Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (2024)

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Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (1)

Ahhhh, mulled wine. Or perhaps spiced wine, depending on where you’re from. We look forward to this season every single year.

Just for a short time, HurryTheFoodUp is becoming HurryTheDrinkUp and we say at least a part of Christmas can be dedicated to getting drunk. In style 😉

The Germans know this as well as anyone, and after playing around with a classic mulled wine (or ‘Glühwein’ recipe to be precise) we’ve come up with the ultimate Christmas and winter drink.

What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is a combination of red wine, spices, fruits and sometimes other liquors. It’s served warm and traditionally enjoyed during the winter, especially around Christmas time.

You may also have heard mulled wine described as Glühwein, spiced wine or Gløgg – just to name a few. The beauty of mulled wine is that it’s often slightly different depending on where in the world you try it and whose recipe you’re tasting.

Whether you’re sipping it from a mug at a German market or enjoying it with friends at a Christmas party, you’re in for a treat!

What does it taste like?

Whilst mulled wine tastes strongly of red wine (due to this being the main ingredient), it is also a lot sweeter thanks to the added fruit and sugar.

It has a warming aroma and taste from the spices, and if you add the optional orange liquor in our recipe you get a delicious citrus flavour. It really is Christmas in a glass!

Mulled Wine Ingredients

Whilst the ingredients of spiced wine recipes vary by location and personal tastes, there are a few that tend to be a staple:

Red wine

This forms the base of mulled wine, giving it a rich flavour and beautiful colour. You can use a fairly inexpensive red wine as you will be adding spices and fruit which enhance the flavour (nobody will ever know!)

Just make sure to check that the wine you choose is vegetarian or vegan if this is your preference.

Oranges

A Christmas favourite and classic addition to most mulled wine recipes, oranges add sweetness and a citrus kick.

We’ve also added some lemon zest to our German mulled wine for some extra zing.

Which Mulled Wine Spices?

This is where mulled wine (Wikipedia) recipes really start to differ, but we’ve gone with the tried and trusted combination of cinnamon sticks for a woody sweetness and star anise which adds a slight liquorice favour.

Other popular mulled wine spices include cloves, nutmeg and black peppercorns.

It’s best to use whole spices rather than ground to avoid the wine having a slightly gritty texture.

Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (2)

Liqueur

This is an optional extra, but can really enhance the flavour (and why not, it is the festive season after all!). We’ve chosen an orange liqueur, but you can experiment with your favourite spirits – brandy and port are also popular options.

Health benefits

Ok, this recipe might not be the healthiest one we’ve ever created. It’s generally a bit of a hard sell to claim that alcohol is healthy. However, research has built up over the years and seems to show that moderate red wine consumption is beneficial for your heart health. Those Romans had it right!

Now we aren’t advocating that you start drinking red wine on the daily based on the above findings. But the occasional glass does seem to be good for us so this time around we’ll say just one thing… Enjoy! Prost!

Authentic German Mulled Wine (Glühwein) Recipe

Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (3)

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5 from 11 votes

Traditional German mulled wine (Glühwein) with a modern twist. Very easy to make and always tasty. Get drunk in style.

Cuisine:German

Diet: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan

Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Cook Time:25 minutes minutes

Total Time:30 minutes minutes

Servings:4 glasses

Calories:327kcal

Author: HurryTheFoodUp

Ingredients

Optional

  • ½ cup orange liquor (eg. Cointreau, brandy or amaretto are also fine)

Instructions

  • Juice the oranges. Zest the oranges if you don't have lemons.

    2 oranges

  • Add the red wine, lemon (or orange) zest, sugar, cinnamon sticks, star anise and orange juice to one pot and stir well.

    1 bottle dry red wine, 1 tsp lemon zest, ⅓ cup sugar, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 star anise

  • Bring to a simmer on a very low heat until the wine begins to foam a little.

  • Put a lid on top and simmer the wine gently for another 10-15 minutes.

Optional:

  • Add the orange liquor ,put the lid back on and turn off the stove. Let it sit for another 3-5 mins.

    ½ cup orange liquor

  • Serve the wine through a colander or sieve and into heat resistant glasses.

    Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (4)

NOTES

Tried the recipe? We’re all curious! Send us a pic via instagram by using the tag #hurrythefoodup or leave a comment below.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Authentic German Mulled Wine (Glühwein) Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

327

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Potassium

129

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

31

g

10

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

23

g

26

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

147

IU

3

%

Vitamin C

35

mg

42

%

Calcium

49

mg

5

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @HurryTheFoodUp on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece!

How to serve spiced wine

It’s best to strain the mixture before serving for a smoother drink. Then simply pour into glass cups or mugs – just make sure that they are heat resistant. In fact, you can actually buy mulled wine glasses which feature a handle and wide rim which makes it easier to drink the wine when it’s garnished.

Talking of which, garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange segment and enjoy!

Keeping it warm and reheating

Ideally, mulled wine should be served warm. If you’re serving it to a large number of guests throughout the evening, you could consider transferring it into a slow cooker on a very low heat after straining.

If you don’t have that option, you can certainly reheat mulled wine that’s not been sitting out for too long. Pop it back into the pan and heat on low – making sure to never bring it to the boil.

If you’re looking for festive dishes to serve up with your mulled wine this Christmas, check out our page of holiday recipes. The Bad Ass Nut Roast and Vegetable Wellington are two of our personal favourites and sure to go down a treat over the winter season!

Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between mulled wine and gluhwein? ›

Gluhwein is the German term for a hot spiced wine (It is actually spelled gluehwein, or there are two dots, (an umlaut) over the letter 'u'). Mulled wine is an English language term for hot spiced wine. They may not taste the same because there are many recipes that people have to make hot spice wine.

How long does it take to heat gluhwein? ›

Simmer. Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble — you don't want to boil off the alcohol.) Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

How long should you heat mulled wine? ›

Method. Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.

What does Glühwein in German mean? ›

christmas. Be the first to leave a review! This mulled wine recipe is for the German Glühwein, which literally translates to glow-wine, because of how you feel after you've been drinking tiny mugs outside in December.

What is the best wine for Glühwein? ›

Zinfandels, Merlots, Syrah/Shiraz, or Garnache tend to work best. Avoid red wines high in tannins or have an oaky flavor, and avoid light reds. Sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to have a full-bodied, fruity flavor, can work in a pinch, as can Malbec, which tends to have a bold, spicy flavor.

Why does my mulled wine taste bitter? ›

'Remember not to boil the liquid at any point, otherwise you'll burn off the alcohol and make your mulled wine taste bitter. '

Does heating mulled wine reduce the alcohol content? ›

Contrary to the popular belief that heating mulled wine diminishes the alcohol content, prompting many to drink it with an added shot of amaretto or rum, this happens only once it reaches a temperature of 78 degrees Celsius (172 degrees Fahrenheit).

Can you overheat mulled wine? ›

The key to successfully heating up mulled wine is to take it up to a nice warm temperature without boiling it. Wine has a lower boiling point than water, and overheating it will cook off some of the alcohol, resulting in an unpleasant bitter flavour.

Does the alcohol cook out of Glühwein? ›

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

Can you cook mulled wine for too long? ›

One important thing to remember when making your mulled wine – don't boil or heat it for too long! You'll cook off all the alcohol and be left with tasty but boozeless mulled grape juice.

Is gluhwein healthy? ›

It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that may assist in lowering inflammation in the body. The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains. I suppose you could make a batch of mulled wine with a non-alcoholic wine and that would not have alcohol.

What is the difference between glögg and Glühwein? ›

What is the difference between glögg and glühwein? Glögg is a popular winter drink in the Nordic countries, while glühwein is enjoyed in German-speaking countries. What connects these two drinks? Glögg is an essential part of the winter season in Sweden as well as the other Nordic countries.

What do Germans say beer before wine? ›

THE GERMANS also disagree: 'Bier auf Wein das lass sein; Wein auf Bier das rat' ich Dir' (roughly translated: 'Don't touch beer after wine; but wine after beer is fine'). There is an Anglo-German difference on another bit of folklore, too.

What would you be drinking if you had Glühwein? ›

The word “Glühwein” roughly translates to “glow wine.” A traditional Glühwein typically includes a variety of spices such as cinnamon, clove, and star anise. This German mulled wine also features citrus, vanilla, and sugar. It is most often made with red wine, although you can use white wine if you prefer.

Is glögg the same as Glühwein? ›

The alcohol-infused dried fruits and nuts are meant to be eaten which is why glögg is served with a spoon. Glühwein, on the other hand, is a similar drink enjoyed in German-speaking countries with a few differences. Like Glögg, Glühwein is traditionally consumed warm and is produced with similar Christmas spices.

Is mulled wine the same as mulled cider? ›

When the weather gets cold, that means it's the best time of year to make your favorite warm drinks! Mulled wine is a hot beverage that's made by mixing wine with various spices and letting it simmer before serving warm. Mulled cider is the same concept, just with cider instead of wine!

Is there any alcohol in Glühwein? ›

Glühwein is German mulled wine. The word translates to "glow wine" because the boozy beverage will make you feel lit from within!

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