By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I’m often ready for a new festive drink beyond spiced mulled cider. Enter glögg. This traditional Scandinavian drink features similar mulling spices but typically uses wine instead of apple cider. Since we opt for non-alcoholic beverages, I created a flavorful, wine-inspired base using a mix of juices:
Grape Juice: I recommend a blend (like Kedem, which includes Concord and red grape blends)
Unsweetened Pure Cranberry Juice
Pear Juice
This specific combination of juices delivers a dry, slightly bitter note that mimics the complex, fermented taste of traditional glögg.
The Mulling Ingredients
My go-to mulling mixture includes:
Cloves
Allspice berries
Cinnamon Sticks
Orange: Juice half an orange into the liquid, and use a vegetable peeler to to take the outside peel only, avoiding the bitter white pith.
Fresh ginger: A few thin slices add a wonderful, warming kick.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend using those small mesh ingredient bags (available on Amazon) for your spices. Just tie them up, steep, and easily remove them—no fishing out spices required!
The Method
Combine all liquids and mulling ingredients in a pot.
Crucial Step: Gently bring the mixture just to a warm temperature, then reduce the heat. Do not let it boil or simmer.
Let it steep below a simmer for at least 10 minutes—the longer it steeps, the more pronounced the flavor will be.
Remove the spice bag and orange peel before serving. Serve warm.
For a More Traditional Glögg: Simply replace all the juices with your preferred red wine and follow the same gentle heating and mulling instructions above.
This recipe makes about 6 cups, but you can double it and put it in a Crock-Pot on low heat to serve to a crowd. This glögg is the perfect seasonal transition—we’re moving beyond the orchard and settling into the cozy cabin! It’s delicious, festive, and family-friendly.
A festive, warm drink that is perfect for the Christmas season and beyond.
Ingredients:
3cupsred grape juice or concord grape juice
2cupspear juice
1cupunsweetened cranberry juice
1/2orange
5whole cloves
2smallcinnamon sticks
1slicegingerabout 1in long, 1/4in thick
Directions:
Add all ingredients except for the orange to a pot. Using a vegetable peeler, peel 2 large segments of skin from the orange half and add those, and then squeeze as much juice from the orange as you can into the pot.
Bring to temperature over low heat – don't bring to a boil. Just make it warm and let it steep for 10-20 minutes at least.
Strain the aromatics (if using an aromatics bag, remove it at this time) and serve warm.
Our local Fresh Market sells non-alcoholic Glogg in a bottle (looks like a wine bottle). Perfect hostess gift for households that do not drink alcohol or for ones with children!
Our local Fresh Market sells non-alcoholic Glogg in a bottle (looks like a wine bottle). Perfect hostess gift for households that do not drink alcohol or for ones with children!