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Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria is a boozy cocktail blend of Spanish red wine, brandy, fresh seasonal Autumn fruits like apples, pomegranate, oranges & infused with star anise and cinnamon sticks! Say hello to your new favourite and easiest big-batch cocktails you can make, giving all the delicious and cozy Fall season feels!
Table of Contents
- Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria
- More Cocktails? Check These Out…
- What You Need to Make the Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria Cocktail
- How To Make Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria
- Which Wine to Use for Red Wine Sangria
- Why Low-Tannin Red Wine for Sangrias
- Seasonal Fruit
- Sangria Resting Period
- Love a Good Cocktail? Try These…
- Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria Recipe
- DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
- THIRSTY FOR MORE?
Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria
Autumn is hands down my favourite season. I love the crisp air, falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and of course all the fall foods and drinks! It’s harvest time, it’s a time for reflection, it’s a time to be grateful and give thanks! This Sangria recipe was made for this season but can be enjoyed year round – spanish red wine, seasonal fruit and aromatic spices are the heart and soul of this delicious cocktail!
Here are some other reasons why I love this Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria recipe:
- Perfect cocktail to celebrate the Fall/Autumn season, especially the Thanksgiving holiday
- Simple to make – toss all the ingredients into a large pitcher, stir, and refrigerate for a few hours!
- Easily customizable – swap out the fruit listed in the recipe for some of your faves i.e. pears and cranberries
More Cocktails? Check These Out…
Tropical Rum Punch (+ Non-Alcoholic Punch Recipe)
Jamaican Sorrel Cocktail with Sorrel Simple Syrup
What You Need to Make the Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria Cocktail
750ml Bottle Spanish Red Wine
Ginger Ale
Orange Juice
Brandy
Honeycrisp Apple
Orange
Pomegranate Seeds
Cinnamon Sticks
Star Anise
How To Make Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria
If you’ve never made one before, you have no reason to fear! Sangria’s are so easy to pull together! Start with a large pitcher, combine all the ingredients, stir, and refrigerate for a few hours, that’s it, that’s all. Super simple, but very delicious!
- Prepare Fruit – core apples, then slice both the apples and oranges, and remove pomegranate seeds.
- Combine Ingredients – in a large pitcher, combine the red wine, ginger ale, orange juice, brandy, apples, oranges, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks and star anise.
- Chill – refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight prior to serving.
Which Wine to Use for Red Wine Sangria
Generally speaking, any inexpensive red wine you typically enjoy can be a great choice for a red wine sangria. However, opt for a Spanish red wine for an authentic feel and taste. You can choose Garnacha (also called Grenache) or Rioja from Spain. Alternatively you can go with a Malber or Merlot for a sweeter result, a Pinot Noir as well!
Why Low-Tannin Red Wine for Sangrias
Tannins are naturally-occurring compounds in grape skins, seeds and stems that often make wine taste bitter or astringent, especially when chilled. It is also known as wine’s pucker power – what makes you pucker when you drink certain wines. For this reason, you want a red wine with low tannins.
Seasonal Fruit
Simply put, fruit eaten in season is best enjoyed because it’s often juicer, sweeter, and overall better. For this same reason you should choose seasonal fruit for your sangria. The fruit infuse the sangria with a fresh and light flavour as well as adds a natural sweetness.
Sangria Resting Period
This is a very important step in the already very easy process of making a Sangria. I recommend allowing your sangria to rest in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight. This allows the sweetness from the fruit to infuse with the wine, letting its natural juices add to the overall flavour. The longer it sits the more the flavours meld together.
If you enjoyed this Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria, be sure you check out other cocktails and drinks here.
Love a Good Cocktail? Try These…
Jamaican Sorrel Cocktail with Sorrel Simple Syrup & Tropical Rum Punch (+ Non-Alcoholic Punch Recipe)
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Spiced Autumn Apple Sangria
Equipment
- Large Pitcher with Lid
Ingredients
- 750 ml Bottle Spanish Red Wine
- 2 1/2 cups Ginger Ale
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice
- 1/4 cup Brandy
- 1 Honeycrisp Apple, cored and sliced
- 1 Orange, sliced
- 1 Pomegranate, seeds
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 3 Star Anise
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add apple slices, orange slices and pomegranate seeds.
- Pour in the red wine, ginger ale, orange juice and brandy, then add the cinnamon sticks and star anise. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight prior to serving. When ready to serve, pour into glasses and enjoy responsibly!
Video
This drink was a hit! The sweetness from the honey crisp apple and the tartness from the pomegranate was the perfect combination of flavors with the wine. I will definitely be adding this to all my holiday parties.
This has all of the amazing flavors of fall in my favorite drink. This sangria will definitely be the hit of my holiday parties this year.
This is definitely the perfect fall cocktail and now one of my favorite cocktail recipes. The honey crisp apples bring the perfection together.
The ginger ale gave this sangria a different, yet delectable twist I had never tasted before.
I’m always looking for seasonal sangria recipes to try and this is my new fall go-to! The flavors were incredible, I can’t wait to serve this again on Thanksgiving!
I love the addition of ginger ale, brandy, and star anise in this sangria! It was so refreshing! I served this at brunch with friends over the weekend and everyone enjoyed it! I will definitely be making this again!
Loving this festive fall sangria!! Everyone loved the fall flavors — definitely making this again ASAP.
This sangria is so cozy. We had this with our steak dinner last night and could get enough!
Made this recipe for thanksgiving after finding it on Pinterest and it was so delicious! Perfect for the fall and perfect with our thanksgiving dinner!
We loved this sangria! Especially the ginger ale and pomegranate–very nice touches.
Can I use anise extract instead of star anise?
Hi Kerri! I have never used anise extract in this recipe, however I believe you can – just add gradually (you wont need much) as it is very potent! Enjoy!