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Best Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria for a Crowd

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This quick and easy sangria combines tart cranberry, sweet apple cider, and dry red wine for a perfectly balanced crowd-pleaser. It’s make-ahead friendly, scales beautifully, and is ideal for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Zinfandel, or Garnacha)
  • 2 cups unsweetened apple cider
  • 1 cup 100% cranberry juice
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur (optional)
  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 large apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2–3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 2 cups sparkling water or ginger ale

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit: Wash the apple and orange. Slice the orange into thin rounds (about 1/4-inch thick). Slice the apple the same way, then cut the rounds in half if desired. Leave seeds in the orange slices.
  2. Build the base: In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, apple cider, cranberry juice, and maple syrup. Stir until the maple syrup is fully dissolved.
  3. Add the spirit: Pour in the brandy or orange liqueur (if using) and stir again.
  4. Layer in the fruit and spices: Add the orange slices, apple slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods. Gently push the fruit down so it’s submerged.
  5. Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
  6. Add the fizz: Just before serving, pour in the sparkling water or ginger ale and stir gently. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  7. Serve: Fill glasses or mason jars with ice, pour the sangria over the top, and ensure each glass gets some fruit and cranberries.

Notes

Don’t skip the chilling time—it allows the flavors to meld. Use a wine you’d actually drink. Start with less sweetener and adjust to taste. For a large party, triple the recipe and let guests add their own sparkling water to keep the fizz. Leftover sangria keeps in the refrigerator for 2-3 days; add fresh sparkling water before serving again.

Nutrition

Keywords: sangria, cranberry apple cider sangria, fall sangria, holiday sangria, crowd-pleasing sangria, easy sangria recipe

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