Celebrate the time of year with crisp apple cider and cinnamon flavors in this easy Apple Cider Sangria! This white sangria is easy to make and full of delicious flavors.
Homemade Apple Cider Sangria is full of seasonal fruits and mulling spices making it a favorite fall cocktail.
It’s a pitcher cocktail making it easy to prepare and serve at gatherings or holiday parties too (think Thanksgiving).
Like Apple Cider Moscow Mules, fall sangria is one of those signature cocktails you’ll love!
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What is sangria?
It’s an infused wine cocktail (think ‘punch’) originating in Spain. Traditionally it is made with red wine but white sangria is also very popular especially in the hotter months.
Wine, fruits and usually another liquor or liqueur is combined, infused and then served with a fizzy ingredient to make it sparking.
This delicious apple cider sangria is made with crisp white wine, fresh apple cider, fall fruits and served in a large pitcher. Perfect for any fall gathering.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Apple Cider. Use fresh pressed apple cider if you can find it in the fresh juice section of local grocery stores. It’s sweet and has a wonderful apple flavor. Any apple cider will work. If you want a clear golden sangria do not use unfiltered apple cider which has apple particles in it.
Lemon. You’ll use one, sliced.
Orange. You’ll use one navel orange, sliced.
Apple. You’ll use one, sliced. We love honeycrisp apples. They have a great blend of sweet and slightly tart flavor, and hold up well to soaking. Any apples will work.
Cinnamon sticks. This adds some cinnamon flavor! You’ll use two whole cinnamon sticks. These are used instead of ground cinnamon which cannot be strained when serving.
Allspice berries. Use whole allspice berries so they can be easily strained when serving.
White wine. You’ll need 1 750-ml bottle. Dry white wines works great in this sangria recipe but feel free to go for a sweeter wine for a different flavor. Use your favorite white wine. Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio are favorites. A sweeter Riesling will work too.
Rum. Brandy is often added to sangria but we opt’ed for rum. It works great with the apple flavor. We usually use light rum but if preferred dark rum will work too!
Ginger beer or Ginger ale. Sangria is topped off with something fizzy and we love spicy ginger beer (which is non-alcoholic). It has a strong ginger flavor without being as sweet at ginger ale. The flavor combination of apple and ginger is a classic and delicious. You’ll need about 12-ounces. It’s used just to add some fizz.
Club soda can also be used and will not add any flavors to the sangria.
Pitcher. If serving in a pitcher you’ll need a 2 quart pitcher or larger. The sangria can also be infused in a large jar and served in a pitcher.
Suggested Supplies
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Liquid measuring cups
- Large pitcher (this is the pitcher in our photos)
- Reusable tea bag (see Pro Tip below)
- Wine glasses (here are the glasses in our photos)
Variations
Make homemade apple cider. This easy slow cooker apple cider recipe turns apple juice into apple cider.
Use spiced rum. Omit the spices and substitute spiced rum for the regular rum. You can even use homemade apple spiced rum!
Swap the rum for apple brandy. To add even more apple flavor, use apple brandy instead of rum.
Using hard cider. For fizzy AND more booze, use hard cider instead of ginger beer to top off when serving.
Pro Tip
Use a reusable tea bag for the spices. These are fantastic for small loose spices (not ground) that will be strained out of a recipe. Place the allspice berries in this and remove when the sangria is done infusing.
How to make it – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Prepare the fruit
Slice the lemon and orange. Cut the apple into apple slices or chunks. The fruit does not need to be peeled (photo 1).
Add to the pitcher (photos 2-4).
STEP 2. Make the sangria
Pour the apple cider, rum and wine into the pitcher (photos 5-6). Add the spices (photo 7).
STEP 3. Chill
Chill for at least 2 hours for the flavors to blend.
STEP 4. Serve
Pour sangria top of each glass with ginger beer, ginger ale or club soda for some fizz!
Add some fresh fruit when serving as garnish. Granny smith apple slices, fresh orange slices or a mix of red apples and green apple slices with a cinnamon stick are all great and decorative options!
Frequently Asked Questions
My rule of thumb is to taste it first. It’s safe to eat but sometimes after you’ve let the fruit soak it absorbs the ingredients in a way that does not make it taste great. If you like the taste, YES, eat it!
How to store
Keep sealed in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. After the initial infusing the fruit can be removed and discarded (this also protects the sangria flavor from becoming bitter from the citrus).
More recipes you’ll love!
Recipe
Apple Cider Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 apple sliced or chopped
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2/3 cup rum
- 1 750-ml bottle of white wine
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole allspice berries
- 12 ounces ginger beer or ginger ale to top
Instructions
- Add the apple, orange slices, and lemon slices to a large pitcher (2 quarts or larger).
- Pour the apple cider, rum and wine on top of the fruit.
- Add the cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to the pitcher and stir together.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors come together.
- When serving top glasses with ginger beer.
Notes
• Cutting Board and Knife
• Liquid measuring cups
• Wine glasses
• Optional: Reusable tea bags
* Place allspice berries in a reusable tea bag to make them easier to remove
before serving
Diane shultz says
The absolute best fall cocktail! Thank you so much!
Julia says
This is a delicious fall update on the standard Sangria recipe. We loved it!
Andrea Thueson says
This Sangria was the perfect fall drink to serve at our dinner party this past weekend. It was a HUGE hit!
Natalie says
What a delicious drink. So seasonal and refreshing. Thanks!
Tavo says
It is a fresh and no-fuss sangria. I have a get-together tonight, I am in charge of the drinks, so this saved my day! I had no clue what to make!
Jess says
This is just what Fall in a glass looks like when I close my eyes. I love the flavors of the season and the aroma is mouth-watering.
Sharon says
Fall cocktails don’t get any better than this! I love the spices in this so much.
Dannii says
This is such a great twist on sangria. It looks so refreshing too.
Luann F says
Loved this apple cider sangria. We had just been apple picking and bought some fresh pressed cider. It was fantastic in this sangria! The perfect fall cocktail.