Cozy Apple Cider Sangria: Best Easy Fall Drink Recipe
This cozy apple cider sangria with cinnamon sticks is the perfect fall drink. It’s quick to make with simple ingredients, and the flavors meld beautifully after resting overnight for a warm, comforting sip.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (950 ml) apple cider, preferably fresh and unfiltered
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
- 3 to 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup (120 ml) apple brandy or bourbon
- 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 ml) honey or maple syrup
- 2 medium fresh apples, such as Honeycrisp or Fuji, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 medium orange, sliced into thin rounds
- 4 to 5 whole cloves
- 2 whole star anise pods (optional)
- 1 cup (240 ml) ginger ale or sparkling water, for topping off
Instructions
- Wash the apples and orange thoroughly. Slice the apples into thin rounds, about ¼-inch thick. Slice the orange into similar rounds. Remove any seeds. Place both in the bottom of a large pitcher. If using cloves, stud them into one of the orange slices now.
- Drop the cinnamon sticks and star anise (if using) into the pitcher, nestling them among the fruit. Break one cinnamon stick in half for a stronger infusion.
- Measure 4 cups of apple cider and pour it over the fruit and spices. Give it a gentle stir with a wooden spoon to coat everything.
- Pour the entire bottle of white wine into the pitcher. Follow with the ½ cup of apple brandy or bourbon. Stir gently again.
- Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. Stir until dissolved. Taste and add another tablespoon if desired.
- Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- When ready to serve, remove the pitcher from the fridge. Gently stir in 1 cup of ginger ale or sparkling water. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Fill glasses about three-quarters full with the sangria, making sure to include a few slices of apple and orange in each glass. Add a cinnamon stick to each glass for garnish.
Notes
Don’t skip the resting time—the sangria tastes much better after at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. For a non-alcoholic version, replace the wine with additional apple cider or sparkling apple juice and omit the brandy. Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves after 24 hours if storing longer to prevent over-infusion. Use a dry white wine to balance the sweetness of the cider and honey.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 180200
- Sugar: 1822
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 2228
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: apple cider sangria, fall sangria, easy sangria recipe, cinnamon sangria, apple cider drink, fall cocktail, warm sangria, non-alcoholic sangria