2-Step Apple Sangria
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This two-step apple sangria is an easy, festive pitcher cocktail designed for fall and holiday entertaining. Unlike heavier seasonal cocktails, it stays bright and refreshing with a splash of club soda, while apple cider and a hint of brandy give it a distinctly autumnal character. It can be assembled in minutes and refrigerated ahead of time, making it especially useful when you want a cocktail that is ready to pour when guests arrive. Serve it over ice with fresh apple slices and cinnamon for a simple, crowd-friendly drink that feels festive without being fussy. For more pitcher cocktails, try my winter red sangria or this lavender lemon fizz for your next gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for entertaining – This pitcher cocktail comes together in minutes and can be chilled ahead of time, making it easy to serve at parties and holiday gatherings.
- Light and refreshing – Club soda keeps the apple cider and white wine combination bright and bubbly rather than overly sweet or heavy.
- Festive fall flavor – Apple cider, fresh apple slices, brandy, and cinnamon give this sangria a seasonal flavor without requiring a complicated cocktail recipe.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
- Pinot grigio – White wine is the base for this sangria. Use a dry white wine for since it won’t overpower the dish by making it too sweet. While I will use just about any white wine in a pinch I prefer using pinot grigio in this recipe. Since it is the base of the sangria I recommend using a mid-level wine.
- Apple cider – Apple cider is made by pressing apples for their juice. Its served unfiltered which typically sets it apart from it’s clearer, sweeter counterpart – apple juice though some companies use the terms interchangeably.
- Club soda – A splash of club soda adds refreshing carbonation and keeps the sangria light.
- Brandy – A small amount of brandy adds warmth and depth while making the cocktail feel more festive.
- A small amount of brandy adds warmth and depth while making the cocktail feel more festive.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pro Tip
Choose a dry, mid-range white wine rather than an expensive bottle or a very sweet wine. The apple cider and brandy already provide plenty of flavor and sweetness, so a crisp wine creates a better-balanced sangria.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Pinot grigio: Substitute another dry, crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay.
- Apple cider: Use fresh apple cider for the best seasonal flavor. Apple juice can work in a pinch, though it will be clearer and generally sweeter.
- Brandy: Substitute bourbon for a warmer, more pronounced spirit flavor, or omit it for a lighter sangria.
- Honeycrisp apples: Use another firm, crisp apple such as Pink Lady, Fuji, or Granny Smith.
- Club soda: Substitute sparkling water or another unflavored sparkling water for the club soda.
- Cinnamon: Use cinnamon sticks instead of ground cinnamon for a more subtle spice flavor and an attractive garnish.
- Star anise: Omit the star anise if you prefer a simpler apple-and-cinnamon flavor.
How to Make Apple Cider Sangria (Step-by-Step)
- Mix the sangria. In a large pitcher stir together pinot grigio, apple cider, club soda and brandy. Refrigerate for one hour to chill.
- Garnish and serve. Serve over glasses filled with ice and garnished with apple slices and ground cinnamon. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and cloves if desired.
How to Serve This Recipe
- Over ice: Fill glasses with plenty of ice and pour the chilled sangria directly over the top.
- With fresh apples: Add thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples to each glass or the pitcher for a fresh, seasonal garnish.
- With cinnamon: Finish each glass with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or garnish with a cinnamon stick.
- For holiday parties: Serve the sangria in a large pitcher or drink dispenser so guests can easily help themselves.
- With appetizers: Pair with cheese boards, savory appetizers, roasted nuts, or other holiday snacks.
How to Store This Recipe
- Refrigeration: Store leftover sangria covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Apple slices: Remove the apple slices if storing leftovers for more than a few hours, as they will soften over time.
- Carbonation: The club soda will lose carbonation as the sangria sits, so the drink is best enjoyed soon after mixing.
- Make-ahead: Mix the wine, apple cider, and brandy up to several hours ahead and refrigerate. Add the club soda shortly before serving to keep the sangria bubbly.
- Serving: Stir gently before pouring if the ingredients have settled while chilling.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, apple sangria can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before serving. For the best flavor, mix the wine, apple cider, and brandy ahead of time, then add the club soda shortly before serving so the sangria stays carbonated.
Yes, you can make apple sangria without brandy for a lighter cocktail. The wine and apple cider will still provide plenty of flavor, though the finished sangria will have less warmth and depth.
Apple sangria is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days when refrigerated. The fruit will soften and the club soda will gradually lose its carbonation, so the drink is freshest shortly after it is assembled.
Apple sangria is lightly sweet from the apple cider, but using a dry white wine and club soda keeps it from becoming overly sweet. The balance can also be adjusted by choosing a drier wine or adding more club soda.
Other Recipes to Try
Loved this easy-to-prep, boozy fall favorite? Take a look at some of my other favorite cocktail recipes below:
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Apple Sangria
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Ingredients:
- 1 (750 ml) bottle pinot grigio
- 2½ cups apple cider
- 2 cups club soda
- 1 cup brandy
- 2 honeycrisp apples, sliced, for serving
- Ground cinnamon, for serving
- Cinnamon sticks and star anise, for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- In a large pitcher stir together pinot grigio, apple cider, club soda and brandy. Refrigerate for one hour to chill.
- Serve over glasses filled with ice and garnished with apple slices and ground cinnamon. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and cloves if desired.
Notes:
Nutrition:
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