MSG Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this classic German-style mulled wine is exactly what a cold evening calls for. 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 practically a hug. Because everything here is built from scratch using whole spices and fresh citrus, you never have to second-guess what's in your cup — no seasoning packets, no flavor enhancers, just real ingredients doing all the work. The key is keeping the heat low and patient; you want the wine to barely whisper at a simmer so the alcohol stays and the flavors deepen without turning harsh. A squeeze of sweetness from granulated sugar rounds everything out, and you can dial it up or back depending on your taste. Strained clean and ladled into mugs, it's the kind of drink that makes a winter gathering feel genuinely special.
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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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