Advent, Advent, a little light is burning: the most wonderful time of the year is upon us. And what's the best way to get into the Christmas spirit? Exactly, you end the day with your loved ones over a cup of mulled wine and a bag of roasted almonds. Wondering how this is possible in times like these? Well, it's quite simple: if we can't visit a Christmas market this year, then we can bring it into our own homes. We'll tell you how you can conjure up a Christmas market atmosphere within your own four walls and how you can easily make your favourite treats yourself.
DIY Christmas market for the home
Christmas trappings
Christmas trees, fairy lights, Christmas baubles - all these things create a Christmassy atmosphere at the Christmas market. Bring this flair into your own four walls by setting up small Christmas trees and decorating them with fairy lights and Christmas baubles, for example. Fir garlands also look great and create that Christmas market feeling at home. For the craft lovers among you, we recommend making paper stars or designing your own mulled wine cups.
So, the decorations are now complete, but one thing is still missing. Christmas music, of course! Whether it's all-time favourites from the pop corner with Maria Carey and Wham, romantic crooners à la Michael Boublé or church Christmas music, go wild and create a good atmosphere at your DIY Christmas market.
Oh you (wet) merry
Do you think mulled wine is simply part of the pre-Christmas season? How great that you can easily make it yourself at home. We'll tell you how!
You will need the following ingredients for four cups of mulled wine:
- 3 capsules cardamom
- 10 cloves
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 70 g sugar
- 1 organic orange
- 750 ml red wine
- Optional: orange slices as garnish
And this is how it works:
Step 1:
Crush the cardamom pods and place in a pan with the cloves, cinnamon and sugar. Wash the orange, grate the zest and add to the pan. Squeeze the orange and pour the juice into the pan with the remaining ingredients.
Step 2:
Pour red wine over all the ingredients and heat slowly. If the wine forms a light foam on the surface, the temperature is ideal. Leave the mulled wine to infuse for approx. 1 hour on a low heat with the lid closed.
Step 3:
Pour the hot mulled wine through a fine sieve, pour into cups and serve with orange slices if desired. Et voilà: The mulled wine can be poured into Christmas cups and served.
Christmas in a bag
Roasted almonds are simply part of a cosy evening at the Christmas market, because the Christmas taste automatically makes us reminisce. Fortunately, you can easily recreate this Christmas market classic at home - we'll tell you how.
You will need the following ingredients for approx. 300g roasted almonds:
- 120 g sugar
- 100 ml water
- 1 sachet vanilla sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch of cardamom
- 200 g peeled almonds
And this is how it works:
Step 1:
Weigh out the sugar, water, vanilla sugar and spices and place in a pan or pot.
Step 2:
Bring the sugar water to the boil and wait until the sugar has completely dissolved in the water. Then add the almonds. To caramelise, the temperature in the pan should now be at least 150 °C - otherwise, unfortunately, nothing will happen. Stir the almonds into the sugar mixture and make sure that they are all evenly coated. Note that the sugar can burn very easily, so it is important to stir the mixture. Roast the almonds, stirring constantly, until all the water has evaporated and a matt layer of sugar has formed around the almonds. The roasted almonds should be ready after about eight minutes. Caution: Do not let the almonds get too dark, otherwise the caramel will taste bitter.
Step 3:
Place the almonds on a piece of baking paper and leave the delicacies to cool. Et voilà - the roasted almonds are ready to be savoured.
We hope that these ideas have inspired you to organise your own little DIY Christmas market with your loved ones. With our tips and tricks, you are sure to create an atmosphere similar to that at the Christmas market. These delicious Christmas market classics are sure to sweeten up many a winter evening. We hope you enjoy making them and wish you a peaceful pre-Christmas season!