Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine (Kinderpunsch)
Non-alcoholic mulled wine, aka Kinderpunsch in German, is the perfect drink to get into the holiday spirit this time of the year. It’s a great alternative to using alcohol and is perfect for the whole family. Filled with grape juice, apple juice, warm spices, fresh fruit, and a dash of honey, this mulled wine without alcohol is the best choice for holiday parties.
Make a large pot of this homemade alcohol-free punsch, glögg, or glühwein for your holiday parties because it will go fast! This non-alcoholic version is great for serving kids and people who are not drinking alcohol. Serve it alongside hot chocolate, hot apple cider, or your other favorite non-alcoholic drinks.
This is the perfect way to kick off the festive season at all your holiday parties this year.
Why you’ll love this non-alcoholic mulled wine recipe
- Perfect for kids and adults alike.
- Makes the house smell sooo festive.
- Meal-prep friendly. Make a larger batch ahead of your Christmas celebrations/
- Cozy and comforting holiday drink.
You can learn more about how Germans enjoy the holiday season, aka Weihnachtszeit in German, in my comprehensive Weihnachten guide.
Ingredients and substitutions
Find the simple ingredients for this delicious alcohol-free drink at your local grocery store or online retailer.
- Red grape juice (cranberry juice or pomegranate juice)
- Apple juice – clear, not cloudy
- Lemon – zest and juice
- Oranges – zest and juice
- Honey or an alternative sweetener of you choice, e.g. brown sugar, maple syrup
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cardamom pod
- Star anise
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
This holiday mocktail can be changed to fit your tastes and preferences. Here are some options to get you started.
Slow cooker: Prepare this drink in a slow cooker or instant pot rather than a pot on the stove.
Other spices: Add nutmeg, ginger, black peppercorns, or cardamom pods for an even spicier drink. Instantly spice the mulled wine with my chai spice mix or winter spice mix.
Serving mulled wine
Serve this warm wine with a garnish for this holiday season. Adding a little flair when serving this drink at Christmas parties makes a beautiful presentation.
- Fresh orange slices
- Sugar rim
- Cinnamon stick
- Rosemary
- Whole cranberries
Storage tips
Refrigerate: Keep this non-alcoholic beverage in a pitcher in the fridge for up to one week.
Reheat: You can drink this drink cold right from the refrigerator. Otherwise, you can heat it slowly in a small saucepan on the stovetop until it’s simmering. Another option is to heat it in an individual mug in the microwave in 30-second increments until it’s warm all the way through.
Recipe FAQs
If you like the flavor of wine but want to keep this drink non-alcoholic, you can substitute the juice for alcohol-free wine.
Using whole spices is best, so you easily remove them after they’ve spiced the drink. You can use ground spices, however, they will be left in the drink.
Yes, you can absolutely freeze this non alcoholic drink in ice cube trays and save them for later.
More German Christmas recipes
For more delicious German food and drinks, check out the following recipes:
If you loved this Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating below. Thank you!
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
Ingredients
- 4 cups red grape juice
- 4 cups apple juice
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 2 oranges zest and juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 8 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cardamom pod
- 1 star anise
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the grape and apple juice. Add zest of 1 orange and the lemon as well the juice of each of them. Add in the spices and honey, and combine everything well.4 cups red grape juice, 4 cups apple juice, 1 lemon, 2 oranges, 1 tbsp honey, 8 cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 cardamom pod, 1 star anise
- Bring it to a simmer and reduce the heat immediately. The alcohol-free mulled wine does not need to boil.
- Add a small sieve to your mug when pouring the mulled wine into it to strain out any zest and spices.
- Serve it with a thin slice of orange to add extra flavor and color.2 oranges
- Reduce the heat to low to keep any leftover mulled wine hot for second serves.
