Pistachio 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. Dry red wine simmers low and slow with cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves, drawing out layer after layer of fragrance without ever boiling off the good stuff. A splash of brandy adds a gentle kick, while fresh orange and lemon rounds bring a bright citrus note that keeps the whole thing from feeling too heavy. The entire ingredient list is naturally free from tree nuts of any kind, so there's no label-scanning or substitution stress — just straightforward, cozy cooking. You control the sweetness by tasting and adjusting sugar as you go, which means it's easy to dial in exactly the balance you want. Strained clean and ladled into mugs, it's the kind of drink you'll want to keep warm on the stove all night for guests to help themselves.
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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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