When it comes to holiday drinking, eggnog is only the beginning. Many cultures and cuisines proudly claim a Christmas punch and this week we’re bringing you The Global Punch Bowl with five festive punches.
Look to the people who survive winters with only a few hours of sunlight each day for the coziest and most heart-warming holiday drinks. The answer, according to Germans, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, and Danes Mulled wine. There are different regional variations, and the recipe itself is always more of a guideline than a rulebook. This recipe is for the German Glühwein, which literally translates to glow-wine, because of how you feel after you’ve been drinking tiny mugs outside in December.
Germans tend to keep it pretty basic, but you can experiment and add cardamom, vanilla, ginger, or even black pepper. In the Nordic countries, they add blanched almonds and raisins to their gløgg!
Glühwein is traditionally served at stalls at Christmas markets across Germany and Austria to keep people warm as they shop and socialize. Here is a basic recipe that will make Glühwein like you would get at a German Christmas market. In fact, many commercial Christmas markets simply reheat a pre-sweetened and pre-spiced mix, so this will likely taste even better.
Warm, Don’t Boil
Mulling wine is not exactly rocket science, but there are a few tips to keep in mind. The first and most important rule! Do not let the wine boil or you will boil off the alcohol! I tend to let it heat gently for about 20 minutes before my guests arrive. It’s also not worth spending a ton of money on the wine here. Any dry red wine, from Chianti to Cabernet Sauvignon, will work. The recipe scales very easily for a smaller post-dinner cuddle-up or a holiday crowd. And then there’s the optional Schuss, or shot of hard liquor (usually rum or amaretto). I tend to order and make my Glühwein without it — especially if it’s the first of several glasses — but it does keep you warmer!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 medium orange
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup turbinado or granulated sugar
20 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole star anise
1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry red wine
Rum or amaretto, for serving (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the orange in wide strips, taking care to avoid the white pith; set aside. Juice the orange and set the juice aside.
Combine the water and sugar in a large, nonreactive saucepan and boil until the sugar has completely dissolved. Reduce the heat and add the cloves, cinnamon, star anise, orange zest, and orange juice. Simmer until a fragrant syrup forms, about 1 minute.
Reduce the heat further and add the wine. Let it barely simmer for at least 20 minutes but up to a few hours. Keep an eye out so that it doesn't reach a full simmer.
Strain and serve in small mugs, adding a shot of rum or amaretto and garnishing with the orange peel and star anise if desired.
or
BLUEBERRY VERSION (which is my favorite)
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
⅓ cup sugar
10 whole cloves
2 large cinnamon sticks
1 bottle dry red wine 750 mL
INSTRUCTIONS
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine blueberries and sugar. Cook until lightly simmering, about 5 minutes.
Puree blueberry mixture until smooth, then add in cloves and cinnamon. Continue lightly simmering for 20 minutes.
Pour wine into the pot and reduce heat to a very slow simmer (don’t boil), at least until wine is warm (you can let it sit on low heat anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours).
Strain before serving. Serve warm optionally garnished with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.
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