Quick Dessert

Mulled wine loaf cake

Name: Mulled wine loaf cake recipe
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 250g salted butter, softened; 220g brown sugar; 2 tsp vanilla bean paste; Finely grated zest of 1 orange; 3 large eggs, at room temperature; 375g self-raising flour; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; Pinch ground cloves; 80ml milk; 250g icing sugar, sifted; Orange zest, to decorate; 250ml red wine; Zest and juice of 1 orange; 1 cinnamon quill; 3 whole star anise; 5 cloves

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40m

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by Lucy Nunes

Delicious Team

Jun 16, 2026

We’ve infused this pretty loaf cake with warm spices and the mellow richness of mulled wine. The aroma is amazing while it’s baking, and it’s the perfect sweet treat to accompany a cup of tea or coffee on a wintry afternoon.

You’ll need a 11cm x 21cm, 8cm-deep loaf pan for this recipe.

250g salted butter, softened
1 cup (220g) dark brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups (375g) self-raising flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch ground cloves
1/3 cup (80ml) milk
250g icing sugar, sifted
Orange zest, to decorate

Mulled wine

1 cup (250ml) red wine
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1 cinnamon quill
3 whole star anise
5 cloves

Method

1.

Start with the mulled wine. Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes for flavours to infuse. Strain ½ cup (125ml) into a jug and set aside to cool for the cake. Cool remaining mulled wine in pan for the icing.
2.

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 11cm x 21cm, 8cm-deep loaf pan and line with baking paper, extending paper 5cm over two long sides.
3.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar, vanilla and zest until light and fluffy.
4.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine. Sift over half the flour and the spices. Stir to combine. Add the cooled ½ cup (125ml) reserved mulled wine. Stir to combine. Repeat with remaining flour and the milk.
5.

Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Level surface with a spatula. Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
6.

Strain the reserved mulled wine. Place the icing sugar in a medium bowl and gradually stir in the mulled wine until smooth and a thick pourable consistency. Drizzle over the loaf. Decorate with strips of orange zest.
7.

Serve cut into slices.