Print

Cozy Spiked Apple Cider Sangria for Halloween

cozy spiked apple cider sangria - featured image
Print Recipe

A cozy, crowd-pleasing sangria that combines dry red wine, apple cider, bourbon, and warm spices. It’s the perfect Halloween party drink that converts even the biggest punch skeptics.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot, Zinfandel, or Garnacha)
  • 2 cups (480 ml) apple cider
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) bourbon or brandy
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup or honey (optional)
  • 1 large apple (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), thinly sliced
  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 piece fresh ginger (1-inch), thinly sliced (optional)
  • Ice cubes or frozen apple cider cubes (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Wash the apple and orange thoroughly. Thinly slice both into rounds, about 1/4-inch thick. Leave the peels on. Remove any seeds from the orange slices.
  2. In a large pitcher or jar, pour in the entire bottle of dry red wine. Add the apple cider and bourbon or brandy. If using maple syrup or honey, add it now. Stir gently with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds to help the sweetener dissolve.
  3. Drop in the cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves. If using fresh ginger, add the slices now. Push the spices down so they are somewhat submerged.
  4. Add the apple and orange slices to the pitcher, distributing them evenly. Gently press down on the fruit with a spoon to release some juices.
  5. Stir gently and taste. Adjust sweetness with more maple syrup or acidity with a squeeze of lemon juice if needed.
  6. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight (8-12 hours).
  7. When ready to serve, fill glasses or mugs with ice or frozen cider cubes. Pour the sangria over the ice, including a few slices of macerated fruit in each glass.

Notes

For best results, let the sangria rest overnight. The flavors meld and deepen. Use frozen apple cider cubes instead of regular ice to avoid dilution. If you accidentally over-spice with cloves, add a splash more apple cider to balance. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute wine with unsweetened pomegranate or grape juice and use a splash of apple cider vinegar instead of bourbon.

Nutrition

Keywords: sangria, apple cider, Halloween, fall, party drink, spiked cider, bourbon, red wine

Find it online: https://evabake.com/cozy-spiked-apple-cider-sangria-for-halloween/