Glogg Recipe (Nordic Mulled Wine)

Glogg is a Nordic Mulled Wine that is warming and perfect for holiday gatherings and cold winter evenings. It's known as Glögg in Sweden, Gløgg in Norway and Denmark, or Glögi in Finland, and it's a cherished Christmas tradition. Whether you're hosting a holiday party, or want to experience the taste of Nordic countries, this authentic glogg recipe will bring plenty of warmth and festive cheer to any occasion!

Happy hot wine season to those who celebrate! This Nordic version is a classic and is flavored with cardamom (a classic Nordic spice, like these Swedish cardamom buns), ginger, orange, cinnamon, raisins, cloves, and almonds!

We spike ours with a little bit of liquor for extra warmth, and settled down with a tin of gingersnaps (pepparkakor) that we picked up from IKEA for a cozy evening!

My first Christmas in Norway as an exchange student I tried gløgg and was smitten. It's just so cozy! It's been a Christmas tradition in our house ever since!

In recent years I've been tapping into my Nordic heritage, and remembering my time as an exchange student, so we've been making more and more Nordic recipes from Sweden, Norway, and Finland. 😊

If you're looking for a few of my favorites, check out this Finnish salmon soup, these Norwegian meatballs, or this Swedish almond cake!

❤️Why We Love This Recipe

• Perfect for entertaining. Make a big batch ahead of time and let it simmer while guests arrive to fill your home with incredible holiday aromas.
• Simple ingredients. If you have a well-stocked spice cabinet, you should be set to go to make this delicious drink for the holidays!
• Customizable strength. Can be made alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and you can adjust the amount of liquor to taste.
• Traditional flavors. The combination of warm spices, dried fruits, and orange creates an authentic Nordic holiday experience. God Jul! (Merry Christmas!) 🎄🥰
• Make ahead friendly. The spice and fruit mixture can be prepared days in advance, making holiday entertaining easier.

🍷Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

• Dry red wine. Choose a full-bodied wine for this. Don't spend too much money on it though, since it will be mulled with spices, just make sure it can be enjoyed on its own.
• Liquor. This is optional, but traditional. Most glogg recipes call for aquavit, which is a Scandinavian liquor made from potatoes, that is flavored with caraway and dill, and often other aromatics like cardamom, fennel, anise, and clove. It is quite similar to vodka or gin. Many home bars don't stock it, and we didn't have any on hand, so we used spiced rum. Brandy, rum, or vodka all work here. You also don't have to add any liquor if you don't want to.
• Orange peel and juice. Try not to get too much of the pith (the white part) of the orange in the mixture, as this can make the drink bitter.
• Cardamom. You'll need whole cardamom pods or decorticated cardamom seeds. Cardamom gives this drink a signature Nordic flavor. After centuries of spice trade, cardamom became deeply embedded in Nordic cuisine. While other mulled wine recipes might skip it, cardamom is essential for an authentic Nordic glogg! Make sure to crush the pods to release the seeds and get the full aromatic effect. Don't substitute with ground cardamom - the whole pods provide a much better flavor.
• Slivered blanched almonds. You'll want to blanch the almonds yourself if you don't buy the almonds pre-blanched because the skin of the almond can make the drink bitter. The slivered blanched almonds are another element of Nordic-style mulled wine recipes that makes them distinctly Nordic and gives them a subtle flavor.
• Raisins. This is the last part of the recipe that is a must-add for a traditional recipe. They add sweetness and flavor to the drink, and a few are ladled into each glass to be enjoyed.

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions & Variations

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

• Non-alcoholic version. Replace the wine with cranberry juice or grape juice, and omit the additional spirits for a family-friendly or alcohol-free version. You may also want to omit the brown sugar until the end, as the juice may be sweet enough!
• Add port. Many glogg recipes also call for port wine. We prefer our glogg to be a bit on the "lighter" side in terms of alcohol, so we tend to leave it out, but by all means, please add some if you prefer!
• Add more spices and aromatics. Feel free to add a star anise or two if you prefer, some vanilla bean,
• Sweetener alternatives. Swap brown sugar for honey, maple syrup, or even coconut sugar if you prefer.

This recipe hasn't been tested with any other substitutions or variations, so we can't guarantee any results. If you make a change, let us know how it goes in the comments below!

🔪Prep Work

• Peel the orange carefully, trying to avoid the white pith.
• Slice the fresh ginger.
• Cut the peeled orange in half.
• Measure out all remaining ingredients.

Gently crush cardamom pods in a mortal and pestle. Reserve both the pods and the seeds. (Image 1)

Peel an orange and add the peel, along with the juice to a Dutch oven or stockpot.

Add the cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods and seeds, ginger slices, and brown sugar. (Image 2)

Add the red wine, and very gently simmer the mixture to warm through. (Image 3)

⭑Pro tip: DON'T let the mixture boil, or you will cook out the alcohol!

Cover, and remove it from the heat. Let it steep for at least 1 hour at room temperature, preferably 4 hours. Strain away the whole spices and fruit. (Image 4)

You can store the wine like this in the fridge, covered for up to a week until you're ready to use it.

To serve, return the mixture to a saucepan over low heat, do not boil the mixture.

Add raisins, almonds, and the spirit of choice to the mixture. (Image 5)

Ladle into mugs with a few of the raisins and almonds in each glass, leaving most at the bottom of the pot to flavor the liquid as it steeps.

Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick, and an orange slice. Serve with Nordic-style gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor). Enjoy!

✨Top Tips

• Don't boil. Keep the heat low throughout the process to preserve the alcohol content and prevent bitter flavors from developing.
• Prep ahead. Make the base mixture up to a week in advance and store in the fridge for easy holiday entertaining.
• Strain well. Use a fine-mesh strainer to ensure no spice particles or chunks of fruit remain in the final drink.
• Temperature control. Serve hot but not scalding - you want it warm enough to be cozy but still enjoyable to drink.
• Quality ingredients. While you don't need expensive wine, choose one you'd enjoy drinking on its own.