By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 6
64 cal · 25 min
Boozy Spiced German Glühwein
Recipe GLPRb984c7ce9f3e6b
A warming German mulled wine infused with spiced rum, aromatic spices, and fresh orange. This festive beverage combines red wine with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise for a rich, complex flavor profile perfect for cold winter evenings. The spiced rum adds depth and warmth while the orange slices provide bright citrus notes and natural sweetness.
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Ingredients
2 medium oranges
1 (750 milliliter) bottle red wine
⅔ cup spiced rum
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
2 star anise pods
¼ cup granulated sugar
Directions
Slice both oranges into thin rounds. Set aside a few of the most appealing slices to use for garnishing the finished glühwein.
Pour the red wine and spiced rum into a medium saucepan. Add the remaining orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise pods, and granulated sugar.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and gently warm the mixture until it reaches just below a simmer—steam should rise from the surface but no bubbles should break. Maintain this gentle heat for approximately 20 minutes to allow the wine to warm through and the spices and orange to release their flavors into the liquid. Do not allow the mixture to boil, as this can diminish the alcohol content and create an unpleasant harsh flavor.
Carefully ladle the hot glühwein into heatproof mugs or cups, distributing some of the spices and orange slices among the servings. Top each mug with one of the reserved orange slices for garnish. Serve immediately while hot.
Comments
All ingredients are available year-round at any Charlotte-area Harris Teeter, Food Lion, or Walmart; no special trips needed. At roughly $3 per serving (a decent bottle of red wine split six ways, plus inexpensive spices and an orange), this is a solid value for a hot cocktail. The 25-minute time is honest—heating, not simmering, and the spices infuse quickly in warm liquid. This is a same-night, no-leftovers dish best served fresh, and while it requires no real cooking skill, it is not a family meal if you have young children, since it contains alcohol and is meant to be sipped slowly rather than gulped.
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