The Ultimate Spiced Wine Recipe: Gluhwein

Here’s a recipe brought to you straight from my home kitchen: gluhwein! This traditional German beverage is a spiced wine (or mulled wine) that’s absolutely perfect for this time of year.

In German, gluhwein translates to “glow wine,” and it’s representative of making you feel a warm glow during cooler fall and cold winter months. And that makes sense because this beverage features health-promoting warming spices, plus it’s served hot.

Whether you’re looking for a healthier adult beverage for a gathering this fall or holiday season or you simply want to indulge a bit next to a warm fire (cue the Danish-based hygge inspirations!), this gluhwein is just the recipe you’ve been looking for.

But before you whip up a batch, let’s take a moment to look at a couple of the ingredients in this “glow wine.”

Gluhwein’s base is a full-bodied red wine but autumn-inspired flavors such as orange, cloves, cinnamon, and anise. Personally, I love to use cinnamon as much as possible because it’s known to support healthy blood sugar levels.

And while that’s common knowledge, do you know the reason why cinnamon provides this benefit? Research has found that cinnamon actually mimics insulin and, as a result, it aids with the uptake of insulin into your cells! [1]

In terms of its effectiveness, a 2015 study published in the journal Planta Medica, researchers found that when people with type 2 diabetes consumed between 1 and 6 grams of cinnamon each day, they experienced reduced serum glucose levels. [2]

But that’s not all this gluhwein recipe offers. It also features cloves, which are known to offer their own health benefits.

A 2014 scientific article confirmed that clove contains more antioxidant and antimicrobial activity than many other spices, fruits, and even vegetables! [3]

As you may know, antioxidants are known to help fight the free radicals that damage your cells and are linked to several diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and more.

Plus, given its antimicrobial properties, which are so important during this time of year when colds, the flu, and other viral respiratory illnesses are so prevalent, clove is a great ingredient to have on hand and include in your regular nutritional rotation.

Now that we’ve covered just a few of the benefits and features of gluhwein, keep scrolling to get a look at what may become your most favorite hot beverage this season. Cheers!

Gluhwein

Serves: 4

Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 bottle of full-bodied red wine

1 cup of orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)

2 tablespoons honey

4 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish

3 whole star anise

Sliced blood orange

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the wine, liqueur, honey, and spices.

2. In a pot over medium heat, bring to a low simmer for 20-30 minutes, making sure not to boil.

3. Serve hot in a mug. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and half of a cinnamon stick.