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Home Eat Drinks

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

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By: Sarah BondUpdated: Feb 05, 2022 4 Comments

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Experience the cozy German Christmas markets without ever leaving the comfort of your home with this easy Gluhwein recipe! With only 5 ingredients, this is a simple mulled wine to warm your bones this winter.

A short glass filled with gluhwein and garnished with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cranberries

In a week full of our favorite winter classics (like this Käsespätzle), it’s only fitting that we share a recipe that has maximum coziness. We’re talking Glühwein!

What is gluhwein, you ask? Well, it’s only the coziest of adult beverages! It is Germany’s version of mulled wine, translating to “glow wine”.

The whole point of gluhwein in the olden days was to salvage scrap/bad wine, which is fortunate for folks like me who know very little about wine and therefore make their wine selection almost solely based on the prettiness of the label.

A bird's eye view of two glasses filled with gluhwein mulled wine garnished with cranberries, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and star anise

Where did Gluhwein originate?

Gluhwein originated in Germany as their version of mulled red wine, and it accounts for roughly 96% of the magic at the German Christmas markets. So today we’re bringing that magic right onto our stovetops with an ultra-simple take on this drink, complete with orange and cinnamon sticks.

If you’re into potpourris in the winter, there’s a classic blend that uses cinnamon, cranberries, and orange slices. It fills your home with such great Christmasy aromas that you can’t help but get into the spirit of the season!

Well, this wine is that potpourri embodied in a beverage. The orange slices bring a tangy zest while the cinnamon calms things down with its hint of spice. When all is said and done, this is the perfect DIY gluhwein recipe no matter where you are in the world!

Two short glasses filled with orange mulled wine and garnished with star anise, cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks

Ingredients In fruity mulled wine

To make your own mulled wine, you’ll need 1 bottle of your favorite dry red, a bit of brandy or orange liquor, an orange, a sweetener, cloves, cinnamon, and two star anise. And with that, get ready for one of the best wines, complete with some seriously cozy Christmas flavors!

  • Red Wine: Use 1 bottle of dry red wine, like merlot, zinfandel, or garnacha.
  • Brandy: Next, ¼ cup of brandy will offset some of the dryness. You can also use an orange liquor like Triple Sec.
  • Orange: Amp up the tanginess with the addition of 1 sliced orange.
  • Sweetner: To sweeten up the drink, use 2 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup, or sugar.
  • Spices: Add a bit of spice with 5 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, and 2 star anise.
  • Garnishes: Optionally complete your gluhwein by garnishing it with cranberries, cinnamon stirs, more star anise, and/or more orange slices!
Honey, star anise, cinnamon sticks, a sliced orange, and other gluhwein ingredients arranged on a white background

How to make mulled gluhwein

To make gluhwein, you’ll essentially let everything heat and mix on the stove. It’s very quick and simple. So much so, that you can pick up the ingredients on your way home and have homemade gluhwein within half an hour. Now that, my friends, is magic.

  1. Simmer: Add all of the ingredients to a large pot and set over medium/low heat. When the mixture begins to steam slightly, reduce the heat to low and let it warm for 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Serve: Ladle into mugs and serve with optional garnishes.
A pot filled with steeping gluhwein and orange slices with a ladle scooping out a spoonful that includes a star anise

Ways to add different flavors

Gluhwein comes in a few different variations, and it’s easy to switch up your recipe right at home!

  • Sweeter Gluhwein: For a sweeter and less bitter beverage, remove the peel from the orange before adding it to the pot. The longer the orange peel steeps in the wine, the more bitter the finished drink will taste!
  • Blueberry Gluhwein: Create an easy blueberry version (i.e. Heidelbeerglühwein) of this mulled wine by adding 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries to the pot.
  • Apple: Another great variation involves apple slices. You can opt to add them to the pot, or you can replace the orange slices altogether for a heavier apple flavor.
  • White Wine: You can also make this using a dry white wine (in German, weisse glühwein).
  • Add A Shot: Many markets in Germany will have the option to add a shot of rum to your mulled wine (glühwein mit schuss)!
A short glass filled with gluhwein and garnished with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cranberries

What to enjoy with gluhwein

A beverage this cozy requires the pairing of an equally cozy dish! When enjoying your red gluhwein, try sipping it with German Käsespätzle! It translates to “cheese noodles.” Need I say more?

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

No ratings yet
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 135kcal
Servings: 6 servings
Print Rate
With only 5 ingredients, this is a simple mulled red wine to warm your bones this winter.

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle dry red wine like merlot, zinfandel, or garnacha, 750 mL
  • ¼ cup brandy or orange liquor, 60 mL
  • 1 orange sliced
  • 2 Tbsp sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or sugar
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise
  • Optional garnishes: cranberries, cinnamon stirs, star anice, orange slices

Instructions 

  • Simmer: Add all ingredients to a large pot and set over medium/low heat. When mixture begins to steam slightly, reduce heat to low and let warm for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Serve: Ladle into mugs and serve with optional garnishes.

Tips & Tricks

For blueberry mulled wine, add 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries.
For sweeter/less bitter mulled wine, remove the peel from the orange before adding it to the pot. The longer the orange peel steeps in the wine, the more bitter the finished drink will be.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, straining before storing. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1glass Calories: 135kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 10.3g (3%) Protein: 0.4g (1%) Fat: 0g Sodium: 4mg Potassium: 186mg (5%) Fiber: 0.7g (3%) Sugar: 7.5g (8%) Calcium: 21mg (2%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
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  1. Angie says

    Posted on 11/9 at 12:07 am

    Can this be made up a day or two ahead and re-heated? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 11/11 at 11:00 pm

      Yep! It will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Just reheat it over low when you’re ready to serve. Enjoy! 😀

  2. Gina lofberg says

    Posted on 11/3 at 7:29 am

    Could you possibly tell me where you got these amazing mugs?? Can I buy them in the US?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 11/4 at 5:06 pm

      I got them at a Christmas market in Germany! Fortunately, most cities in the U.S. have Christmas markets now with their own mugs! 😀

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