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November 26, 2018

Cranberry-Apple Cider Holiday Sangria

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Let’s get merry with some festive sangria because the holidays are here! With all the celebrations happening, you obviously need a fun cocktail in your life, and this cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria is the perfect seasonal sipper.

Close up of a glass of holiday sangria with a pitcher in the background.

I can’t put into words how much I love the holidays. Just looking at the pretty lights and decorations makes me smile, and those cheery, catchy Christmas carols always put me in a good mood. I get to spend quality time with my favorite people, and humanity is at its best. Maybe this sounds a little lame, but what isn’t magical about it all?

Oh, and the holiday season gives me the chance to dress Baylor in her own ugly dog sweater as seen here, which is reason enough to love this time of year. That face. ❤️

View from the top of holiday sangria with pitcher in background.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Not only is this cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria delicious but it’s also ridiculously easy to make. So let’s get to it.

Grab a pitcher and pour in a bottle of pinot noir. I’m partial to pinot noir for red sangria. Pinot noir a light-bodied, fruit-forward wine with low tannins, so it’s perfect for red sangria recipes.

Now we stir in cranberry juice, apple cider, brandy and triple sec. Drop in some sliced apples, an orange and a couple cinnamon sticks and let the mixture sit in the refrigerator overnight.

If you’re like me and lack patience, giving the sangria time to sit in the refrigerator may sound obnoxious, but this step infuses the sangria with those delicious, sweet fruit flavors and a touch of spice from the cinnamon. Please don’t skip this step. The sangria won’t be the same without a chance to infuse.

Right before serving, we pour in some ginger ale, which gives this holiday sangria the perfect level of sweetness and a little lift from the carbonation. Often I add a little simple syrup to my sangria, but it was sweet enough without it. If you’re feeling extra fancy, I recommend serving this holiday sangria with a cinnamon-sugar rim.

A front view of holiday sangria with pitcher in the background.

Perfect Pairing

To kick off the holiday season, I served this sangria on Thanksgiving as an appertif, and it was such a fun way to start the celebration. With that in mind, this holiday sangria is great with a baked Brie. You could wrap the Brie in puff pastry or bake it as is — your call.

Brie is one of those cheeses that can work with sweet or savory flavors, so it’s perfect with this fruity, slightly spiced sangria. You’ll also find the carbonation from the ginger ale and the acidity from the pinot noir help cut through the Brie’s creamy body.

With the holiday season here in full force, I hope you get a little festive and try this cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria. This delicious sipper will have you feeling those fun holiday vibes in no time. Please let me know how you enjoyed this cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

A view from the top of the pitcher of sangria.
A front view of holiday sangria with cinnamon stick on top and the pitcher in the background.

Love Your Holiday Drinks?

  • Gingered bourbon-apple cider cocktail
  • Sparkling cranberry-ginger margarita
  • Sage-fig cocktail
  • Sparkling pomegranate martini
  • Gingerbread latte
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Close up of a glass of holiday sangria with a pitcher in the background.

Cranberry-Apple Cider Holiday Sangria


★★★★★

5 from 11 reviews

  • Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
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Description

Full of seasonal fruit and a touch of spice, this festive cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria is the perfect drink to celebrate this magical time of year.


Ingredients

Scale

1 bottle pinot noir
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup apple cider, homemade or store-bought
½ cup brandy
½ cup triple sec
2 apples, cored and sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, sliced
12-ounce can or bottle ginger ale
Ground cinnamon, optional, for garnish
Sugar, optional, for garnish


Instructions

  1. In a large pitcher, pour in a bottle of pinot noir. Stir in cranberry juice, apple cider, brandy and triple sec. Add the apples, cinnamon sticks and orange slices.
  2. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  3. If garnishing, mix some cinnamon and sugar together on a plate. Moisten the rim of the glass and place the rim in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
  4. Right before serving, top with ginger ale and gently stir. Enjoy!

Notes

  • With the apple cider and ginger ale, it should be sweet enough that you won't need an additional sweetener. That said, if you try the sangria and prefer more sweetness, try adding a tablespoon of maple syrup or simple syrup at a time to the pitcher until it's to your liking. I honestly don't think you'll need to add any sweetner but throwing that out there in case.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Spanish

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 drink
  • Calories: 236
  • Sugar: 16
  • Sodium: 85
  • Fat: 0
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 24
  • Fiber: 0
  • Protein: 0
  • Cholesterol: 3

Keywords: sangria, holiday sangria, red sangria

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Previous Post: « Pumpkin-Chipotle Hummus
Next Post: Roasted Chicken and Butternut Squash Tostadas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bev says

    November 26, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    You are so right! This is a great appetizer itself! Cranberries are my favourite fruit so I am so happy to find another recipe that I can use them with. I hate that they have such a short season!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 26, 2018 at 9:27 pm

      Right? I'm thinking about grabbing some extra bags to throw in the freezer to keep the cranberry flavor alive beyond the season.

      Reply
  2. Gloria says

    November 26, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    This sounds like a delicious holiday drink. Perfect to make a huge batch for the parties that are just around the corner. The flavours sound amazing. I always have cranberries in the freezer. What a great place to use them.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 29, 2018 at 1:04 am

      Definitely! I always love making sangria for parties because of that very reason.

      Reply
  3. Krista Price says

    November 26, 2018 at 10:51 pm

    This is one of the best sangria recipes I've ever come across. It's perfect for the holidays! Love that you added apple cider. Genius!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 29, 2018 at 1:04 am

      Thanks so much! 🤗

      Reply
  4. Kelly Anthony says

    November 27, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Absolutely stunning! I don't think there is anything better than a spiced sangria for the holidays. Perfect for a crowd for any upcoming holiday party.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 29, 2018 at 1:05 am

      Thank you! I'm right there with you.

      Reply
  5. Stine Mari says

    November 27, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    This one is calling my name! I made a cranberry sangria once, and it was fabulous. And it really did need time to infuse. I remember I was a little disappointed, but a few days later I was like: YASS. And this one looks mouthwateringly good. I am totally saving this for later.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 29, 2018 at 1:05 am

      For sure! The infusion makes all the difference. Hope you love it!

      Reply
  6. Cheese Curd In Paradise says

    November 28, 2018 at 5:00 am

    What a beautiful combination of flavors! I am loving the apple cider and cranberry combo- I bet it is fantastic. I can't wait to make some!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 29, 2018 at 1:06 am

      Thanks! It really is. Hope it becomes a new favorite!

      Reply
  7. Karyl Henry says

    November 30, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    I'm not normally a big sangria person, but I'm loving the holiday flavors in this one! Looks so good, and I'm sure smells even better. And I love that you use cinnamon as the garnish

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 01, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      The holiday flavors definitely make it a bit more fun. 😀🍷

      Reply
  8. Mirlene says

    December 01, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    I've always wanted to try cranberry sangria. I never could find a recipe I truly like. This one sounds perfect. I will be trying this for the upcoming holiday. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 01, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks! I really think the cinnamon sticks add a nice kick from your typical cranberry sangria. Hope this recipe works well for you!

      Reply
  9. Jacqueline Debono says

    December 01, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    I haven't had sangria for ages but I love it. This recipe is a perfect combination of seasonal flavours. Going to pin for my Christmas party!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 01, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      That’s great to hear! I hope it’s a hit.

      Reply
  10. April says

    December 01, 2018 at 11:06 pm

    Yes they are! The holidays are here so it is just about time for a good old sangria! Loving this recipe so saving it for later - thanks a lot!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 11, 2018 at 3:08 am

      It really is a good time of year for fun cocktails. 😀

      Reply
  11. Chef Mireille says

    December 02, 2018 at 5:33 am

    I love all the seasonal flavors you used in this sangria. I think that glass with a slice of cheesecake is a perfect way to end this year's holiday meal!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  12. Renu says

    December 03, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    I am loving this and it feels so festive with this...love all the flavours in this sangira...stunning clicks

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 11, 2018 at 3:09 am

      Thank you so much, Renu!

      Reply
  13. Stephanie Simmons says

    December 07, 2018 at 3:58 am

    This looks like the most perfect holiday drink - and easy too! Gorgeous photos - makes me want to reach into the screen and take a sip! (or two!)

    Reply

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About Me

I'm a Denver-based lady and believe life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor. Read More…

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