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Home » Recipes » Beverages

Published: Nov 26, 2018 · Modified: Jan 13, 2024 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Holiday Sangria With Cranberry and Apple Cider

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A glass of holiday sangria on a feathery white surface with festive decor around it and text overlay on top of the image.
A glass of holiday sangria on a feathery white surface with festive decor around it and text overlay on top of the image.

Let’s get merry with some festive cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria because the jolliest time of the year is here! You’ll love how very sip is full of warm spices with a sparkling finish to make the perfect sipper for toasting this holiday season. This sangria will be a party favorite.

A close-up of a glass of holiday sangria on a white feathery surface with twinkling lights in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Perfect Pairing
  • Love Your Holiday Drinks?
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Instantly puts everyone in a festive mood with those holiday flavors.
  • Calls for make-ahead preparation to make holiday entertaining as simple as can be.
  • Adds a touch of elegance to your holiday celebration with that bubbly finish.
  • Makes the perfect signature cocktail for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah or New Year’s Eve.
  • Perfect for serving a crowd.

Related: For more fun holiday cocktails, you’ll also love this bourbon eggnog, cranberry mimosa, cranberry French 75 and kinderpunsch.

Ingredients

The sangria ingredients on a white marble surface with black and white labels by the items.

Pinot noir: Pinot noir a light-bodied, fruit-forward wine with low tannins, so it’s perfect for red sangria recipes.

Apple cider: I recommend a spiced apple cider, which is mulled with those wonderful spices, like cinnamon, cloves and allspice.

Cranberry juice: We want to use cranberry juice cocktail rather than 100% cranberry juice. Think Ocean Spray. Straight cranberry juice is super tart and would need more sweetener to smooth out the flavor.

Orange liqueur: Triple sec works for a more economical option, or you can go with Grand Marnier or Cointreau for a top-shelf sangria.

Soaking fruit: We use a simple combination of apples and orange slices to infuse the sangria with more fruity flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: We grab a pitcher and pour in a bottle of pinot noir (photo 1).

Pouring a bottle of pinot noir into a large glass pitcher on a white marble surface.

Step 2: Now we stir in the cranberry juice, apple cider, brandy and triple sec (photo 2).

Pouring a glass bowl filled with cranberry juice into a large glass pitcher after adding the pinot noir.

Step 3: We next drop in some apple slices, orange slices and a couple cinnamon sticks and let the mixture sit in the refrigerator overnight (photo 3).

A hand stirring a brown wooden spoon to mix together the sangria ingredients before refrigerating.

Step 4: 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 (photo 4). If you’re feeling extra fancy, I recommend serving this holiday sangria with a cinnamon-sugar rim.

A can of ginger ale being poured into the sangria after refrigerating and before serving.

Just like that, we’re ready to sip our holiday sangria and enjoy this cup of cheer. And for more big-batch party drinks, you can also try Rudolph's Tipsy Punch or some classic mulled wine. After all, the holidays call for plenty of libations, right?

Recipe FAQs

Can you use a different red wine than pinot noir?

Yes, you can use another fruit-forward red wine. Some nice options are a grenache, zinfandel or tempranillo.

Can you make a nonalcoholic sangria?

Absolutely, you can swap regular wine for a zero-proof wine. Orange juice works for the orange liqueur, and you can skip the brandy.

How long should you refrigerate sangria?

I recommend refrigerating the sangria for at least eight hours, but overnight is best.

Looking down on a pitcher of the holiday sangria with cinnamon sticks, orange slices and fresh cranberries to the side.

Expert Tips

Don’t spend too much on your wine: Save your fancy wine to drink on its own. Get a wine that you’d be willing to drink on its own but doesn’t break the budget.

Plan ahead: It takes time for those fruits to infuse, so this isn’t a recipe you can save to the last minute.

Add the ginger ale immediately before serving and no earlier: Otherwise, those delightful bubbles will go flat.

Feel free to experiment: Prefer pomegranate cherry to cranberry juice? You can easily swap them. Ginger liqueur also works great as a substitute for the orange liqueur if you want more spice.

Perfect Pairing

To kick off the holiday season, you’ll love serving this sangria on Thanksgiving as an aperitif. With that in mind, this holiday sangria is great with these Brie and cranberry pretzel bites.

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.

Cheers!

A glass of holiday sangria with a cinnamon stick garnish on a white feathery piece of fabric with a pitcher and twinkling lights in the background.

Love Your Holiday Drinks?

  • A sparkling pomegranate martini on a marble board with glittery balls around it.
    Sparkling Pomegranate Martini
  • Two Christmas cranberry Moscow mule cocktails on a wooden platter with burlap and sugared cranberries and rosemary around them with lights in the background.
    Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule
  • Two Sugar Plum Fairy Martinis on a marble board with a nutcracker and lights behind them.
    Sugar Plum Fairy Martini
  • A sparkling cranberry-ginger margarita with sugared cranberries to the side and holiday lights behind it.
    Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Margarita

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

A wine glass filled with holiday sangria on a fluffy white piece of fabric with lights in the background and cranberries to the left.

Holiday Sangria With Cranberry and Apple Cider

Let’s get merry with some festive cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria because the jolliest time of the year is here! You’ll love how very sip is full of warm spices with a sparkling finish to make the perfect sipper for toasting this holiday season. This sangria will be a party favorite.
5 from 127 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: Spanish
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 236kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Large pitcher

Ingredients

  • 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
  • 1 (12-) ounce can or bottle ginger ale
  • Ground cinnamon optional, for garnish
  • Sugar optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large pitcher, pour in a bottle of pinot noir.
  • Stir in the cranberry juice, apple cider, brandy and triple sec.
  • Add the apples, cinnamon sticks and orange slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Right before serving, top with ginger ale and gently stir. Enjoy!

Notes

  • 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.
  • Don't add the ginger ale until right before serving.
  • Make sure to plan ahead to give it plenty of time to chill and infuse.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 85mg | Sugar: 16g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

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Comments

    5 from 127 votes (116 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. 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
  2. Renu says

    December 03, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    I absolutely loved this and it was so festive with the cinnamon and ginger ale in this sangria. This will have to be a Christmas tradition for us.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 11, 2018 at 3:09 am

      Thank you so much, Renu!

      Reply
  3. Chef Mireille says

    December 02, 2018 at 5:33 am

    5 stars
    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
  4. April says

    December 01, 2018 at 11:06 pm

    5 stars
    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
  5. Jacqueline Debono says

    December 01, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    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
  6. Mirlene says

    December 01, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    5 stars
    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
  7. Karyl Henry says

    November 30, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    I'm not normally a big sangria person, but I loved the holiday flavors in this one! The cinnamon for a garnish made it really pretty too.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 01, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      The holiday flavors definitely make it a bit more fun!

      Reply
  8. Cheese Curd In Paradise says

    November 28, 2018 at 5:00 am

    5 stars
    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
  9. Stine Mari says

    November 27, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    5 stars
    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
  10. Kelly Anthony says

    November 27, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    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
  11. Krista Price says

    November 26, 2018 at 10:51 pm

    5 stars
    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
  12. Gloria says

    November 26, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    5 stars
    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
  13. Bev says

    November 26, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    5 stars
    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

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes 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.

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