If you love sangria and are looking to jazz things up this holiday season, you’re going to love this Apple Cider Sangria! It’s all the ease you love in a classic sangria, but made with white wine, apple brandy, fresh apple cider, and fall baking spices. It’s bright and fresh and will make your holiday season that much more festive!
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THE Batched Holiday Cocktail Recipe
Having a drink on hand for guests during the holidays is the pro move, but you don’t want to spend precious time shaking individual drinks up! This is where a batched holiday cocktail comes in. You can mix up this apple cider sangria in advance and as your guests arrive, all you have to do is pour it into a glass, garnish, and enjoy!
I’m all for hosting like a pro and that does not mean killing yourself and working nonstop. Relying on delicious staples that you can make in advance saves time and saves you a headache! Sangria is my favorite holiday libation to make and this fall-flavored version is so good.
We mix up some white wine, fresh apple cider, and a bit of apple brandy and orange liqueur for kick, plus dried oranges, apple slices, and whole fall spices. After the sangria has time to sit, it’s so flavorful and your guests will absolutely rave over it.
Looking for a classic sangria recipe? Try my iconic, red wine-based Holiday Sangria Recipe!
Helpful Tools
Key Apple Cider Sangria Ingredients
full list of ingredients, quantities & method in the recipe card at the end of the page.
- White wine. I love to use something bright and dry, like a Sauvignon Blanc, but use your favorite style of white wine!
- Fresh apple cider. Look for something fresh that’s kept in the refrigerated produce section of your grocery store for best results.
- Apple brandy. The apple brandy really drives the apple flavor home! You can omit this if you’re not a brandy fan.
- Orange liqueur. The orange liqueur adds a mellow orange flavor that works so well with the apple cider and wine! I like using Cointreau or Grand Marnier, but any orange liqueur will work.
- Dried whole spices. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise add those incredible fall flavors!
- Blood orange. I love using blood oranges because they’re seasonal, but any orange will work. Drying them out preserves their flavor without making the cider sangria watery and creates a beautiful garnish!
- Apples. Any apple you love will work here.
- Pomegranate arils. Not only are they pretty, but they soak up some of the sangria and are delicious little bites of flavor.
Making Dried Oranges for Apple Cider Sangria
Making dried oranges might feel like an extra step, but I swear there is a method to the madness! You could simply add sliced oranges to your cider sangria, but they are kind of watery and get waterlogged quickly. Taking this extra step preserves the orange flavor for the sangria (without making it watery!) and makes a beautiful garnish.
If you’ve never made dried citrus, it is EXCEEDINGLY easy and you can store them for ages. All you have to do is slice up your oranges (or lemons, limes, etc) in even, thin slices. Then, lay them on a wire rack on a baking sheet and bake them at 200 F for 2-4 hours until they’re dry to the touch. Once dried, store them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them. They also make beautiful holiday decor for garlands!
Make Ahead Instructions
Sangria is always best made ahead so the flavors have a chance to meld! That being said, you don’t want to make it too far in advance–the baking spices can get a bit overwhelming if left for too long.
If you want to make the apple cider sangria in advance, mix the wine, cider, brandy, and orange liqueur in a large jar or pitcher and store in the fridge for up to 48 hours. 4 hours before serving, add the dried oranges, spices, apple slices, and pomegranate arils. Continue to chill the sangria until you’re ready to serve!
If you do give this recipe a try, I love hearing about it! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram.
More Holiday Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
Spiced Mulled Wine
Irish Coffee
Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz
Pumpkin Spice Kentucky Mule
Cranberry Old Fashioned
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Easy Apple Cider Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle dry white wine, like sauvignon blanc
- 2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider
- 1/2 cup apple brandy
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur, like cointreau or grand marnier
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 dried cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2 blood oranges
- 1 apple, cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Make the dried blood oranges. Preheat an oven to 200 F. Lay a wire rack over a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet. Use a mandoline or sharp knife to thinly slice both blood oranges and lay them on the baking wire rack. Transfer to the oven for 2-4 hours, until the orange slices are dry to the touch. Remove the orange slices from the rack and let them cool. This is an optional step but makes a beautiful garnish and adds a great flavor to the sangria.
- Mix the sangria. In a large jar or punch container, combine the wine, cider, brandy, orange liqueur, cinnamon sticks, anise, cloves, apple wedges, pomegranate arils, and half of the dried orange slices. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 12 hours.
- Pour the sangria into glasses with a sugar rim (optional!) and serve chilled. You can also top with a little bubbly water for some fizz. Use the remaining dried orange slices as garnish.
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