Warm Up With This Tasty Swedish Glögg (2024)

Wine
White Wines

Stacy Slinkard

Freelance writer and wine expert, author of ""Idiots Guides: Wine""; as well as several magazine and online articles.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 05/30/24

Tested by

Sean Michael Johnson

Tested bySean Michael Johnson

Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting co*cktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million co*cktails, and counting.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

(68)

Write a Review

Trending Videos

Warm Up With This Tasty Swedish Glögg (2)

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 12 mins

Steep: 60 mins

Total: 77 mins

Servings: 4to 6 servings

Yield: 4to 6 cups

editor badge

68 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

Sweet, warm, and spicy, glögg(pronounced "glue-gh") is Sweden's seasonal gift to chilly souls around the globe. Often enjoyed as a Christmas holiday drink, glögg means "glowing ember" and this mulled wine carries the classic connotations and merry musings of its Old Norse origins. Promising good cheer in a steamy cup, this punch charms with high-octane aromas, super spice, and the warm glow of good wine.

Perhaps you've seen glögg for sale at Ikea, and wondered what it was about. Many European countries have their own tasty versions of mulled wine. The Swedish take tends to turn things up a notch with a generous splash of bourbon or vodka and the added aromatics of cardamom pods. Keeping with many of the belly-warming spice themes found in Germany's glühwein, Swedishglögg traditionally strains out the spices prior to serving. It also includes raisins and blanched, slivered almonds to the final mug.

This easy-to-make, even easier-to-drink, traditionalglöggrecipe by Mattias Borrman is not limited to yuletide happenings. It's also perfect for festive winter gatherings or as a quick warmer on snowy days.

Make Ahead

Red wine blends tend to work best in this recipe. It doesn't have to be a great wine because this drink is filled with so many flavors. Fortunately, many of the blended wines are inexpensive and easy to find.

Make the glögg ahead of time, strain it, then store it in the refrigerator. When it's time for the party, warm it up quickly on the stove and serve.

What You'll Need to Make This Swedish Glögg Recipe

A Handy Dandy Wine Opener

A Nifty Zester

An Accurate Instant Read Thermometer

"Most mulled wines are over reduced because of high heat and lack a substantial base.This recipe is an excellent example of a great mulled wine.It has the right amount of spice and a solid bourbon base.I’ve never heard of Glogg, however, its name does not serve this tantalizing wintertime drink well enough." —Sean Michael Johnson

Warm Up With This Tasty Swedish Glögg (6)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

1 bottle red wine
1 1/2 cups bourbon, or vodka, optional
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons raisins, more for serving
1 tablespoon green cardamom pods
2 tablespoons sliced ginger root
1 stick cinnamon
8 whole cloves
2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds
Orange slices, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Combine 1 bottle red wine, 1 1/2 cups bourbon or vodka (if using), 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons orange zest, 2 tablespoons raisins, 1 tablespoon green cardamom pods, 2 tablespoons sliced ginger root, 1 stick cinnamon stick, and 8 whole cloves into a 2- to 3-quart pot. Heat to 175 F (77 C) and let simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let stand and steep for 1 hour.
Strain to remove the fruit and spices and gently reheat the punch.
Add 2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds and raisins to each serving glass and garnish with a slice of orange, and serve.

How to Store Glögg

Should you have any leftover glögg, it will keep in the fridge for up to three days. Just gently reheat it in a saucepan on the stove.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

Make it spicy - To make it spiced with a caramelized sweetness, consider adding nutmeg and vanilla extract. Use a spiced rum instead with some brown sugar.
Enjoy it all year - Don't reserve glögg for winter! You can also serve it well-chilled, over ice in summer for a Swedish-styled sangria.
For a nonalcoholic version - replace the wine and bourbon with 4 cups of juices combined together such as grape, cranberry, and/or apple.

English Christmas Punch

White Wines
Wine
Fruit Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
214	Calories
2g	Fat
27g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	214
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g	2%
Saturated Fat 0g	1%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 21mg	1%
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 2g	5%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 10mg	49%
Calcium 37mg	3%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 259mg	6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

red wine
mulled wine
scandinavian
christmas

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!