This apple cider sangria is everyone’s favorite fall cocktail! It’s full of apple slices, cinnamon stick, ginger, and white wine. Serve it with a cinnamon sugar rim for the most delicious drink for a fall party or for Thanksgiving.
Need another cocktail recipes? Try winter sangria, Thanksgiving sangria, or a creamy espresso martini!
I love making recipes with seasonal fruit. Picking fresh apples during apple season and using them in healthy apple crisp and apple banana bread is the best.
But apples aren’t just for baking! Adding them to this apple cider sangria or crock pot apple butter are delicious. And I especially love to put them in savory meals like sheet pan pork chops and sausage stuffed acorn squash.
Pair those meals with this sangria with apple cider for the perfect cozy fall night or serve it at a fall party or Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite cocktail because there’s so many ways to to make it with different fruits, cocktails, or garnishes. You can even cut out the fruit into fall shapes like in this Thanksgiving sangria.
Ingredients You Need
Here are the ingredients you need to make this cocktail! Skip to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Dry white wine: I love Pinot Grigio in sangria because it has a fruity flavor with notes of pear and apple. Sauvignon blanc is another great choice.
- Apple cider: any variety or brand works!
- Orange liqueur: we used Triple Sec. A good apple brandy is a great option.
- Apple butter: adds more sweetness and apple flavor to the cider!
- Fresh fruit: I like granny smith and honey crisp apples.
- Whole cinnamon sticks: they add warm cinnamon spice and look festive.
- Club soda or ginger beer: I love the ginger flavor from ginger beer! Add a splash to each glass before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Blood oranges: you can use blood oranges instead of naval oranges.
- Pears: this fall fruit would be another great addition!
- Brandy: if you prefer this or have this on hand, feel free to sub this for orange liquor.
- Star anise: add some of these fun fall spices to the sangria with the cinnamon sticks. They add depth of flavor and they look pretty!
- Red wine (Pinot Noir): turn this into a red wine sangria by using a Pinot Noir instead of Pinot Grigio.
How to Make Apple Cider Sangria
Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make this apple cider sangria recipe. Jump to the recipe card for exact measurements.
Step 1. Prep the Fruit. Slice the oranges and apples, with the peels on.
Step 2. Add It to the Pitcher. Add the sliced fruit to a large pitcher with the pomegranate, cinnamon sticks.
Step 3. Pour in the Wine. Add the wine and remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
Step 4. Refrigerate. Give it all a stir then refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but ideally overnight.
Step 5. Rim the Glass. Dip the glass into maple syrup or caramel sauce then a shallow bowl of cinnamon sugar.
Step 6. Serve. Pour the apple cider sangria over ice, adding some of the fresh fruit. Finish with a splash of ginger beer and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Make it a Mocktail
This drink can be delicious and festive without the the alcohol! Omit the wine and triple sec and replace it with orange juice and more apple cider. Serve it with ginger beer or a fizzy orange soda, like Olipop, for kids.
Looking for a creamy drink? Try dairy-free eggnog or a creamy espresso martini to finish the night.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the chill time. You should make sangria at least 3 hours in advance though overnight is ideal. This gives the fresh fruit time to infuse with the wine. The punch won’t be as well-balanced or fruit if you cut it short. I like to let mine chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours, but ideally overnight.
- Taste and adjust. Homemade cocktails are personal preference a lot of times. If you want it sweeter, add more apple cider. Want it stronger? Add more triple sec or brandy to the mix.
- Get creative with fruit. You can add whatever fruit you have on hand. Bonus points if it’s seasonal fruit like pears, figs, or cranberries.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Storage: Store leftover sangria in the pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to store it longer, remove and discard the fruit and store the cocktail separately.
Make-Ahead: you can make a bit batch of white wine apple cider sangria up to 2 days in advance. In fact, making it the day before is ideal to allow the fruit and wine to mix and infuse.
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Apple Cider Sangria
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Ingredients
- 3 honey crisp apples sliced
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 cups pomegranate aerils
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 (750 ml) bottle of white wine I used Pinot Grigio
- 2 1/2 cups apple cider
- 3/4 cup Triple Sec or apple brandy
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup plus more for the rim
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 1 cup club soda or ginger beer
- Cinnamon sugar for the rim
Instructions
- Add all of the fruit to a large pitcher.3 honey crisp apples, 1 orange, 2 cups pomegranate aerils, 4 cinnamon sticks
- Add the remaining ingredients, except the soda, and mix well. Stir and refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours, but ideally overnight. You can make this up to 48 hours before serving. The longer it chills, the more the drink soaks up all the fruit flavor.1 (750 ml) bottle of white wine, 2 1/2 cups apple cider, 3/4 cup Triple Sec, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 1/2 cup apple butter
- When you're ready to serve, add cinnamon and sugar to a shallow bowl or plate and maple syrup in separate dish. Dip the rim of the glass into the maple syrup and then the cinnamon sugar.
- Fill each glass with ice then pour the sangria, including some of the fruit slices, in the glasses and top with extra ginger beer or club soda if desired.1 cup club soda
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Silly question but did you slice the orange and peach as well. In all the pictures the fruit just look like apples…
Great question, Holly! Yeah it is kinda hard to see the oranges and peaches in the pics because they’re an orange color! Yes, definitely slice the peaches and peel then pull apart the orange. Thanks for asking I’ll definitely update the recipe to make that more clear. Hope you like it! I’m actually making this tomorrow for tailgating on Saturday:)