Glühwein Mulled Wine

This super easy gluhwein mulled wine will make your whole house smell like Christmas! It’s sooo easy and quick to make, you’ll want to keep making it all winter. Instant Pot, Crockpot, and stovetop instructions are included.

Mulled wine makes me think of German Christmas markets. If you want to go to the best Christmas markets in the world, then you’ll find those in Germany! I was lucky enough a few years ago to be there around Christmas time, and you won’t believe how festive and beautiful everything was.

When I studied in Sweden, I fell in love with mulled wine. It’s called “glogg” over there, and has a slightly different aroma and taste to the one that I’m used to. In Germany, mulled wine is called “gluhwein”.

Mulled wine or Glühwein is the most soul-warming drink ever. This wine is sweet, richly spicy and aromatic. If you make it at home, your kitchen will smell like Christmas all day.

Mulled Wine Spices

Many different spices can be added to mulled wine, so it depends on what kind of spices do you like the most but this is what I usually add to my mulled wine:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Cloves
• Anise stars
• I also like to add nutmeg sometimes, and cardamom pods also give a lovely flavour to the mulled wine.

Recipe Tips

• Fruits also add a great sweet flavour and aroma to the wine, you could add clementines, oranges and apples. I also like to add a little bit of orange juice.
• To enhance the flavour, you can add a shot of rum or brandy at the end.
• Red or white wine can be used to make mulled wine, but red wine is much more popular. I like to use an inexpensive extra dry red wine and double the batch.

How to make mulled wine over the stovetop

I’ve seen some “one minute mulled wine” recipes on the Internet that tell you to pressure cook the wine for one minute. But the problem with that method is that the alcohol should not be boiled or be exposed to very high temperatures. So here’s the correct way to make mulled wine:

• Heat water and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat. Let it boil and make sure that the sugar is dissolved in the water.
• Add the spices that you’re using and any fruits if using. Simmer for a few minutes then reduce the heat.
• Add the wine, and leave it for a few minutes on low heat. Let the wine steam, and never boil!
• Add fruit juice and rum or brandy if using then strain if necessary, serve warm.

Slow cooker spiced wine

Another great way to make gluhwein is in the slow cooker! This is probably my favourite method as it makes my whole house smell amazing!

• Add water and sugar to the Crockpot. Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar, then add the spices and the fruits that you’re using. Cover with the lid, and switch on the slow cooker on high for 30 minutes.
• Add the red wine, and let it heat until it starts simmering.

• Change the setting to “keep warm” and let the flavours settle for around 30 minutes.
• Strain the wine or not before serving.

Instant Pot Mulled Wine

You could also make the mulled wine in your Instant Pot. I really love using my Instant Pot for this as the “keep warm” option is so great for this. It makes sure that my wine stays warm while I entertain my guests!

• On the Instant Pot, click on “Saute” setting on medium and add water and sugar. Let the sugar dissolve, then add the spices and the fruits.

I like to add oranges, apples, cranberries, but you could also add clementines or orange slices. As for spices, please refer to the spices listed in the recipe card.

Tip: I like to pierce an orange peel with the cloves, as it’s much easier to collect them later when straining/pouring the mulled wine in glasses.

• Cook the spices and the fruits in the syrup for a few minutes.

• Add the red wine, cover with a glass lid and let the wine steam on LOW-Saute setting (make sure that it does not boil).
• Let it steam for a few minutes, then serve warm.

Keep the setting on “keep warm” as you entertain your guests, or if you made your wine too early. This will keep your wine warm and nice for whenever you’re ready to serve.

Tip: Make sure that you remove the oranges and the spices from the wine if you leave it on “keep warm” as the taste might become bitter if the oranges stay in there for too long and the spices might overpower the taste of the wine.

Make it Non-alcoholic

For a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine, either get a non-alcoholic red wine to make this. Or you could just mix fruit juices, such as pomegranate juice with blackberry juice. The spices will remain the same, and so is the method.

How to double the recipe?

To double the recipe, just double the amount of wine, fruit, sugar, and water. But keep the amount of the spices the same.

Which glasses or mugs to use?

What to serve mulled wine in? I personally really like having mulled wine in a mug, it’s a hot drink and drinking it from glass makes it a bit more difficult.

So I would suggest that you serve it in a transparent mug, to be able to see what’s inside and enjoy the wine!

By the way, have you heard of Sahlab before? This is my FAVOURITE winter drink! You must give it a try!

This recipe was first posted on the 30th of November, 2016. Then updated in December 2019 with new images and more information.