Xanthan Gum Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)

Total time30 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time25 min

Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this classic German mulled wine is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. 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 equal parts cozy and festive. The beauty of making it at home is that every ingredient is straightforward and naturally free of additives — no thickeners, stabilizers, or anything you'd need to second-guess on a label. Citrus rounds from a fresh orange and lemon brighten the deep, spiced base, while a little granulated sugar lets you dial in the sweetness exactly to your taste. The key is patience and low heat — you want the wine to gently infuse, never boil, so the alcohol stays mellow and the spice flavors bloom without turning bitter. Strained into a mug and garnished with a cinnamon stick or fresh orange slice, it's as beautiful to look at as it is to sip. This is the kind of recipe you'll want to keep on rotation from the first chill of autumn straight through the holidays.

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Ingredients

6 servings

1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (such as merlot, pinot noir, or dornfelder)
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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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