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Ultimate Holiday Sangria: Cranberry Orange and Spiced Apple Red Wine Punch

Close-up of a glass filled with rich red holiday sangria, loaded with apple chunks, cranberries, and an orange slice, garnished with a cinnamon stick.
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Make your holiday gatherings memorable with this easy, make-ahead red wine sangria. It features seasonal flavors like cranberry, orange, apple, and warm spices, perfect for serving a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle dry red wine (like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1/2 cup orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 large apple (like Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup sparkling water or club soda (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Combine the red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, apple cider, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and star anise in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
  2. Add the sliced orange, sliced apple, and cranberries to the wine mixture. Gently stir to combine all the fruit.
  3. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the fruit flavors and spices to infuse the wine properly.
  4. Before serving, remove the cinnamon sticks and star anise if you prefer a less intense spice flavor.
  5. Serve the sangria over ice. If you like a lighter, bubbly drink, top each glass with a splash of cold sparkling water or club soda.

Notes

  • This is a great make-ahead holiday drink; the longer it sits (up to 24 hours), the more flavor develops.
  • For a white winter sangria variation, substitute the red wine with Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
  • If you want a slightly sweeter drink, add 1/4 cup of maple syrup instead of granulated sugar.
  • Garnish individual glasses with fresh cranberries or a sprig of fresh rosemary for an extra festive look.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://magazinemeal.com/holiday-sangria-recipe-cranberry-orange-apple/