perfectly balanced bite
  

It’s one of those pairings that feels luxurious and winter-perfect.

Aged Cheddar or Gouda

These offer nuttiness, richness, and depth that enhance mulled wine’s warm spice profile.

Add-ons for Your Christmas Charcuterie Board:

• Salami, prosciutto, ham (charcuterie for Christmas mulled wine)
  
  
• Olives
  
  
• Honeycomb
  
  
• Dried figs
  
  
• Candied orange peel
  
  
• Rosemary crackers
  

This combination alone creates a complete festive platter that pairs beautifully with warm spiced wine.

3. Christmas Mains & Savouries That Match Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine Glazed Ham

This is a holiday superstar.

The sweetness + spice in mulled wine is perfect for:

• Glazing Christmas ham
  
  
• Pairing with honey-roasted pork
  
  
• Complementing smoky, charred flavours
  

It brings a harmony of citrus, spice, and slow-cooked richness.

Roasted Vegetables (Vegetarian Pairings With Mulled Wine)

If you want something lighter or plant-based, roasted vegetables are perfect.

Best options:

• Roasted carrots with thyme
  
  
• Honey-glazed sweet potatoes
  
  
• Balsamic Brussels sprouts
  
  
• Garlic-roasted mushrooms
  
  
• Cinnamon-spiced pumpkin
  

These earthy, caramelised notes make a seamless roasted vegetables mulled wine match.

4. Christmas Desserts That Shine With Mulled Wine

No Christmas celebration is complete without dessert. And mulled wine, with its warm, fruity, sweet-spicy profile, paired with sweets, is pure magic.

Gingerbread

The mulled wine and gingerbread combo is a classic because both share:

• Warm spices
  
  
• Sweetness
  
  
• Holiday aromatics
  

Together, they create a nostalgic, cosy flavour explosion.

Fruitcake & Plum Cake

The rum-soaked fruits mirror mulled wine’s warmth beautifully.

Gulab Jamun

A perfect Indo-Western pairing:

• Syrupy, rich, decadent
  
  
• Balanced by the acidity and spice in mulled wine

Christmas Cookies

Cinnamon cookies, sugar cookies, and orange zest cookies, every option works.

Apple Pie or Crumble

Fruit + spice + warmth = seamless pairing.

If anyone is searching for mulled wine and Christmas desserts, this list nails it.

Christmas Market-Inspired Mulled Wine Pairing Ideas

If you want that authentic winter market feeling:

• Roasted chestnuts
  
  
• Pretzels
  
  
• Cheese-filled pastries
  
  
• Potato pancakes (latkes)
  
  
• Chocolate-dipped fruits
  

These foods are traditionally served alongside hot spiced wine across Europe, making them perfect Christmas market-inspired mulled wine pairings.

What to Eat With Mulled Wine: Quick Pairing Guide

Here’s a quick festive cheat sheet:

Savory Snacks

• Samosas, pakoras
  
  
• Mini quiches
  
  
• Sausage rolls
  
  
• Charcuterie
  
  
• Roasted nuts
  

Cheeses

• Brie
  
  
• Camembert
  
  
• Blue cheese
  
  
• Aged cheddar
  

Festive Mains

• Glazed ham
  
  
• Roasted vegetables
  
  
• Stuffed mushrooms
  

Desserts

• Gingerbread
  
  
• Gulab jamun
  
  
• Fruitcake
  
  
• Christmas cookies
  

Everything complements the warm spices and fruity sweetness of mulled wine.

Final Thoughts

Mulled wine is more than just a drink, it's a Christmas experience. Whether you pair it with a beautiful cheese board, Indian festive snacks, rich desserts, or Christmas market treats, the right foods will enhance the warmth and spice of this classic winter drink.

Now that you know the best party food for mulled wine and how to match its festive flavours, you’re ready to host the cosiest, most flavorful Christmas celebration ever.