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    Home » Recipes » German Recipes

    Traditional German Gluhwein

    Published: Dec 16, 2021 · Modified: Mar 8, 2022 by Angela Schofield · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What goes better with the Christmas season than a warming mulled wine with seasonal spices? This recipe features a traditional German gluhwein like you can find at the magical Christmas Markets in Germany.

    Mulled wine is a drink with tradition. Even the ancient Romans spiced wine, and in the Middle Ages it was considered a medicine. Isn´t that a great little excuse to drink a second mug full of the fragrant steaming wine?

    Couple drinking Gluhwein

    When the temperatures are cold, mulled wine comes to the rescue. From the inside, the sweet mixture of red wine, sugar, spices and citrus notes warms you up, and from the outside, the warm mug prevents your fingers from freezing. No wonder the beverage is so popular.

    Ingredients

    Sugar

    Use your favorite sugar or sugar substitute for this recipe and adjust it to your taste. Make it as sweet as you like but keep in mind, that too much sugar in gluhwein can cause headaches.

    Wine

    As in all mixtures the quality of the base products is responsible for the quality of the end product. Use high quality wines to achieve best results.

    German Christmas Market Wine

    Oranges

    Best is to use organic oranges as you place them with the peel into the beverage. If you can´t find organic oranges or just don´t want to pay the extra cost it is perfectly fine to just wash the oranges with vinegar and then rinse them with hot water.

    Rum or Whiskey

    The addition of rum or whiskey gives the gluhwein a flavorful depth. But if you prefer a lighter version with less alcohol you could just leave it out.

    Traditional German Gluhwein Recipe

    Recipe

    Gluhwein Recipe

    Authentic German Glühwein

    Angela Schofield
    Traditional German gluhwein recipe like from the magical German Christmas markets.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine German
    Servings 3 Portions
    Calories 560 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 bottle red wine i.e. Spätburgunder, Dornfelder, Trollinger, Merlot
    • 2 oranges organic
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 7 whole cloves
    • 1 whole star anise
    • ¾ cup dark brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup dark rum or whiskey
    • 2 tsp. vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Slice one orange into slices and juice the other orange.
    • To a large pot add red wine, the spices, sugar, orange juice and orange slices.
    • Heat on medium for about 20 min. Stir occasionally and make sure the sugar is completely dissolved.
    • Remove spices and stir in rum and vanilla extract right before you are ready to serve.

    Notes

    Make sure to don´t heat gluhwein for too long as it will turn bitter. If you want to prepare it in advance you can reheat it right before serving.

    Nutrition

    Yield: 1PortionCalories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 1gFiber: 3gSugar: 54g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Angela framed by German landscape

    Guten Tag, I'm Angela,
    Herzlich willkommen! I'm glad you've stopped by.

    It is a joy to share with you some of my all-time favorite authentic German recipes and tell you a little bit about the cultural background of my home country, Germany.

    More about me →

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