I’ve got a sangria for every season and this one is absolutely my favorite sangria for the holidays! The mix of apple cider and cranberry makes it taste like fall and winter all in one comforting cocktail. It’s also just a little bit fizzy and bubbly thanks to the sparkling cider, which I think adds a nice finish to every sip. It’s the star of every one of my holidays parties!
Ingredients for Christmas Sangria
Red Wine: A dry red wine works best for this recipe, unless you want an extra sweet sangria. I typically use a Cabernet. Sparkling Apple Cider: This adds a bubbly finish that’s especially nice for New Year’s Eve. Spiced Apple Cider: This gives it a really nice, warm flavor. Vodka: You can use any vodka you prefer here. I often use a gluten-free vodka to make it drinkable for everyone, but many pure distilled vodkas are naturally gluten-free. Cranberry Juice: I prefer to use pure unsweetened cranberry juice so the sangria doesn’t get too sweet. But you can use cranberry juice cocktail if you like. Fruit: A mix of sliced oranges, apples, and cranberries infuse the liquid with more fruit flavor.
How to Store
This holiday sangria tastes best when mixed and served right away, or with just a few hours of chilling in the fridge beforehand. Since it only takes 5 minutes to throw together, I’ve never needed to worry much about preparing it. If you do have some leftover, store it in a pitcher in the refrigerator; it’ll taste best if consumed within a couple of days.
Serving Suggestions
To really make this sangria feel festive for Christmas, I serve glasses of it heavily garnished with fresh fruit slices and a sprig of rosemary. Sometimes I add these sugared cranberries on top for an extra sweet finish, or these dried orange slices.
