This Thanksgiving Red Sangria Recipe is full of fall flavors- cinnamon, cranberry, apple, orange and pomegranate. Plus, it has a cinnamon sugar rim! It’s the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail for your Thanksgiving feast.
When the holiday season is upon us, it’s nice to have some festive cocktails at your Thanksgiving dinner or holiday parties. With the popularity of Sangria, this easy Thanksgiving sangria may become your favorite recipe for years to come.
This easy recipe goes well with the carb overload of Thanksgiving- Sausage stuffing, Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, and Homemade Green bean Casserole. It’s not too sweet, unless you want it to be.
It’s full of fall flavors and is a perfect fall cocktail for Thanksgiving. You may also want to check out my Autumn Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail! It can come in handy when your family is stressing you out.
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What is Sangria?
Sangria is a mixed alcoholic drink that originated in Spain where the main ingredient is wine- red or white. Wine is mixed with a liqueur, soda or sparkling water and fresh fruit. It can be made as sweet as you’d like or minimally sweet.
What’s great about Sangria is almost anything goes! You can add seasonal fruit such as peaches and strawberries in the summertime. Pick a good mix of fruit and you’ll have a tasty beverage.
As far as adding carbonation, some people will add sparkling water, but, I’d rather add ginger beer, ginger ale or club soda because adding sparkling water will dilute the flavor.
Thanksgiving Apple and Cranberry Red Sangria Recipe
If it’s your first time making Sangria, you will be amazed at how easy it is to make. But, read the notes below before you make this recipe so that it comes out just the way you want it to.
I made ginger ale optional in this recipe because it will add sweetness. Diet sodas have become so similar tasting to the original that they taste just as sweet. If you want to add some to get the carbonation, it’s up to you.
Also, simple syrup is optional in this recipe. For a sweeter drink, add as much as you’d like.
However, I suggest adding simple syrup and/or ginger ale after it has rested. The fruit juices will make it a bit sweeter with their natural sweetness.
Remember that the orange liqueur and cranberry juice will be adding sweetness so, try it first before assuming it needs more sugar.
Ingredients
*The full, printable recipe is in the recipe card below.
- Pinot Noir red wine (or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- orange liqueur (Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- cranberry juice
- orange slices
- red apples
- cinnamon sticks
- pomegranate seeds
- simple syrup (optional)
- ginger ale or club soda (optional)
- fresh cranberries for garnish
First, cut up the fresh fruit. If you plan to serve the fruit in the cups, then cut the apples into small pieces. The same goes for the oranges but, I’d just leave them out for serving.
Cut both the apple and the orange into eight slices. Obviously, remove the apple core and orange seeds, if any.
Next, add the fresh fruit to a large pitcher.
Then, add the liquids and and give it a good stir with a large spoon.
Next, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in your refrigerator so the flavors can meld.
You may want to pour sangria into a strainer to remove the pomegranate seeds before serving.
How to Garnish Thanksgiving Sangria
Garnish this perfect fall cocktail with fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks and some of the fruit that was in the pitcher.
Cinnamon Sugar Rim
To make a cinnamon sugar rim, put a lemon or lime wedge around the rim of a tumbler glass.
Then add cinnamon sugar to a flat plate or saucer and dip the glass into it to make a cinnamon sugar rim.
Then add the sangria slowly without hitting the edges.
You can triple this recipe and put it in a punch bowl for holiday parties.
This is the ultimate Thanksgiving sangria! Bring this delicious pitcher of sangria to your Thanksgiving table and share it with your family and friends to say Happy Thanksgiving!
You may also like:
Autumn Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail
See more COCKTAILS.
See more THANKSGIVING recipes.
Thanksgiving Apple and Cranberry Red Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
- 750 ml Pinot Noir red wine (or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 1/3 cup orange liqueur (Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- 2/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail
- 1 orange, peeled and cut into 8 slices or cubes
- 1 red apple, cut into 8 slices or cubes
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
- ginger ale (to add ginger flavor and fizz) optional (1/2 cup)
- simple syrup to taste optional
Cinnamon Sugar Rim
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- First, add the chopped fruit and cinnamon sticks into a large pitcher.
- Next, add the liquids- 2/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail, 1/3 cup orange liqueur, and 750 ml Pinot Noir red wine.
- Then, give it a good stir, cover with plastic wrap and place in your refrigerator for 4 hours for the flavors to meld.
Cinnamon Sugar Rim
- First, on a 6 inch or so saucer or plate, add sugar (2 tbsp) and cinnamon (1 tsp) and stir to combine.
- Then, using an orange, lemon or lime wedge, cut it so you can wet the rim of the glass.
- Next, dip the glass into the cinnamon sugar.
- Pour sangria into the glass being careful not to hit the sugar edges. Garnish with chopped fruit from pitcher, fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick.
