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Cozy Fall Sangria with Apple Cider

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A warm, festive autumn drink combining dry red wine, 100% apple cider, fresh fruit, and cinnamon sticks for a comforting, infused beverage perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine (Pinot Noir or Merlot)
  • 3 to 4 cups 100% apple cider
  • 2 large apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith), sliced
  • 2 oranges (Navel), sliced and juiced
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup pomegranate arils (optional)
  • 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (optional, to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (optional, e.g., Triple sec)
  • Sparkling water or club soda (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Wash all fruit thoroughly. Slice apples into thin wedges or cubes and oranges into thin rounds. Toss fruit together in a large bowl.
  2. Pour the entire bottle of red wine into a large glass pitcher. If using brown sugar, add it now and stir vigorously to dissolve, or dissolve it in a small amount of warm cider first.
  3. Pour in the apple cider and stir gently but thoroughly to combine the liquids.
  4. Add the sliced apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher. If using orange liqueur, add it now. Toss gently to submerge the fruit.
  5. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight (up to 24 hours) to allow flavors to infuse.
  6. Before serving, taste the sangria. Adjust sweetness with more cider or sugar, or dilute with sparkling water if too strong.
  7. Add fresh cranberries and pomegranate arils just before serving to maintain texture and color.
  8. Ladle into glasses with fruit, garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slice, and serve over ice if desired.

Notes

Use whole cinnamon sticks rather than ground cinnamon to avoid a gritty texture. Glass containers are preferred over plastic to prevent odor absorption. Sangria improves with time, so make it ahead if possible. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute red wine with strong black tea or non-alcoholic red wine.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall sangria, apple cider sangria, red wine cocktail, autumn drinks, cinnamon sangria, party drinks, gluten-free cocktail

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/cozy-fall-sangria-with-apple-cider-best-cinnamon-recipe/