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Easy Crowd-Pleasing Apple Cider Sangria with Cinnamon

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This crowd-pleasing apple cider sangria with cinnamon is the perfect fall drink for gatherings. Made with simple ingredients like white wine, apple cider, and cinnamon, it’s easy to prepare ahead and always a hit.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
  • 2 cups apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1/2 cup apple brandy or bourbon (optional)
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
  • 2 apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), thinly sliced
  • 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
  • 1 lemon, sliced thin
  • 2 cups sparkling water or ginger ale
  • Ice (lots of it)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit (5 minutes): Wash apples, orange, and lemon. Slice apples into thin rounds or half-moons (about 1/4 inch thick). Slice orange and lemon into thin rounds. Remove seeds. If making ahead, toss apple slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
  2. Mix the base (2 minutes): In a large pitcher, combine white wine, apple cider, and apple brandy or bourbon (if using). Stir gently.
  3. Sweeten it up (1 minute): In a small bowl, mix honey or maple syrup with 2 tablespoons warm water until fully dissolved. Pour into the pitcher and stir again.
  4. Add the aromatics (30 seconds): Drop in the cinnamon sticks and stir gently.
  5. Add the fruit (2 minutes): Layer in apple slices, orange rounds, and lemon rounds. Arrange them evenly.
  6. Chill (at least 2 hours, ideally overnight): Cover the pitcher and refrigerate. Flavors meld and deepen over time.
  7. Add the fizz (right before serving): Just before serving, add sparkling water or ginger ale. Stir gently. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  8. Serve with ice (immediately): Fill glasses with ice and pour sangria over it. Ensure each glass gets some fruit and a cinnamon stick. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprig if desired.

Notes

For best flavor, let the sangria chill overnight. Make an ice ring with apple cider and fruit to avoid dilution. Scale recipe easily for larger crowds. Adjust sweetness based on apple cider brand.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider sangria, fall sangria, cinnamon sangria, easy sangria recipe, crowd-pleasing sangria, holiday punch

Find it online: https://gleamgulp.com/easy-crowd-pleasing-apple-cider-sangria-with-cinnamon/