This red spiced winter sangria is a festive addition to any meal. It's mixed with apple, oranges, cinnamon and brandy for a spiced flavor that will keep you warm and help you celebrate the season.
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When we're celebrating the holidays with family I'm always searching for a festive drink to sip on while we wait for dinner. I always land on a sangria of some sort because they're a little sweet, but not too sweet. So they tend to be good for all wine drinkers.
What is winter sangria?
Winter sangria is the same as traditional sangria because it's mixed with fruit juices and fresh fruit, but holiday sangria features more traditionally winter ingredients like oranges, apples and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- Red wine
- Apple Cider
- Fresh orange juice
- Fresh fruit (oranges and apples)
- Brandy
- Grand Marnier (a mixture of triple sec and brandy)
- Cinnamon sticks (I like to buy mine organic and in bulk because it's cheaper)
- Whole cloves
Should sangria be cold or warm?
Sangria can be served hot or cold! I love serving mine warm in the winter, but you can also serve this chilled if you prefer. Mix everything together and refrigerate for 30 minutes-2 hours. Serve with a splash of club soda!
What type of red wine is good for sangria?
My favorite red wine for sangria is a semi-dry Spanish red wine. The best option is a Garnacha because it's somewhat fruity and is low in tannins (bitterness). You can find this type of wine at any grocery store and it's usually in the $10 range. Check out this great post for other red wine options.
What fruit is good in sangria?
You can't really go wrong with any fruit in a sangria recipe, but my favorite is fruit that is in season.
- For summer: strawberries, peaches and other stone fruits are great.
- For winter: apples and citrus like oranges are delicious. That's why we're using those two in this winter sangria recipe!
How to make winter sangria
- Add the wine, apple cider, orange juice and brandy to a slow cooker.
- Add the slice oranges, apples, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour then switch to warming until ready to serve.
How far in advance should you make sangria?
If you're making this winter sangria warm, let the fruit soak for an hour (don't go longer) and if you're serving it chilled you can let it soak for up to 2 hours.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with @what_mollymade so I can see it and feature you.
More festive drink recipes:
Recipe
Warm Winter Sangria
Ingredients
For the sangria:
- 2 bottle semi-dry spanish red wine with fruity notes
- 3 cups apple cider or sugar free apple juice
- 3 honeycrisp apples cored and sliced
- Juice from 3 oranges about 1 cup
- 2 oranges sliced with the peel
- 2/3 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup Grand Marnier
- 6-7 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
For a chai sugar rim:
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
For a cinnamon sugar rim:
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour. Do not go over or the fruit and orange rinds will start to taste bitter. When the hour is up, turn the heat to “warm” and serve with fresh fruit and cinnamon sticks.
- To serve with the chai sugar rim, prepare two shallow bowls that will fit the size of the cups you’re using. Add fresh orange juice to one and then use the other to mix together the sugar and spices. Before adding the sangria, dip the rim of the glass in the orange juice then then the spices. Fill with the warm sangria and fresh fruit.
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