By: Becky Hardin
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Mulled Wine is the perfect holiday drink. This simple glühwein recipe is delicious and it’s made in under 30 minutes. Holiday Spiced Wine will warm up any chilly night!
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Mulled Wine Recipe
- Cozy. I love curling up with a warm drink throughout the fall and winter season.
- Festive. Whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and oranges bring on the holiday spirit.
- Versatile. You can make a non-alcoholic version using grape juice or apple cider as the base. Add the same spices and ingredients, and omit the wine.
Variations on Glühwein
This simple mulled wine recipe is the perfect base for any warm spiced flavors you can think of. Try adding some cardamom pods, black peppercorns, fresh ginger, or a bay leaf. A splash of vanilla extract or spiced rum would also enhance the spicy flavor.
For a fresher taste, try adding different types of citrus, like lemons, grapefruits, or limes for a tangy twist. Or add some cranberry juice for a touch of tartness.
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- You want to choose a dry, full-bodied wine for this recipe. I like Cabernet Sauvignon, but a Zinfandel, Merlot, or Syrah would also work well.
- Bring the wine to a simmer, but don’t let it boil. Boiling will change the flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Keep it warm, not hot. If you’re serving it at a party, use a slow cooker or a heat diffuser on the stove to keep it warm without boiling.
- You can make a non-alcoholic version using grape juice or apple cider as the base. Add the same spices and ingredients, and omit the wine.
Storage:Store mulled wine in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 166kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 21g (7%) Protein: 0.2g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 3mg Potassium: 89mg (3%) Fiber: 0.2g (1%) Sugar: 18g (20%) Vitamin A: 22IU Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) Calcium: 7mg (1%) Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
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How to Make Mulled Wine Step by Step
Combine the Ingredients: Bring 750 milliliters (1 bottle) of red wine, ¼ of honey, 2 cups of apple cider, ¼ cup of orange liqueur, 2 sliced oranges, 4 whole cloves, and 4 cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.
Simmer the Wine: Once simmering, reduce the mixture to medium-low heat and continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain and Serve: Strain the mulled wine through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth and serve garnished with more fruit, star anise, and cinnamon sticks if desired.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover mulled wine in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat it, place it in a pot and let it simmer until warm.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious glühwein at your next holiday party with a charcuterie board, bacon wrapped dates, sausage rolls, or mini quiches. It’s also great with a bowl of comforting beef stew, a prime rib roast, orange cranberry pork loin, or a rack of lamb.
What is mulled wine?
Also known as glühwein, it is an alcoholic drink made with red wine and mulling spices.
What’s the difference between mulled wine and sangria?
This drink is typically served hot, whereas sangria is served cold. Plus, sangria can be made with red or white wine and usually incorporates a lot more fresh fruit.
Is mulled wine very alcoholic?
This drink usually has an alcohol content of around 7%, but it can be as high as 14%, which is about the same as a typical bottle of wine.
What wine is best for mulled wine?
A full-bodied, dry wine works best. Look for bottles that are described as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla”.I like Cabernet Sauvignon best.
Do you drink mulled wine hot?
Yes, this drink is meant to be served hot.
Can I microwave mulled wine?
Yes, to quickly warm it up, you can microwave glühwein in 30-second increments until hot.
More Holiday Cocktails To Try
- Mulled Wine Margaritas
- Holiday Sangria
- Jingle Juice
- Cranberry Margaritas
- Christmas Punch
- Homemade Eggnog
- Sparkling Holiday Flirtini
Recipe
Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein)
4.50 from 16 votes
Author: Becky Hardin
Prep: 5 minutes minutes
Cook: 30 minutes minutes
Total: 35 minutes minutes
Serves8
Print Rate
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This perfectly spiced mulled wine recipe is so easy to make, and it's great for the holidays or cold winter months.
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Ingredients
- 750 milliliters red wine I like Cabernet Sauvignon (1 bottle)
- ¼ cup honey or agave nectar
- 2 cups apple cider — not apple cider vinegar!
- ¼ cup orange liqueur I like Grand Marnier (optional)
- 1 orange sliced
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Optional Garnishes
- Star anise
- Orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
Bring the wine, honey, cider, orange liqueur, sliced fruit, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.
750 milliliters red wine, ¼ cup honey, 2 cups apple cider, ¼ cup orange liqueur, 1 orange, 4 whole cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks
Once simmering, reduce to medium-low heat and continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain and serve, garnished with more fruit, star anise, and cinnamon sticks if desired.
Star anise, Orange slices, Cinnamon sticks
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- You want to choose a dry, full-bodied wine for this recipe. I like Cabernet Sauvignon, but a Zinfandel, Merlot, or Syrah would also work well.
- Bring the wine to a simmer, but don’t let it boil. Boiling will change the flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Keep it warm, not hot. If you’re serving it at a party, use a slow cooker or a heat diffuser on the stove to keep it warm without boiling.
- You can make a non-alcoholic version using grape juice or apple cider as the base. Add the same spices and ingredients, and omit the wine.
Storage:Store mulled wine in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 166kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 21g (7%) Protein: 0.2g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 3mg Potassium: 89mg (3%) Fiber: 0.2g (1%) Sugar: 18g (20%) Vitamin A: 22IU Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) Calcium: 7mg (1%) Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!
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How to Make Mulled Wine Step by Step
Combine the Ingredients: Bring 750 milliliters (1 bottle) of red wine, ¼ of honey, 2 cups of apple cider, ¼ cup of orange liqueur, 2 sliced oranges, 4 whole cloves, and 4 cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.
Simmer the Wine: Once simmering, reduce the mixture to medium-low heat and continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain and Serve: Strain the mulled wine through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth and serve garnished with more fruit, star anise, and cinnamon sticks if desired.
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