Glühwein (German Mulled Wine with Orange and Spices)
Why this recipe works
- Layered spice: Whole cinnamon, cloves and star anise infuse the wine gradually, giving warmth and aroma without making the drink taste dusty or overpowering.
- Balanced sweetness: Caster sugar softens the tannins in the red wine, while orange zest and slices keep the flavour bright.
- Gentle heating: Keeping the wine below a simmer preserves its smooth flavour and prevents the alcohol and fruit notes from tasting harsh.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Serve while steaming: Glühwein is best ladled hot, shortly after the spices have infused and the wine is aromatic.
- Most of the time is infusion: The hands-on work is brief; the flavour develops while the wine warms gently with the orange and spices.
Ingredient notes
- Choose a drinkable red wine: Use a red wine you would enjoy on its own, but avoid anything too delicate or expensive, as the spices and orange will lead the flavour.
- Avoid bitter pith: Peel the orange zest in wide strips and leave behind as much white pith as possible for a cleaner citrus flavour.
- Sweeten to taste: Different wines vary in dryness, so taste before serving and add a little more sugar only if needed.
Make-ahead tips
- Make ahead gently: The glühwein can be cooled and refrigerated, then reheated slowly over low heat until steaming.
- Do not boil when reheating: Warm it gently to preserve the flavour of the wine and keep the spices smooth rather than harsh.
Alcohol-free alternatives
- Alcohol-free version: Use alcohol-free red wine for the closest flavour profile, warming it with the same orange and whole spices.
- Fruit-based alternative: For a sweeter non-alcoholic drink, use a dark fruit juice base and balance it with extra citrus if it tastes too sweet.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel 3 to 4 wide strips of zest from the orange, avoiding too much white pith. Slice the orange into rounds and set aside a few slices for serving.
- Put the caster sugar, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise into a saucepan. Add a splash of the red wine and warm over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the spices smell fragrant.
- Pour in the remaining red wine and add the orange slices (not the ones reserved for serving). Warm very gently for 12 to 15 minutes until steaming and aromatic, keeping it below a simmer and never letting it boil.
- Taste and adjust with a little more caster sugar if you like it sweeter. Ladle into heatproof glasses and garnish each with a reserved orange slice.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Keep the heat low: boiling drives off alcohol and can make the wine taste harsh.
- For a cleaner pour, strain the glühwein through a sieve-strainer before serving, then add fresh orange slices to each glass.
Substitutions
- Replace caster sugar with honey for a rounder sweetness.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat until steaming, without boiling.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 glasses
- Total time: 25min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: German
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerGot ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Spiced Winter Beer (Belgian Style)
Warm spiced beer with orange, clove and cinnamon
Moroccan Fruit Punch with Mint and Orange Blossom Water
Chilled orange juice punch with mint and sparkling water
Vin Chaud (French Mulled Wine with Orange and Spices)
French mulled wine warmed with orange, spices and sugar
Kinderpunsch (Non-Alcoholic Mulled Apple Punch with Orange and Spices)
Mulled apple punch with orange and warming spices
Kompot z Suszu (Polish Dried Fruit Drink)
Polish dried fruit drink simmered with spices, served warm or chilled
Kompot z Suszu (Polish Dried Fruit Drink with Cinnamon and Cloves)
Polish dried fruit drink simmered with cinnamon and cloves
Belgian Advocaat Liqueur (Egg-Based Custard Liqueur)
Thick egg-yolk custard liqueur blended with brandy
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Strong black tea with evaporated milk, served hot or iced
Turkish-Style Mint Lemonade
Mint lemonade blended with fresh mint, lemon juice and sugar
Caffè Leccese (Iced Coffee with Almond Milk)
Iced espresso with sweetened almond drink
British Punch Bowl Cocktail
Punch bowl cocktail with rum, brandy, tea and lemon
Rosewater Strawberry Smoothie
Strawberry yoghurt smoothie scented with rosewater and sweetened with honey.
Vin Chaud (French Mulled Wine with Orange and Spices)
French mulled wine warmed with orange, spices and sugar
Kinderpunsch (Non-Alcoholic Mulled Apple Punch with Orange and Spices)
Mulled apple punch with orange and warming spices
Vin Brûlé (Italian Mulled Wine)
Mulled red wine warmed with orange, spices and sugar
Stoofperen (Dutch Spiced Stewed Pears in Red Wine)
Pears stewed in red wine with cinnamon and cloves
Glögg (Nordic Mulled Wine)
Nordic mulled wine with spices, raisins and blanched almonds
Grzaniec (Polish Mulled Red Wine)
Polish mulled red wine warmed with honey, citrus and spices
You might also like
Belgian Rabbit Stew with Prunes and Dark Beer
Rabbit stew with prunes and dark beer
Fritto Misto di Mare (Italian Mixed Fried Seafood)
Crisp fried squid and prawns with lemon
Hot and Sour Soup (Chinese Soup with Tofu and Shiitake)
Tangy hot and sour soup with tofu and shiitake
Flødekartofler (Danish Creamed Potatoes)
Danish creamed potatoes baked with garlic and nutmeg
Bánh Bao (Vietnamese Steamed Pork Buns)
Fluffy steamed buns filled with minced pork and hard-boiled egg
Korean Breakfast Bowl (Egg, Rice, Greens)
Rice bowl with sautéed spinach, fried egg and gochujang dressing
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan
- Excellent heat control
- Premium build quality
- Expensive
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
