Almond Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this classic German mulled wine is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel genuinely festive. Whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and crushed cardamom pods steep slowly in red wine and a splash of brandy, filling your kitchen with a scent that's almost as good as the drink itself. The citrus rounds from both orange and lemon brighten the richness of the wine, while a measured amount of sugar lets you dial in the sweetness exactly to your taste. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from tree nuts, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or worry about hidden additives sneaking into your cup. The key technique is patience — keeping the heat low and never letting the wine boil preserves all that complex flavor without cooking off the alcohol or turning the spices bitter. Strained clean and ladled into mugs, it's an effortlessly elegant drink that works just as well for a quiet night in as it does for a holiday gathering.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (such as merlot, pinot noir, or dornfelder)
- ¼ cup brandy or dark rum
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar, plus more to taste
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
- 6 whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole star anise
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- ¼ tsp whole black peppercorns (optional)
For serving
- orange slices or cinnamon sticks, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the red wine, brandy, sugar, orange rounds, lemon rounds, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cardamom pods in a medium saucepan. Add the peppercorns, if using.
- 2
Warm the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar, until steam rises steadily and small bubbles appear around the edges — about 10 minutes. Do not let the wine boil; reduce the heat to low as soon as it approaches a simmer.
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