Apple Cider Sangria is an easy and refreshing fall cocktail that's made with just a few ingredients - no speciality liquors required! Subtly sparkly, and not too sweet, it's the perfect drink to serve for fall gatherings and the holidays.
“I made this tonight for craft night with the girls. Perfect! I used Angry Orchard hard cider because I had it on hand. Really good! This is a perfect fall recipe.”
Fall and the holidays are chock-full of reasons to whip up a fun, seasonal cocktail, and my Apple Cider Sangria smashes the festive vibes out of the park.
Subtly sparkly and super refreshing, it’s a must for fall book and craft nights, sitting by a crackling fire, or serving at Thanksgiving cocktail hour.
This easy cocktail recipe is a must-try before the sun sets on this glorious season!
What is Sangria?
Sangria is a delicious and juicy wine punch hailing from Spain and Portugal that’s typically made with wine and fruit.
In this easy, fall-themed sangria we’re pairing white wine with seasonal fruits and spices, plus the extra-giggly addition of hard apple cider.
Bet you thought this was going to be made with plain apple cider, but hey – chilly fall nights call for a little extra oomph! ;)
Ingredients Needed
Sangria can get complicated with adding brandy or different liquors but I keep my apple cider sangria super simple with just 5 ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Wine: choose sweet Riesling or Moscato if you like a sweeter cocktail, or stick with Sauvignon Blanc for a less sweet drink.
- Hard Apple Cider: again, whatever you like best. I love to use local ciders that are on the dryer side.
- Pear: choose a pear on the crisp-side so the slices stay firm inside the pitcher, and inside each glass.
- Apple: I like the color of red-skinned sliced apples in the sangria, but use what you’ve got on hand.
- Cinnamon stick: not only flavors the sangria inside the drink pitcher, but adds a festive touch and scent to each glass. You’ll smell it each time you take a sip!
All that said, several readers have added caramel vodka to the sangria, which is a choice I fully support! ;)
Sangria Needs to be Made Ahead of Time!
Sangria needs to be made several hours ahead of serving so the fruit and wine have a chance to meld. It gets better and more flavorful as it sits – it’s truly a step that cannot be skipped. That said:
- 4-8 hours ahead of serving: combine the wine, apple and pear slices, plus a cinnamon stick inside a pitcher then refrigerate. The alcohol will prevent the apple and pear slices from browning.
- At serving time: slowly stream in hard apple cider then gently stir to combine and serve in glasses of ice.
Alright, let’s get you something to sip on!
Watch How to Make It
How to Make Apple Cider Sangria
Step 1: Add sliced fruit and cinnamon to a pitcher.
To a drink pitcher add a thinly sliced pear and apple, plus a cinnamon stick. Again, be sure your pear is on the crisp side so it doesn’t fall apart in the pitcher or glass.
Step 2: Add white wine and chill.
Next add a bottle of white wine. If you like sweeter drinks, select a sweet riesling or moscato. If you like less sweet drinks, use a run-of-the-mill sauvignon blanc.
Recipe Tip
Since we’re mixing the wine with hard apple cider, vs drinking it by the glass, I typically use a $10-15 bottle of white wine, vs a $15+ bottle.
Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 4 hours ahead of serving. The sangria gets better as it sits, and the alcohol in the wine will prevent the fruit from browning.
Step 3: Add hard apple cider then serve.
Just before serving, stream in 2, 12oz cans of your favorite hard apple cider. There are tons of hard ciders on the market these days, including many local options, which I always opt for if I’m able.
Since I don’t like a super sweet sangria, I choose dry ciders. If you like sweet ciders look for “sweet” or “medium-sweet” on the packaging.
Gently stir the sangria to incorporate the hard cider then pour into glasses filled with ice, plus more sliced fruit and a cinnamon stick.
I hope you love every sip of this festive, fun, and easy fall drink – enjoy!
More Yummy Drink Recipes
- Cold Brew Martini
- Strawberry-Basil Ginger Cocktail
- Mulled Apple Cider (non alcoholic)
- Pomegranate Peach Prosecco Cocktail
- French 75 Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white wine, see notes
- 2 red apples, 1 sliced, 1 reserved for serving
- 2 pears, 1 sliced, 1 reserved for serving
- 1 cinnamon stick, plus more for serving, optional
- 2, 12 oz cans hard apple cider, see notes
Directions
- To a large drink pitcher add the wine, 1 sliced pear, 1 sliced apple, and the cinnamon stick. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
- When you're ready to serve, slowly stream the hard apple cider into the pitcher then stir gently to combine. Pour the sangria into glasses filled with ice, the reserved fruit cut into slices, and cinnamon sticks, if using, then serve.
Notes
- If you like sweeter drinks, use a sweet riesling or moscato for the wine. I prefer less sweet cocktails so I stick with sauvignon blanc for this drink. You also don’t need to spring for a super expensive bottle of wine since it’s being mixed with hard apple cider.
- Similarly, choose a medium-sweet or sweet hard apple cider if you’d like a sweeter sangria, or a dry hard apple cider for a less sweet sangria.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I made this tonight for craft night with the girls. Perfect! I used Angry Orchard hard cider because I had it on hand. Really good! This is a perfect fall recipe.
YUM – thanks so much for your feedback, Analecia!
I can’t wait to make this! I love making sangria and I love the Bold Rock Hard Cider, that is my favorite and I agree it is less sweet then some other brands! I think I will make this for my next scary movie night with the girls! Thank you!
I hope you ladies love it, Valerie!
This was delicious! I used Riesling and it came out perfect for a fall birthday party. The only change I made was I added a little bit of Fireball to the wine/apples/cinnamon mixture to amp up the cinnamon flavor. This was so easy and tasty, I will definitely make it again.
Oh. Yum. Will definitely have to try that sometime. :)
Made for a crisp and beautiful weekend for hanging out. Another grand-slam. Picked up a lovely local white table wine from Wines of Iowa (locals it’s in Valley Junction, the sisters are extremely helpful)
One small addition of a bit of the caramel syrup that I add to my coffee. (Like what they use at the coffee shops use)
Love that idea! I will definitely be trying that! ;)
Happy Thanksgiving! So excited to make this today. Any idea how much vodka to add to this?
Thoughts on adding a sprig of rosemary (for the pitcher or the garnish). Too overpowering?
I think it might be a little too overpowering/not complimentary flavor-wise. A sprig of fresh mint could be pretty though!
Tried this but added some pecan pie flavored vodka (didn’t have caramel) and it was great! Thanks for a super new drink I will enjoy even if it not Fall!
Love it – great addition!
Hi, this recipe looks great. Can you tell me if the alcohol keeps the fruit from oxidizing? I’d hate to end up with a pitcher of brown fruit. Thanks!
Hi there! Yes it does – the apples will stay nice and white even overnight.
This was sooooo good! I made it for an evening with friends and we all loved it! The wine soaked apples were particularly delicious. I’m going to be making this for our Thanksmas celebration, too!
Wohoo!! Thanks so much for the feedback, Becky!
Holy WOW, I am absolutely making this. Brilliant.
What a great twist on Sangria! I love cider. I would be excited to try this my personal favorite – Strongbow or even a Magners!
Looks yummy! What size bottle of wine do you use?
Just a standard-size bottle!
You could also try Strongbow if you haven’t yet- it’s a bit drier than Bold Rock :) looks like another fabulous recipe!