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Cozy Spiced Apple Cider Sangria – Easy Fall Recipe

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This cozy spiced apple cider sangria combines crisp apple cider with warming spices and a splash of bourbon for the perfect fall gathering drink. Quick to prepare and endlessly adaptable, it’s the drink that disappears first at every party.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
  • 3 cups (720 ml) apple cider (unfiltered, no added sweeteners)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) bourbon or apple brandy
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup or honey
  • 3 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1 strip orange peel (about 3 inches, no white pith)
  • 1 strip lemon peel (about 3 inches, no white pith)
  • 1 apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
  • 1 pear (Bartlett or Bosc), thinly sliced
  • 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries (optional)
  • Ice cubes or frozen apple cider cubes (for serving)
  • Sparkling water or ginger ale (optional, for topping off)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the fruit: Wash and thinly slice the apple, pear, and orange. Leave the peel on the apple and pear. Rinse cranberries if using. Place all fruit in the bottom of a large pitcher or punch bowl.
  2. Toast the spices (optional): In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
  3. Combine the liquid base: In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the apple cider, bourbon or apple brandy, and maple syrup until the syrup dissolves completely.
  4. Assemble the sangria: Pour the dry white wine over the fruit in the pitcher. Add the cider mixture. Add the toasted spices and the orange and lemon peels. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to combine.
  5. Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally 4-8 hours or overnight for best flavor.
  6. Serve: Fill glasses with ice or frozen apple cider cubes. Stir the sangria gently, then pour into glasses, making sure each glass gets some fruit. Top with a splash of sparkling water or ginger ale if desired. Garnish each glass with a fresh rosemary sprig and an extra cinnamon stick.

Notes

For best flavor, make 4-24 hours ahead. Use frozen apple cider cubes instead of ice to avoid dilution. Don’t skip toasting the spices – it deepens the flavor. A dry white wine is essential; avoid sweet wines. The sangria is best within 2 days; after 48 hours, the fruit breaks down and spices can become overpowering. For a non-alcoholic version, omit wine and bourbon, increase cider to 5 cups, and add sparkling cider or ginger beer before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider sangria, fall sangria, spiced sangria, apple cider cocktail, fall cocktail, easy sangria recipe, party punch, Thanksgiving drink, Halloween drink

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/cozy-spiced-apple-cider-sangria-easy-fall-recipe/