Glühwein is the name for mulled wines in German-speaking countries. You can get Glühwein in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and few other German-speaking areas. Glühwein is exceptionally popular during the Christmas holidays and is commonly served in outdoor Christmas markets along with a variety of other holiday foods and hand-made crafts.
These Christmas markets have tents that have been set up for so people can sit down and get warm while sipping hot German Glühwein as a break from Christmas shopping. For Germans, Glühwein is an integral part of the Christmas experience.
German Glühwein Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 lemon
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- 2 Tsb sugar
Tip: use a dry, robust, and fruity red wine for best results; an inexpensive wine is fine, but it should be drinkable by itself
Tip: Set aside some cinnamon sticks for garnish
Optional Ingredients
- cardamon
- ginger
- allspice
- nutmeg
- kirsch liqueur
German Glühwein Preparation
Equipment Needed
- Medium saucepan
- Spoon for stirring
- Strainer or Cheesecloth
- Ladle
- Mugs
Preparation Time
- 10 minutes to gather up ingredients
- 35 minutes to heat red wine
- 5 minutes to serve mulled wine
Making German Glühwein
German Glühwein Recipe
- Pour red wine into saucepan
- Add spices, one by one
- Use medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved
- Reduce to low heat for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
Tip: Don't let the German Glühwein reach a boiling point!
Serving German Glühwein
- Ladle German Glühwein into mugs
- Put a strainer over the mugs to remove bits of spices
- Add cinnamon stick for garnish, if desired
- Add a shot of kirsch liqueur to each mug first, if desired
Tip: pre-heat the mugs to help keep the Glühwein warm
