Easy Mulled Wine (Glühwein)

5 from 11 votes

Easy Mulled Wine (Glühwein)

This easy mulled wine recipe is the coziest and most delicious drink to help you warm up. I grew up with it at the German Christmas Markets, where it’s called Glühwein (glow wine). I have come up with an easy, yet traditional way to make it at home. All it takes is some wine, citrus, and spices.

Featured in my 'German Home Kitchen'!

Prep Time5

Steeping Time10

Total Time15

Course: Drinks, Entertaining, Holiday Meal

Cuisine: German

Keyword: classic mulled wine, easy mulled wine, german hot wine, german mulled wine, gluhwein recipe, mulled wine recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 210kcal

Author: Author: Sophie Sadler

Equipment

1 Skimmer for removing the fruit and spices after steeping
1 small pot with lid

Ingredients

Mulled Wine

1 bottle wine 750 ml or 3 cups. For red I use a low tannin wine like Pinot Noir or Merlot. If making a white version (like it's also common to drink in Germany), use a dry Riesling. Don't use the best wine.
1 lemon organic, cut into slices
½ orange organic, peel only
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 cinnamon stick
3 cloves
1 cardamom pod or one pinch of ground cardamom

Optional Add-In

rum or cognac to add an optional shot right before serving

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Pour wine into a small pot and add the sliced lemon. Cover with a lid and heat over medium heat until just starting to boil. Turn off the heat.
1 bottle wine, 1 lemon
Keeping the heat off, stir in spices, sugar and orange peel. Cover with a lid and steep your Glühwein for 10 minutes.
½ orange, 3 Tablespoons sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, 1 cardamom pod
Remove the fruit and spices and serve with an optional shot of rum or cognac. If wanting to keep your mulled wine warm, return to low heat.
rum or cognac

Video

Notes

Steeping the wine with spices and citrus for just 10 minutes helps to keep out the bitter aromas.

For the optional add-in shot, I recommend using either rum or cognac. You could also play with adding whiskey or other liquors, depending on your preference.

Make blueberry or cherry mulled wine. Add some juice to your wine and skip adding the sugar for a fun twist (blueberry and cherry Glühwein are popular at the Nuremberg Christmas market, too). You could also try using blueberry or cherry wine if you can find it near you. And since those wines tend to be sweeter, you may not need to add any or less sugar.

Nutrition