Easy Glogg Recipe [Mulled Wine]

Make your own easy Glogg Recipe this winter season! A cup of Scandinavian spiced mulled wine will heat you up to the core.

What is Glogg?

Glogg (aka Glögi, Glödgat Vin, Gløgg or Glögg) is the name for the Scandinavian version of a Mulled Wine. That means Glogg is prepared in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and even in Finland and Estonia.

Glogg is similar to the Austro-German Glühwein, yet there are a few differences.

Glogg vs Glühwein

Glogg and Glühwein are both hot mulled wine.

The major difference between Glogg and Glühwein is the strength of the alcoholic mulled wine. While Glühwein can include water, Glogg doesn’t.

Back in the day, Glogg was a means to heat up your ice cold body, so folks who would work in the outdoors at -20 Celsius would warm themselves up with a hot cup of spiced and heavily alcoholized Glogg.

The spices used in a Glogg and Gluehwein may vary. This often while depends on the region or individual taste preferences.

Another difference between Glogg and Gluhwein is the addition of raisin and almonds to the Glogg. It adds crunch and raisins make the hot beverage all the sweeter.

Glogg mulled wine ingredients

To prepare this glogg you will need only a handful of ingredients. I have adjusted it so that everyone can prepare this recipe without having to buy difficult to get or rare ingredients. Besides you can adjust the recipe to your liking.

Spices for your Glogg Mulled wine

Use only whole spices in this recipe because that way you can pick them out easily. Powdered spices turn the Glogg grainy. Whole spices can be simply picked out.

Cloves lend the mulled wine the edge. Because this Scandinavian mulled wine is strong in alcohol content, you need to balance it out with a good amount of spices such as the aromatic clove.

Cinnamon adds an addictive sweetness to your clove. If you don’t have cinnamon, use cassia bark instead.

Green Cardamom pods will add a homely warm touch to your glögi, which you just can’t miss!

Fresh Ginger is a must in my Glögg recipe because it rounds up all the other spice flavors beautifully and I like that little tickle combined with the strong sweet fruity red wine flavor.

Almonds and Raisins in your Glogg

Peeled or sliced almonds and raisins or sultanas are a common addition to most glogg family recipes in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia. Some people don’t like them.

I personally love a lot of almonds and raisins because I get to spoon it out, Pauli likes a little less but wouldn’t want to miss them in his hot cup of Glogg!

What Wine to use to make Glogg?

Pick a wine that is fruity and sweet to give your glogg mulled wine a pleasant flavor. Dry wines, on the other hand, are not suitable for mulling wine.

Also, don’t waste an expensive wine bottle, it’s just not right. Use a budget or decently priced wine bottle.

Port Wine makes a great mulled wine!

Other alcohol & flavors in your Glogg

I like to add orange liqueur to make an easy glogg recipe.  I use CointrGrandr grand Marnier.

You can also use the Scandinavian white alcohol akvavit or similar alcohols such as vodka, rum, brandy, schnapps or even whiskey. To add orange flavor to your mulled wine, pour in a few drops of bitter orange essence or cut in a slice of orange.

To sweeten the mulled wine add in sugar or honey to your liking.

Glogg variations

Here some ideas for Glogg mulled wine variations/flavor ideas:

• non alcoholic Glogg – Switch the wine with red grape juice. Another option is to boil the glogg so that the alcohol evaporates. Glogg without alcohol is popular!
• low alcohol Glogg – Use 2/3 of the red wine in the recipe and use 1/3 water.
• white wine Glogg – Use white wine instead of the red wine
• Glogg with some akvavit, vodka, whiskey, rum or schnapps.

When to serve a hot cup of Glogg?

The best time of the year for a Glogg is during Christmas time but a delicious hot cup of Glogg mulled wine will please anyone standing in the cold. Hence you can prepare this strong mulled wine on other occasions too such as:

• In Norway, Gløgg is often while enjoyed with the Norwegian Rice Porridge during Christmas time
• New Years night while waiting outside for the fireworks spectacle
• During a skiing tournament – You can take your own mulled wine along in a klean kanteen flask.
• Whenever you feel like it in the night while sitting next to the hot flame in the stove.

More hot winter beverages to warm up your body:

• Tyrolean Jagatee – Apré Ski Classic
• Cafe de Olla – The Mexican way to handle the cold
• Masala Chai – The Indian way to wake up on a cold morning
• Chai Pumpkin Spice Tea – Because the spices will keep you warm!

Easy Glogg Recipe [Mulled Wine]

For this Glogg recipe, you get to choose if you want to add almonds and raisins. Also, you can use akvavit, vodka, whiskey, rum or schnapps together with bitter orange essence, instead of the bitter orange liqueur. Just make sure to never boil the mulled wine, because well, it needs to mull slowly to take in the aroma of the spices. Also boiling the mulled wine would evaporate the alcohol.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Scandinavian

Keyword: beverage, mulled wine, spices, winter

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

Servings: 4 small cups

Calories: 190kcal

Author: Helene D'Souza

How to Video

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Red Wine *see Notes
• 1/8 cup Orange Liqueur *see Notes
• 1 inch Ginger
• 1/2 Teaspoon whole Cloves
• 1 Cinnamon Stick
• 3 Green Cardamom pods
• Raisins optional
• peeled whole or sliced Almonds optional
• Sugar or Honey to sweeten

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Pour the red wine into a pot. Gradually warm up the red wine. Never boil mulled wine because the alcohol will evaporate (except if you want an alcohol-free mulled wine). You want that the wine takes in the aroma of the spices.
• Pour in the Orange Liqueur and mix.
• Add the fresh sliced ginger, cloves, cinnamon stick, and slightly crushed cardamom pods.
• Mix and allow the mulled wine to slowly simmer. The lowest heat setting over a longer period of time results in the best-mulled wine.
• Then take out or discard the spices so that you are left with the infused red wine.
• Add the raisins and almonds if you like.
• Sweeten with honey or sugar to your liking.
• Keep the mulled wine on a very low heat setting until you serve it up. If you feel the mulled wine has reduced a lot, add little water to it but make sure the glogg is properly hot.
• Serve hot in a cup.

Notes

1. For the orange liqueur, use something like Cointreau or Grand Marnier. Or you may choose to use akvavit, vodka, rum, whiskey, schnapps with bitter orange essence.
2. Try to use whole spices only for a more authentic aroma.
3. Pick a fruity wine. Something like a sweet port wine works great too. Don't use expensive wine! Pick up a decent bottle from Aldi.
4. You may or may not like almonds and raisins in your mulled wine. Scandinavian Glogg usually adds raisins and almonds (depends on the family recipe). Choose if you want to add raisins and almonds and the amount.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Easy Glogg Recipe [Mulled Wine]

Amount Per Serving

Calories 190

% Daily Value*

Sodium 9mg 0%

Potassium 254mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Sugars 3g

Vitamin C 0.4%

Calcium 3%

Iron 6.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Dear Reader, have you had Glogg in the past? How did you get to know about Glogg?

Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section further below!

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Helene Dsouza

I am Helene, and created Masala Herb to share my food and travel journey with the whole world. You will find Asian and Western dishes here, as well as unique travel guides to inspire your day. Don't miss a post! Subscribe to the free newsletter!

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