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Best Easy Apple Cider Sangria Recipe

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This apple cider sangria is the ultimate make-ahead drink for gatherings, combining crisp white wine, apple cider, and warm cinnamon for a refreshing yet cozy flavor that tastes like autumn in a glass.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
  • 2 cups apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1/4 cup apple brandy (optional, Calvados works well)
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 2 apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), sliced thin
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks (whole)
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish)
  • Ice cubes (large cubes or ice ring)
  • Club soda or sparkling water (optional, for fizz)
  • Extra cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Warm the honey: If honey is thick, place jar in warm water or microwave for 10 seconds to help it dissolve.
  2. Slice the fruit: Wash apples, orange, and lemon. Core apples and slice into thin rounds or half-moons (about 1/4 inch thick). Slice orange and lemon into thin rounds, keeping peels on.
  3. Layer ingredients in pitcher: Place fruit slices at bottom, add cinnamon sticks and star anise. Pour in apple cider, wine, and apple brandy. Drizzle warm honey over top.
  4. Stir gently: Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together slowly, until honey dissolves and cinnamon releases color. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice if desired.
  5. Chill and macerate: Cover pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight (up to 24 hours).
  6. Prepare for serving: Give pitcher a gentle stir. Taste and adjust honey or lemon if needed. Fill glasses with ice, pour sangria over ice, and add fruit pieces with a slotted spoon.
  7. Garnish and serve: Top each glass with a fresh cinnamon stick and rosemary sprig. For a bubbly version, add a splash of club soda before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the maceration time—at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. Use whole cinnamon sticks, not ground. Stick with crisp dry white wines like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Use large ice cubes to slow dilution. For a crowd of 8-10, double the recipe. The sangria can be served warm as a hot apple cider drink.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider sangria, fall sangria, easy sangria recipe, white wine sangria, cinnamon sangria, party drink, make-ahead cocktail

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