Traditional Gluehwein
- Makes 12
- Prep 5 minutes
- Cook 30 minutes
- Total 35 minutes
This fabulous slow cooker Traditional Gluehwein is the solid mulled wine to serve at any holiday party! So easy – toss everything into the crock pot and let it stew together and make your house smell fantastic!
When our husband and we were traveling through Krakow a few years agowe came across a small market off the main square that was bustling with good, artisan food stalls with the most good local fares.
Everything was good – festive, traditional, rich, and so beautifully prepared.
Everyone who served it was cheery, and the night was magical.
Our favorite part of the fair, of course, was the traditional Grzaniec (Polish mulled wine).
It was rich and spicy, with fruity tartness and a seductive cardamon spice.
It was also— um— effective at keeping us warm on a chilly night in lesser Poland!
It is strong and sweet, and everything you want in a good drink.
When was mulled wine invented?
Mulled wine was first imbibed by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD. Roman soldiers heated wine during the winter to stay warm.
As the Romans conquered much of Europe, their love for mulled wine spread throughout the region.
Today, this wintery treat is a festive holiday drink that you can find all overe Europe in Christmas markets, but especially in Germany, Poland, Austria, and Hungary.
Gluehwein is sweet, but not too sweet, spicy, alcoholic, and addictive – we could casually sip a mug of spiced wine all night long while cuddled up by a fire with a good book.
It's also suited to Christmas party drinks – make up a big batch on the stove or in a slow cooker and leave out mugs for guests to pour themselves some to warm up and sip!
When our husband decided we should make our own mulled wine, we were thrilled!
This version is good, incredibly easy (toss in the red wine, brandy and spices and set the slow cooker) – and it is suited to a holiday party.
Packed with the flavors of oranges, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom, this recipe will keep you warm all night long!
We love to sip it all night dreaming that someday we'll get to drink it again while strolling through a snowy Krakow Christmas market, and enjoying all those good foods again soon!
Can you keep mulled wine?
Left over portions (if you have any) can be kept in the fridge for a few days, and reheated at a simmer before serving (for about 20 mintues).
More of our Favorite Christmas Ideas:
If you're looking for deliciously festive food and drink ideas, or see some of our travels to Christmas Markets in Europe that inspired this Gluehwein recipe, please click through to see each post:
Red Wine Granita
Top Ten Reasons To Visit a Christmas Market
Elderflower Spiced Apple Cider – Spiked and Non Alcoholic Recipes
27 Festive Christmas Cocktails
Cranberry Apple Christmas Sangria and Virgin Sangria
Ingredients
- 2 medium lemons
- 2 medium oranges, or limes
- 10 whole cloves
- 5 cardamom pods
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 750 milliliter bottles dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Beaujolais Nouveau
- ½ cup brandy
- Cheesecloth
- Butcher's twine
Method
- Slice fruit into thin rounds
- Add herbs into cheesecloth, tie off to make a small sachet.
- Add all ingredients into slow cooker, set to low.
- Let simmer at least one hour until serving.
- If flavor becomes bitter, remove herbs and fruit with peels from slow cooker!
