Macadamia Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)
There is something deeply comforting about wrapping both hands around a warm mug of spiced wine on a cold evening, and this classic German-style recipe delivers exactly that kind of cozy magic. A full bottle of dry red wine gets gently warmed with brandy, fresh citrus rounds, and a generous lineup of whole spices — cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom — until the kitchen smells like a holiday market. The key is patience and low heat; keeping the wine just below a boil preserves the alcohol and lets the spices bloom slowly into something rich and aromatic rather than sharp or flat. A touch of sugar rounds everything out, and you can adjust it to taste right at the end, which makes this incredibly easy to dial in for your crowd. Tree nuts of any kind have no place in this recipe — every ingredient is a straightforward pantry staple or whole spice, so there's nothing hidden to worry about. Strained into mugs and garnished with a fresh orange slice or a cinnamon stick, it looks as beautiful as it tastes. This is the kind of drink that turns an ordinary winter night into a small celebration.
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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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