Traditional Swedish Glögg

By
Stacy Slinkard
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 03/11/24
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean 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 cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Traditional glögg in two glasses garnished with orange slices

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Steep: 60 mins
Total: 77 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 4 to 6 cups

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, Swedish glögg 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, traditional glögg recipe 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.

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

Traditional Swedish Glogg with an orange garnish
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

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Traditional Glögg recipe ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. Combine the wine, bourbon or vodka (if using), sugar, orange zest, raisins, cardamom pods, ginger root, cinnamon stick, and cloves into a 2- to 3-quart pot. Heat to 175 F (77 C) and let simmer for 2 minutes.

    Traditional Glögg ingredients combined in a pot

    The Spruce Eats

  3. Remove from the heat and let stand and steep for 1 hour.

    Traditional glögg in a pot removed from the heat and steeping

    The Spruce Eats

  4. Strain to remove the fruit and spices and gently reheat the punch.

    Spices and fruits drained and removed from glögg, in a white pitcher

    The Spruce Eats

  5. Add a few slivered almonds and raisins to each serving glass and garnish with a slice of orange, and serve.

    Glass of Swedish glögg garnished with an orange wedge

    The Spruce Eats

Tips

  • 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 they're very 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.

Recipe Variations

  • Like any mulled wine, there are many variations of glögg. In one recipe variation, for instance, nutmeg and vanilla extract are added, brandy or spiced rum is used along with vodka, and brown sugar gives it a darker sweetness.
  • 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. 

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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
214 Calories
2g Fat
27g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 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.)