This recipe can be made with inexpensive red wine (such as Trader Joe’s ‘Charles Shaw’ red wines - commonly referred to as ‘Two Buck Chuck’), inexpensive box wines (Bota Box, Black Box), or jug wines (Gallo, Carlo Rossi). Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (Shiraz), Burgundy, and sweeter red wine blends are best. Avoid Merlot wines which are too strongly flavored for this recipe.





Swedish Hot Spiced Wine (Glögg)

This delicious hot spiced wine is guaranteed to keep you warm on even the coldest of nights and is perfect to serve while trimming the Christmas tree.

Ingredients

1 750-ml bottle of inexpensive red wine (substitute 3 1/4 cups of red box wine or jug wine)

1/3 cup sugar

10 cloves (whole)

1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground

1/2 tsp cardamom, ground

1/4 cup potato vodka (such as Chopin vodka)

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup almonds (whole and unsalted)

Cookware and Utensils

2-quart saucepan with lid

4 ceramic or glass mugs

Ladle

4 spoons

Instructions

1. Add the wine, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom to the saucepan. Stir to combine. Heat gently on medium low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved, then cover the saucepan with the lid. Heat the wine to serving temperature. Do not boil.

2. While the wine is heating run the hot water faucet tap until the water is very hot. Fill the mugs with hot tap water to pre-warm them. Let the hot tap water sit in the mugs until the water begins to cool, then repeat this step to warm the mugs a second time. Leave the second rinse of hot water in the mugs until serving time.

3. When the wine has been heated to serving temperature (but not yet boiling) add the vodka to the saucepan. Stir to combine. Cover the saucepan with the lid and turn off the heat.

4. Empty the water from the pre-warmed mugs. Spoon the raisins and the almonds into the bottom of the mugs, distributing them evenly between the mugs.

5. Ladle the hot wine into the mugs and add a spoon to each mug so guests can eat the raisins and almonds when they have finished drinking the wine. Serve immediately. Advise guests to remove any cloves that may be found in their serving.