07 Nov Who’s Ready for Glühwein! This Girl!

I’m starting tonight’s dinner (a slow braised beef stew in the crock pot) and the marinated mixture includes red wine, orange peel, and ginger. Smelling this concoction simmering over the stove threw me right back to touring Christmas markets with my hubby, hand in frozen hand, sipping on glühwein.

Glühwein is a delicious warm drink of German/Austrian descent (or so my research tells me). It’s name means “Glow Wine” and refers to the “glow” that you get after drinking it. And boy is there is a heavy glow — that warm alcohol hits hard and quick.

In European Christmas markets vendors serve glühwein with red or white wine in a city-specific collectible mug. Here are our mugs from 2013 markets.

To feed my need to glühwein before we head off to our big trip this winter, I am going to try this recipe. This would be perfect simmering on the stove for a Holiday or New Year’s party! Just don’t plan on guests leaving for awhile!

Glühwein Recipe

1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
2 oranges
20 whole cloves
2 bottles dry red wine

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer.
2. Cut the orange in half, and squeeze the juice into the simmering mixture.
3. Zest the orange with a vegetable peeler in wide strips.
4. Combine the cloves, orange peels, and cinnamon sticks and place in simmering mixture. Continue simmering for 30 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
5. Pour in the wine and heat until steamy (Don’t let it boil. The alcohol will evaporate and the world may end. True fact.). Stir on and off for 30 minutes giving the wine time to infuse with the spices and sugar. 
6. Serve hot in mugs (remember that cold glasses will break). Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Optional: Want your drink to pack an extra punch? Add a wee bit of brandy or port to the mix.