German Glühwein Recipe- German Mulled Wine For a Cold Evening (2024)

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This German Gluhwein Recipe-Warms Your Toes and Your Tummy

I love to make up this TraditionalGerman Gluhwein Recipe during the Holiday season rather then going toCosta Coffeeor Starbucks for a cup of coffee. It smells good… it tastes good…. it SCREAMS Christmas in my ear…(oh wait… that’s the Kids…) (actually, a Gluhwein for mommy might make the screaming kids just a teeny bit more tolerable)

(that was a joke.)

Serve this at a holiday gathering, or make some up for yourself and maybe even a special someone. It’s perfect for those nights by the fire, wrapping presents and enjoying the Spirit of the Holidays. It tastes like heaven, and makes the house smell yummy and Christmassy.

BTW. the amount of sugar you need to add is in inverse proportion to how good the wine it…. which means…. if you use the cheap stuff, you are going to need a lot of sugar…. Taste it.
This is not to say that you should pull out an expensive bottle of wine… mid-range is fine.

Traditional German Gluhwein Recipe

German Glühwein Recipe- German Mulled Wine

Don't let this boil... keep it on low heat on the stovetop, or put it into a crockpot set to warm.

The amount of sugar depends on your taste... start with 1 cup, then add if it's not sweet enough for you.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 2 -10

Ingredients

2 Bottles of Red Wine 750 ml each
1 cups Granulated Sugar. Start with 1 cup... add more if needed
8 Cinnamon Sticks
2 Oranges- Sliced
a bunch of whole cloves dozen?
whole allspice if you have it (1 Tbl)
2-3 Star Anise
2 cups orange juice
1/4- 1/2 cup of brandy optional, but recommended

Instructions

Pull out a nice big pot....set it on the stove.
Pour the wine into the pot, and set the flame to LOW. (don't boil it!! )
Add the granulated Sugar
Slice the oranges, then stick the cloves into the orange slices, and into the wine they go
Put the cinnamon sticks in too... and the Star Anise if you like, and allspice pods if you have them.
Add the Orange juice
and if you want... the brandy
Now....
Wait
Simmer... stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. (don't let it boil!!)
Taste
Add Sugar if needed
Taste
Play with it some more if you want
Now .... enjoy....
You can buy Spice Mixes to add to your wine, to make it easier...

Traditional German Glühwein Spices

Want to take a shortcut? Just add these spices to the Wine… add sugar as needed.

Feuerzangen Bowle!

Want to take your Gluhwein experience to the next level, add FLAMES! The Feuerzangenbowle is a bowl that holds the a burning Rum-Soaked Sugar Cone over the Gluhwein. It’s beautiful and potent.

Find it HERE—> Feuerzangenbowle

German Glühwein Mugs

German Gluhwein mugs are perfect for keeping your hands warm while sipping Gluhwein! If you go to a German Christmas Market, you will get your Gluhwein in one of these collectible mugs. Start your own collection, or add to it with these…

Enamel cup Glühwein

These are all the mugs I brought home from my Christmas Market trip in 2019 (I may or may not have a problem)

also include 2 Bottles of White Wine. Use Rum or Arrak instead of Brandy. So good. But Arrak is very hard to find in America
Reply
1. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have… but I will keep my eyes open for Arrak!
  Thanks Lillian!
  Reply
I am never sure what kind of red wine to use can you help me out please? What’s your favorite? And can you reheat the leftovers?
thank yo
Reply
1. Use a mid-range Merlot or Pinot Noir (the expensive stuff it too good for this, and the cheap stuff won’t taste good… although my mother always uses Two buck Chuck).
  And yes, go ahead and simmer to reheat the leftovers.
  Reply
I use dark brown sugar… Yummm!
Reply
1. mmmmmmm
  Reply
My husband and I were in Germany last Christmas and a street vendor was selling gluhwein…oh my gosh!! I fell in love with it! I’m going to try your recipe tonight! Thanks for posting.
Reply
1. thanks! I just posted a white Glühwein recipe too!
  Reply
Can you use Calvados instead of Brandy? Just happen to have a bottle in the cupboard.
Reply
1. I don’t see why not? Flavor may change a bit…
  Reply
Good morning, can I use brown sugar or dark sugar and how long will the leftovers last? Thank you Merry Christmas
Reply
1. I don’t see why you can’t substitute brown sugar… it might change the flavor a bit, but maybe it would taste richer. Worth a try.
  Leftovers will keep for a few days in the fridge. I would think it should be ok for a week if you strain out the fruit.
  Reply