This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
What are the holidays without a cocktail or two? And when serving a crowd, batched cocktails are often best which is why I know you all will love this Holiday Sangria!
I made a holiday sangria years ago and I thought it was time to give it a little refresh! If you are not familiar with sangria, it is a wine punch that includes fresh fruits and other spirits that originated in Spain and Portugal. I enjoyed plenty of sangria when I studied abroad in Spain while in college so wanted to bring those nostalgic flavors home but with a holiday twist. By including cranberries, cinnamon sticks, apple cider, and a few other garnishes, this tastes like the holidays in a glass!
Ingredients:
- Honeycrisp Apple
- Fresh Cranberries
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Star Anise Pods
- Red Wine
- Apple Cider
- Cointreau
- Orange
- For Serving: Cinnamon, Turbinado sugar, Ice, Rosemary Sprigs
Step-by-Step:
Step One: Start the Flavor Base
To start, thinly slice your apples. Place the sliced apples, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods into the bottom of a large pitcher.
Step Two: Add Liquids
Next, pour the wine, apple cider, and Cointreau into the pitcher. Gentry stir. Tuck the sliced oranges into the pitcher.
Step Three: Chill
Cover and refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
Step Four: Serve and enjoy!
Serve the Holiday Sangria in cinnamon-sugar-rimmed wine glasses filled with ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig!
Recipe FAQs:
I tend to use a red blend for my sangria but use whatever red wine you prefer!
You can omit this if preferred! These add to the holiday taste of this sangria, but not necessary.
Absolutely! This needs to chill in the fridge for atleast 4 hours for the flavors to meld, but you could also make this the day before your event for the flavors to have even more time.
I hope you enjoy this Holiday Sangria with the ones you love most this season!
looking for More Holiday Cocktails? try these!
Batched Sparkling Elderflower Negronis
Holiday Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 small honeycrisp apple
- ¾ cup fresh cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise pods optional
- 1 bottle of red wine I use a red blend but use whatever you prefer
- 1 cup apple cider (juice)
- ½ cup Cointreau
- 1 small orange thinly sliced
For Serving:
- Cinnamon
- Turbinado sugar
- Ice
- Rosemary Sprigs
Instructions
- To start, thinly slice your apple then cut those slices in half. Place the sliced apples, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods into the bottom of a large pitcher.
- Next, pour the wine, apple cider, and Cointreau into the pitcher. Gentry stir. Tuck the sliced oranges into the pitcher.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
- Serve in cinnamon-sugar rimmed wine glasses filled with ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
Hi Alex!
I want to make this with a non- alcoholic red wine for Christmas gathering. Any ideas on what I can use in place of the Quantro?
Thanks!
Rachel
I have honeycrisp apple cider, but gala apples. Will that work?
Made this to go along with Christmas dinner and it was delicious and a fan favorite! I had Fuji apples on hand so used those instead and it was perfect. Also used apple juice and it worked great as well. Will definitely be making this for our NYE celebration with friends!
I’m going to make this on the weekend but I’m curious as to what kind of cider you use. Is it the cloudy kind you can get from Trader Joe’s or the clear kind that’s like juice?
The cloudier kind! But any high-quality is great, you just don’t a watery one (which some can be!).
Would love to try this. Is this sweet or dry red wine?
I use a dry red wine, like a pinot or cabernet!