This winter sangria was the first sangrai I ever tried my hand at – and it’s still an absolute favorite of ours!
It’s no secret that I love entertaining. Few things top the joy of having friends and family over to enjoy food. And the holiday season is full of entertaining, whether I’m acting as host or guest!
When we entertain, I’m always serving either an inexpensive charcuterie spread or a comfort entree (it’s recently been this roasted butternut squash pasta). Why stress when you’re just trying to catch up with friends and family.
I don’t consider myself a great mixologist, but I can make a mean sangria! This winter sangria recipe needed some updating, but it’s just as delicious now as it was the first time I made it a few years ago!
white winter sangria with cranberries
white winter sangria with cranberriesSangria recipes fun combinations of wine, juice, and chopped, fresh fruit. Depending on the season and what wine you’re using, the ingredients can be interchanged easily with a delicious new flavor each time.
Usually I make summer sangrias, but this winter sangria might really be my favorite. It’s full of chopped apples and pears. I added cinnamon because fall and winter just scream cinnamon, don’t they?
The fresh cranberries are just for color (you don’t want to eat those), but they look so festive not to add in!!
Christmas Sangria
While you can serve this libation through the fall and winter, I think it’s a perfect Christmas Sangria too!
I’m a firm believer you can serve cocktails, especially sangria, in any glass shape. I’ve used mason jars, wine glasses, and just about anything I have on hand. Since it’s the holidays, you can even use mugs. It seems warm and you don’t have to worry about any spilling!!
WINTER SANGRIA w. CRANBERRIES, APPLES, + PEARS
Long before I considered myself a sangria specialist, I whipped up this winter sangria. Who says it has to be hot outside to enjoy sangria?! Not me. This holiday-flavored libation is perfect for those warm, cozy indoor get-togethers!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup apple juice room temperature
- ¼ cup rum
- 1 tablespoon fine granulated sugar (such as baker's sugar)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 firm green pear, cored and thinly sliced (or half each of a red and green pear)
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup club soda
- 750 mL sparkling white wine
Instructions
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Place the apple juice and rum in a medium bowl. Whisk in the sugar and cinnamon. Continue to whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the cinnamon is distributed throughout the liquid.
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Add the pear slices, cranberries and cinnamon stick to a large pitcher. Pour in the apple juice and rum. Next, add the club soda and then the sparkling wine. Stir gently being careful not to break up the pears.
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Chill well, stir and serve.
Recipe Notes
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Ohhh, delicious! I love any type of sangria, and this is so seasonal and yummy!
Beautiful photos Luc!
Thank you, beautiful lady!
Me too! The cinnamon in here is super yummy too!
How many does this serve?
I got about six servings in these glasses. The recipe yields a little over 5 cups of liquid plus the fruit. Enjoy!
Hi Annie,
I used the Francis Coppola Sofia Blanc white sparkling wine. Any sparkling or white wine would be good in here though!
Thanks, Grace! I'm excited to whip this up again when the weather cools down here! It really is a fun mix. Even if you drink it cold, it has an unexpected warming effect because of the flavors! Enjoy!!
Does this use apples and apple juice or just apple juice? Recipe says apple juice but the pictures look like they have apples in them (or maybe that's pear?).
Hi Vika! It's just apple juice and cut up pears. Cut up apples would be just as fun and easy though!
This drink is so good even though winter is never cold here and we don’t really celebrate Christmas. It’s just good for any occasion.
Best weekend option when chilling with Family and Friends. Your presentation is so tempting and picture perfect.
This winter sangria recipe is so gorgeous! I love the flavor and look of the apples and cranberries!
This is amazing!! I will be make this many many more times!!
Oh this looks amazing. Perfect for bridging summer and winter.
This sounds like a fabulous sipper for the fall and winter months — I’m in South Florida, so a chilled, but seasonal cocktail works great for me!
So delicious and easy to make. The perfect winter sangria!
A perfect option for this weekend! We will love it for sure <3
Love a good sangria cocktail during the holidays!
Wildly refreshing! It’s been a strange few months, but this gets me right into the Holiday frame of mind and looking forward to 2021!
Sangria is my go to drink for the holidays! I must try this delicious looking white winter sangria asap!
This sangria recipe has all of my favorite flavors in it! I love the use of the sparking wine. Yum!
This is such a fantastic make happy drink. The colours, the fruitiness of flavours and the fizz! Perfect to banish those blues!
I made this last weekend for our “Friendsgiving” and the other adults loved it, too! Such an easy recipe and perfect for the holiday season.
Nice photo! Thanks for the idea, will tell my sister to try this on her birthday nextweek! <3
*adds to list to try this Christmas* Sounds lush!
Such a beautiful winter cocktail, and I just happen to have some ripe pears on my counter ~ score!
This looks like Christmas in a glass!
This sangria looks so pretty and festive, and delicious to boot! I’ll be sure to add it to our Christmas dinner. 🙂
I can’t wait for the kiddos to go to bed. So I can make this again and curl up with a good book.
Hmmm I actually am more of a white wine gal than red so this is right down my alley! This looks AMAAAAZING to me!
This looks so tasty I could just finish that jug all by myself!
Yes, please! Perfect way to relax during these busy holiday weeks, and I love the addition of cinnamon and apples together. Yum
What a festive drink! We did a test round and are definitely going to serve this at Christmas!
Excellent idea for these Holidays! I am saving this recipe to try it out this weekend!
So pretty! I love this for the holidays. I am going to make it for my book reading club!
I love making new drinks for the holidays, and this sangria looks perfect for Christmas dinner!