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Christmas Sangria is the perfect holiday drink that is sure to bring some yuletide cheer! Filled with notes of cinnamon, orange and pomegranate- this wonderful sangria tastes like the essence of winter wonder in the form of a beautiful, delicious drink.
Hello, and happy weekend!
Today I will be sharing a quick cocktail recipe with you all that is sure to bring some holiday cheer! After these delicious Moscow Mules I posted recently, I knew I wanted to share even more fun festive cocktails this season.
So without further adieu, say hello to this amazing Christmas Sangria…
Ins’t it just so pretty?!
The recipe for this Christmas Sangria is moody, complex and has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Its pretty much amazing. And bonus? Its oh, so pretty, and will most definitely impress your dinner guests. I mean look at all that beautiful fruit! The oranges really make this sangria extra delicious and gives it a lovely winter vibe when paired with the subtle cinnamon notes.
During the winter months when oranges are in season, we just can’t get enough of them! There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly peeled citrus to lighten your mood on a cold winter day. For this recipe I used Cara -Cara oranges, which are super sweet and flavorful and look like a cross between a blood orange and a grapefruit. If you can’t find Cara-Cara oranges, blood oranges would also be amazing this time of year, but really any naval orange will also do.
Although this sangria may look complicated, it really couldn’t be any easier! After dabbling with the recipe a bit, this is now my all time favorite way to enjoy sangria; its just so, so good! Dangerously good, actually. So lets get to some of the basics, shall we?
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 bottle of your favorite red wine (merlot or red blend)
- Grand Marnier (French Orange liqueur)
- Apple Cider
- Pomegranate Juice
- Fresh cara-cara orange slices, or blood orange
- Fresh cranberries
- Fresh apple slices
- Fresh pear
- Cinnamon simple syrup
This recipe calls for s cinnamon simple syrup, which is so easy and adds so much flavor. You will take 1 cup of white sugar, 1 cup of water and simmer with two cinnamon sticks until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Allow to cool.
While the simple syrup is cooling, in a large pitcher add the remaining ingredients and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour, but preferably 2-4 hours to really get all those lovely flavors melding together.
And thats it! Easy right?!
If you want to make this extra fancy for guests, garnish the glasses with a few springs of fresh rosemary for a festive touch!
I can’t wait to hear how this turns out for you! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!
If you make this, be sure to tag #butternutandsageblog on Instagram!
Recipe
Christmas Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of your favorite merlot and red wine blend
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- ⅓ cup Grand Marnier
- ¾ cup cinnamon simple syrup
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1 pear, thinly sliced
- 1 cara-cara orange, thinly sliced *blood orange or any naval orange will also work
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- rosemary springs, and cinnamon sticks for garnish, optional
Cinnamon Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Start on the simple syrup. In a medium saucepan, bring water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks to a gentle boil. Boil until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3-4 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks and set aside to cool while you make the sangria.
- In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, apple cider, pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier, ¾ cup of the cinnamon simple syrup, apple slices, orange slices, pear slices and cranberries. Stir to combine. Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick and rosemary springs, if desired. ENJOY!
Soooo, SO good! Refreshing and somehow, literally tastes like winter ☃️❄🎄! I love the hint of cinnamon spice paired with the fruit, which make it beautiful to look at. The cranberries are very festive. Definitely a keeper!