A recipe for Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch) inspired by our time at the Nuremberg Christmas Market! This mulled wine is flavored with rum-soaked caramelized sugar and spices for a comforting, seasonal drink.
Disclaimer: Consume alcoholic beverages at your own risk and liability. This recipe is intended only for those over the age of 21 (in the United States). Please drink responsibly.
Flambé the alcohol at your own risk and liability in a well-ventilated space. Only use a long match to keep your hands away from the flame.
Last December, I spent a few days in Munich and Frankfurt am Main, Germany with one of my best friends who graduated with her master’s degree! We had such a wonderful time exploring the cities and checking out all the seasonal Christmas markets.
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a recipe for Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes) inspired by our time at the Munich Christmas Markets. Today, I will be covering our day trip to Nürnberg along with a recipe for Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch).
Nuremberg Christmas Markets
While staying in Munich, we took a day trip to Nürnberg (Nuremberg) to visit the Christmas markets and castle.
Nuremberg is located in the Franconia (Franken) region along the Pegnitz River in Bavaria. Notable markets in this city include the Christkindlesmarkt, Markt der Partnerstädte, and Nürnberger Kinderweihnacht.
The exact dates for each market vary year to year. In general, opening day is usually during the last week of November. Most of the markets close by the 23rd or 24th of December (often with the last day only being a half day), but some may stretch to the end of the month or to the New Year.
For 2025, Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt is currently scheduled for November 28th (with an opening ceremony) to December 24th, 10am-9pm daily and 10am-2pm on Christmas Eve.
For all the markets, I highly recommend visiting at first during the day shortly after opening to get a better look at the food and souvenir options before the often shoulder to shoulder people later in the evening and on weekends.
Most of the signs of the food and drink items are in German. I have included in this post names and descriptions of all the treats we enjoyed during our trip.
When getting drinks, they usually come in a ceramic (or more unique) mug. With this mug, there is a Pfand (deposit). The price for the Pfand is either listed on the drink menu or on its own separate sign nearby. Once you finish your drink, return it and get the deposit back.
The Pfand will typically be higher on specialty or more ornate mugs or come with a token that will also need to be returned as well. Some food items such as soup served in bowls may also have a Pfand.
Larger or more busy stands may have a specific Pfand return area, often with a sign for “Ruckgabe/Return” above).
If getting souvenirs, it is helpful to have a small tote bag on hand.
In Germany, the currency is the Euro. I used a mixture of cash and credit card. Most of the stands we visited (especially in the smaller or specialty themed markets) were cash only. Also, keep smaller 0.50-1 Euro cent coins on hand for public bathrooms, even in stores and some larger restaurants.
Getting to Nuremberg
From Munich, it is an easy 1 hour train ride to Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof. It is also around an hour from Würzburg, a little over 2 hours from Frankfurt am Main, and 4 hours from Berlin.
If using the trains, I highly recommend downloading the Deutsche Bahn app. The app is available in English and it is easy to search for additional trains along the route in case a train is late and/or a tight connection is missed.
If buying tickets separately, a Flexpreis ticket offers more flexibility. For this particular trip, we used a German Rail Pass. If traveling with a larger group, getting reserved seats is recommended, especially during busier times.
From the Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof, the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt is about 1 kilometer (2/3 mile) north via Königstraße.
Nuremberg is also home to Airport Nürnberg in the northern part of the city and connected to the Hauptbahnhof via a 12 minute ride on the subway (U2).
Handwerkerhof Nürnberg
After arriving in the city, our first stop was Handwerkerhof Nürnberg. Just north of the train station, this shopping area highlights medieval craftsmanship, restaurants, and specialty shops.
The entrance is tucked away just off of Königstraße with an arch leading to an intimate area surrounded by historic city walls in the former arms court of the imperial city.
From Handwerkerhof Nürnberg, we continued walking north on Königstraße towards the Hauptmarkt to reach the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt.
Along the way, we came across a stand with Nürnberger Rostbratwurst. These small sausages are uniquely flavored with marjoram and held together with a natural sheep casing.
A popular way to serve these sausages is Drei im Weggla- three Nürnberger Rostbratwürstchen in bread roll.
Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt
The Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt is one of the most famous in Germany and has a history dating back to the 1500s.
During the season, the Hauptmarkt (Main Square) is packed with rows and rows of over one hundred vendors selling souvenirs, drinks, chocolates, regional favorites, and snacks.
This is also the location of the opening ceremony on the Friday before the first Advent.
Along with the Drei im Weggla, my other favorite food during our day trip came from a stall next to the Schöne Brunnen in this area- the Fränkische Küchle mit Christkindleslogo.
Fränkische Küchle is a Franconian yeast-based dough fried in lard or oil until puffed and golden. This delicious treat goes by many other names depending on the region from Ausgezogene Küchla and Knieküchle to Ausgezogene Krapfen and Schmalznudeln.
For the Christmas Market season, the pastries were dusted with the Christkind pattern in powdered sugar.
Wicklein Lebkuchen
On the left side of the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, you will find Wicklein Lebkuchen at Hauptmarkt 7. This Lebküchnerei (gingerbread shop) has been open for over 400 years, since 1615!
During the holiday season, the shop is packed with a variety of gingerbread from freshly baked cookies to packaged items perfect for taking home.
A particular highlight is their Elisenlebkuchen. This classic gingerbread was developed in Nürnberg and is known for its minimal to flourless base along with a blend of nuts, fruit, and honey.
Markt der Partnerstädte
One of my absolute favorite stops during our trip was the Markt der Partnerstädte. This unique market represents stalls from partner cities of Nürnberg. For 2025, the scheduled dates are November 28-December 23.
The over 20 stalls highlight local products, foods, and drinks from specific cities such as Córdoba, Prague, Shenzhen, Nablus, Glasgow, Kharkiv, San Carlos, Nice, Skopje, and Venice.
I especially enjoyed a mug of Weißer Glühwein- Südtiroler Spezialitäten (South Tyrol-Style Mulled White Wine).
As a note, all the stalls at this market were cash only.
Nürnberger Kinderweihnacht
The Nürnberger Kinderweihnacht focuses on the youngest visitors. This section has hands-on activities, crafts, and stalls modified to be more easily accessible for children.
There is also a carousel, miniature ferris wheel, train, and appearances from Christkind.
Kaiserburg Nürnberg
After visiting the markets, we walked a little further north to see Kaiserburg Nürnberg (Imperial Castle of Nuremberg). The castle is about 550 meters (1/3 mile) from the Hauptmarkt and 1.5 kilometers (almost 1 mile) from the train station.
Rising above the city on a sandstone ridge, Kaiserburg Nürnberg was first mentioned in the year 1050. It was one of the most important imperial palaces in Europe during the Middle Ages and a place of temporary residence for kings and emperors from 1050 to 1571.
The complex actually consists of multiple castles and structures including the Kaiserburg, Burggrafenburg, and Reichsstädtische Bauten.
Hours vary based on the season. Check the Kaiserburg Nürnberg website before visiting. During the winter, most of the complex is open daily 10 am to 4 pm (closed January 1, Shrove Tuesday, and December 24/25/31). The gardens are only accessible April-October. Keep in mind the last admission is 1 hour before closing.
I got a combination ticket (Gesamtkarte) which included entrance to the Palas with Imperial Chapel, Imperial Castle Museum, Deep Well, and Sinwell Tower.
The Palas with Double Chapel (Palas mit Doppelkapelle) was built around the year 1200 over the remains of previous buildings. This section includes a hall structure with upper and lower chambers along with a residential wing.
The two chapels were built one above the other with identical floor plans and connected via an opening in the ceiling. It was one of the few structures to remain intact through WWII.
A branch of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum called the Kaiserburg-Museum (Imperial Castle Museum) is located in the Kemenate (Ladies’ Apartments). This area features objects from the castle’s history and daily life such as weapons, armor, riding equipment, and other artifacts.
The Deep Well (Tiefer Brunnen) is almost 50 meters (164 ft) deep and originally held the water supply for the castle. This section is accessible only via a guided tour at specific times.
Sinwell Tower (Sinwell-Turm) is a round tower dating back to the 13th century. With over 100 steps, it offers some incredible panoramic views of the city and the rest of the castle complex below. Along with the Doppelkapelle, the tower also survived WWII.
Feuerzangenbowle Village
Before heading back to the train station, we stopped by Feuerzangenbowle Village along Zwischen den Fleischbänken to see the largest Feuerzangenbowle in the world (Die größte Feuerzangenbowle der Welt).
Literally translating to Fire Tongs Punch, this mulled wine has an extra burst of flavor with the caramelization of rum-soaked sugar dripping down into the bowl.
The bowl is so large at 3.4 meters (11 ft) high with a 9,000 liter capacity that it takes 2 days to completely heat through.
If you need some food to pair with your spiked caramelized wine, there are a handful of other stalls in this area selling sausages and small bites. Tori enjoyed a crepe while I was waiting for my drink.
Looking for more places to visit in Germany?
Check out:
- Homemade Spätzle and Baden-Baden, Germany
- Seelen and Blaubeuren, Germany
- Pfannkuchen (German Pancakes) and Bad Ems, Germany
Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch)
After trying the Feuerzangenbowle in Nuremberg, I was excited to learn how to make this festive drink at home. I came across a few different ways to serve the wine during our visits to the various markets.
In Nuremberg, the Feuerzangenbowle was prepared in a very massive bowl, then poured into cups with the sugar already infused. In Munich’s Medieval Christmas Market, the drink was served in clay goblets with an individual fire over each cup.
There are dedicated Feuerzangenbowle sets to assemble the drink at home in Germany with a large metal or glass bowl and a metal holder (Zuckerzange) for the sugar.
As this can be difficult to find here in the US, I opted to make individual servings in heat-safe mugs.
Lighting the Sugar
Prepare the Feuerzangenbowle in a heat-safe mug and take care when handling. The mug and the metal holder will be hot.
Flambé the alcohol at your own risk and liability in a well-ventilated space. Only use a long match to keep your hands away from the flame and have a fire extinguisher nearby.
The first couple of times I attempted this recipe, I had issues getting the sugar to stay lit. While troubleshooting, I figured out that the rum I had on hand wasn’t quite 54% ABV. It really does make a difference in keeping the sugar on fire long enough to drip down into the wine.
If you cannot find rum with that high a percentage, a sales associate at my local ABC store recommended stirring a small splash of Everclear- a grain alcohol with up to 95% ABV into the rum before pouring over the sugar. It did indeed work, but take extra care if trying this.
I got the individual Zuckerzange (sugar holders) while in Germany. If you are unable to locate the Zuckerzange, I have seen others mention using a mini cheese grater (it must be completely food-safe metal with no plastic), a small metal colander/sieve, or an Absinthe spoon.
After coming back to the US, I was unable to find smaller sugar cones, so I swapped for two white sugar cubes.
A Few More Feuerzangenbowle Tips
This recipe can easily be doubled to fill a larger punch bowl.
Do not bring the wine to a boil. It should only be on the stove long enough to heat completely through and allow the flavors to infuse.
Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch) Recipe
Adapted from Zauberhafte Weihnachtsküche
Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch)
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 milliliters) red wine
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 3 cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 sugar cubes
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) rum at least 54% ABV
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the red wine, orange slices, lemon slices, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon stick.
- Place the pot over medium low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until hot, but not yet boiling, about 15 minutes.
- Strain the wine and divide between four heat-safe mugs.
- Top each mug with a sugar holder and add 2 sugar cubes.
- Soak the sugar cubes over one mug with 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of the rum.
- Carefully light on fire in a well-ventilated space with a long match and allow the sugar to caramelize and drip down into the wine.
- Repeat with the other mugs.
- Once the fire has been extinguished, remove the sugar holder with oven mitts and serve the drink while it is still warm.
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