• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food and Journeys®
  • WORLD CUISINES
  • HOW-TOS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • Notes on Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Categories
  • Countries
  • Pasta
  • Food Atlas
  • Guides
  • Subscribe!
  • About Me
  • Policy
  • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Categories
    • Countries
    • Pasta
    • Food Atlas
    • Guides
    • Subscribe!
    • About Me
    • Policy
    • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Glögg (Swedish Mulled Wine)

    Published: Dec 28, 2020 · Modified: Oct 22, 2022 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    No Christmas celebration in Sweden is complete without some Glögg (or Swedish Mulled Wine).  If you haven’t tried it yet, no worries, there is no need to travel to Northern Europe to enjoy it.  You can easily make it at home!

    An overhead shot of a cup of glogg, highlighting the star anise and cardamom spice in it.

    What does glögg mean?

    Glögg is a warm, spiced drink that is popular in the Nordics during Christmas.  

    You will always see it in family gatherings, as well as office parties — where they serve it at the start of the main event, while everyone is ‘warming up.’ 🙂 

    The smell and the taste of glögg, it’s simply perfect for Christmas.  

    Be warned, though, when you prepare this at home; your entire kitchen would smell so good, you wouldn’t want to leave!

    IF YOU WANT MORE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS DISHES FROM THE NORDICS, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THESE POSTS!

    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for St. Lucia buns, using the right size.
      Lussekatter (St. Lucia Buns)
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image forr Julekake, using the right size.
      Julekake (Norwegian Christmas Bread)

    Ingredients

    An image showing all the ingredients you need to prepare glögg at home.
    • Orange – some prefer to add orange slices instead of just the peels when making Swedish glögg. However, it gives it a bit of too much orange flavor for me, so I only use the peels.
    • Spices – cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves.
    • Red Wine – go for any young, dry red wine, not the bold or sweet kind (like Lambrusco).   

    Remember that you will add spices to it, so it will be more challenging to balance the flavor if they have deep, oaky taste.

    • Sugar – regular, white sugar is all you need for this Swedish glögg recipe.
    • Almonds and raisins – you need both for serving.
    A closer shot of a saucepan filled with Swedish mulled wine, with t he spices floating; on the side, raisins and blanched almonds are shown.

    Preparation

    Start preparing your Swedish glögg by placing a medium-sized saucepan over low heat.

    Pour both bottles of red wine into the saucepan (photo 1).

    Add orange peel, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves (photo 2).

    First part of a collage of images on how to make homemade mulled wine.

    Add sugar (photo 3).

    Mix until sugar has dissolved (photo 4).

    Cover with a lid and continue simmering for about twenty minutes, mixing occasionally.  Do not let it BOIL!

    Second part of a collage of images showing the step by step process on how to make mulled wine at home.

    Take the saucepan off the heat.

    Transfer it into a jug or bottle and let everything soak for at least two hours (ideally up to twenty-four hours).

    When ready to serve, strain the spices and heat the glögg — enjoy with some raisins and blanched almonds.

    An overhead shot of a pan of homemade glögg, ready for serving, with raisins and almonds on the side.

    Recipe variation

    • Other liquor.  Traditionally, cognac or brandy are added to Swedish glögg.  

    A lot of locals still do, just not my preference.  But if you love those liquor, then go ahead and enjoy!

    An image that shows how Swedish glogg is served, with raisins and blanced almonds.

    FAQs

    Can you drink cold mulled wine?

    Absolutely.

    But traditionally, glögg is served warm (not boiling). The warmth, coupled with spices’ aroma and flavor, is part of what gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling when drinking it.

    What is the difference between glögg and gluhwein?

    They refer to the same thing, except gluhwein is how they call it in Germany.  

    Oh! And it’s called ‘vin brulé‘ in Italy. 🙂

    Can you boil alcohol out of mulled wine?

    Boiling will definitely cause most of the alcohol to evaporate. 

    Nothing wrong with that if that’s what you prefer.  

    I see quite a lot of non-alcohol glögg sold here in Stockholm as well.  So, it’s not an anomaly at all.

    How long can you keep a bottle of glögg?

    If you keep it sealed in a container, it will stay fresh for about 3 to 5 days.  Just keep it refrigerated, then warm it up when serving.

    What can I serve with it?

    Glögg is excellent with gingerbread cookies, lussekatter (Swedish saffron buns), or a slice of this saffron cake.  

    Give these combos a try!

    See how easy it is to make this Swedish glögg recipe?  So, give it a go this weekend and let me know!

    Text for Roundup Sections
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic Swedish recipes.
      Swedish Food: Traditional Swedish Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for traditional Swedish desserts and pastries.
      Best Swedish Desserts
    An overhead shot of a cup of glogg, highlighting the star anise and cardamom spice in it.

    Glögg Recipe (Swedish Mulled Wine)

    A Nordic tradition that you can easily prepare at home. Give Swedish Glögg (Mulled Wine) a try and discover why the locals love it so much!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Swedish
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Resting Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 101kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Medium-Sized Saucepan
    • Pyrex Measuring Cups
    • Rubber Spatula
    • Strainer for Sifting

    Ingredients

    • 2 bottles red wine, (750 ml each)
    • 1 medium orange peel
    • 4 sticks cinnamon
    • 3 pcs star anise
    • 15 pcs cardamom pods
    • 15 pcs cloves
    • 2/3 cup sugar
    • 1/4 cup raisins (for serving)
    • 1/3 cup almonds, blanched (for serving)

    Instructions

    Preparing Swedish mulled wine:

    • Place a medium-sized to a large saucepan over low heat and pour the wine into it.
    • Add the peels, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves.
    • Add the sugar and mix until completely dissolved.
    • Continue simmering for 15 minutes — but do not let it boil.
    • Take it off the heat, transfer the wine into a bottle or jug, and let everything soak for 2 to 24 hours.

    Serving homemade glögg:

    • Strain the spices and heat the wine (again, do not boil).
    • Pour into serving glasses or mugs.
    • Serve Swedish glögg with some almonds and raisins.

    Notes

    • Cook’s Tip #1:  Make sure you do not boil the wine when making Swedish glögg.  It causes most of the alcohol to evaporate.
    • Cook’s Tip #2:  Use young, dry red wine instead of sweet or robust variety.
    • Cook’s Tip #3:  If you prefer a more orangey flavor in your homemade glögg, use orange slices instead of orange peels.
    • Cook’s Tip#4:  Cognac or brandy are traditionally added in Swedish glögg, so feel free to do so if you like it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @foodandjourneys or tag #foodandjourneys!

    More Dessert Recipes

    • Feature image for Semla, showing a bunch of semlor in a cooling rack.
      Semla (Semlor or Swedish Lent Buns)
    • Feature image for German Apple Pancake, showing it served with a scoop of ice cream.
      German Apple Pancakes (Apfelpfannkuchen)
    • Feature image for homemade almond paste, showing slices on it.
      Homemade Almond Paste (+ Recipes using Almond Paste)
    • Feature image for Swedish Apple Pie showing it straight out of the oven, ready for serving.
      Swedish Apple Pie (Crustless!)

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Image for About Me

    Hej there!

    A smorgasbord of traditional and delicious international recipes awaits you, so feel free to look around and pick your favorites. No need to leave your kitchen to experience the real deal!

    More about me →

    Image for listing as-featured-on

    Comfort Food

    • Feature image for Spanish Beef Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with bread on the side.
      Spanish Beef Stew (Easy Stovetop Recipe!)
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup, with slices of lemon on the side, and a bunch of fresh coriander.
      Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup (Adas Bhamod)
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of Swedish stew, with some boiled potatoes and pickled beets on the side.
      Swedish Beef Stew (Kalops)
    • Feature image of Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with slices of bread.
      Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew
    • Two bowls of Portuguese Green Soup, with some raw kale on the countertop.
      Portuguese Green Soup (Caldo Verde)
    • An overhead shot of a serving of authentic chicken cacciatore.; served with some bread.
      Easy Chicken Cacciatore
    • Feature image for Patatas a la Riojana, served with some bread.
      Spanish Chorizo and Potato Stew
    • Feature image for Turkish Celeriac Soup showing a bowl of it, ready for serving.
      Turkish Celeriac Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • A shot of a pan of Arroz de Tomate, fresh out of the stove, highlighting the sauce and the bits of tomatoes and parsley leaves.
      Portuguese Tomato Rice (Arroz de Tomate)
    • An overhead shot of a basket of Biscotti Regina, served with coffee.
      Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies (Biscotti Regina)
    • An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.
      Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
    • A closer shot of kanelbullar on a cooling rack, highlighting the filling of the buns.
      Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)
    • An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.
      Taralli (Italian Crackers)
    • Feature image for Salt & Pepper Pork Bellly slices, garnished with sea salt and spring onions.
      Salt and Pepper Pork Belly
    • An overhead shot of a serving of Filipino Picadillo, with a bowl of white rice next to it.
      Filipino Picadillo
    • Swedish Almond Tart
      Swedish Almond Tart
    • An overhead shot of a skillet of Spanish Garlic Chicken, straight out of the oven.
      Spanish Garlic Chicken (Pollo Al Ajillo)
    • A shot of a slice of Swedish cardamom cake, highlighting the texture of the cake.
      Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)
    • An overhead shot of a basket of Italian Walnut Cookies, served with an espresso.
      Italian Walnut Cookies (Dolci di Noci)

    Sweet Treats

    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for traditional Swedish desserts and pastries.
      Best Swedish Desserts
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for fika post, showing some Swedish treats, and coffee and tea in the background.
      What is Fika? (Fika Meaning + Recipes)
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Italian Desserts and Pastries post.
      Easy Italian Desserts & Pastries Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) Feature image for Traditional German Desserts and Pastries.
      Traditional German Desserts and Pastries

    Favorite Cuisines

    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Traditional Italian Recipes: Regional Italian Dishes post.
      Traditional Italian Recipes: Regional Italian Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic Swedish recipes.
      Swedish Food: Traditional Swedish Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic German recipes post.
      Authentic German Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for post on Easy Portuguese recipes showing two popular dishes.
      Portuguese Food: Classic Portuguese Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for post on Easy Spanish recipes, showing two popular dishes.
      Easy Spanish Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for classic Finnish recipes post.
      Classic Finnish Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Traditional Filipino Food post.
      Traditional Filipino Food
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Thai Recipes post.
      Easy Thai Recipes

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

    Copyright © 2023. FOOD AND JOURNEYS®