This post is intended for readers ages 21+. Cranberry Sangria with fresh cranberries, oranges, apples, pears and honey and garnished with a sprig of rosemary will really bring the holiday spirit to any gathering. With brandy and Cabernet Sauvignon, this Cranberry Sangria Recipe will have everyone cheering!
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Who says that you have to save the sangria for summer? This delicious Cranberry Sangria is full of apples and oranges and fresh holiday flavors. It’s the perfect festive drink to serve to your guests, and it’s so easy to make!
Sangrias are perfect for a delightful make-ahead drink option, so you don’t have to worry about mixing cocktails at your next party or get together. Plus this one is super easy - you don't even need simple syrup!
Plan on preparing this Cranberry Sangria recipe about an hour before serving to make sure the wine has a chance to breathe and that the fruit can infuse with the wine for added flavor.
🧂 Ingredients
- honey
- brandy
- orange and cranberry juices
- fresh apple and pear
- frozen whole cranberries
- whole cinnamon sticks
- seltzer water or club soda
- dry red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon
- thin slices of orange and sprigs of rosemary (for garnish)
This is meant to be a brief overview of the fruity sangria recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
🔪Instructions
- Add fruit to a large pitcher.
- Pour in the honey, brandy, juices, and wine.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
- Prior to serving, add the seltzer water.
- Pour over ice and garnish.
Pro-Tip: Make Cranberry-Orange Ice Cubes
No one wants a watered-down sangria! My favorite trick for keeping sangria or punch cold but not watered down is to make some ice cubes out of juice ahead of time. It’s really easy to do. The night before your holiday party or dinner, follow these steps:
- Just combine equal amounts of cranberry and orange juices and pour into extra-large ice cube trays filling two-thirds of the way full.
- Add a little extra festive touch with frozen cranberries seeds in each well in the ice cube mold, if you like.
- Freeze until solid.
Serve your chilled sangria with these fruity ice cubes for the perfect drink.
Serving Suggestions
When you are making this festive sangria, keep in mind that the longer it sits, the better it will taste! So, if you can make it the day before, you'll have a super flavorful Cranberry Sangria!
Garnish your glasses of sangria with orange slices or orange wedges and whole fresh cranberries. If you want to be super festive, you can add a sprig of rosemary or a cinnamon stick.
Simple right? This is truly one of the easiest cocktails to make and so perfect to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner or on Christmas day.
📖 Variations
We recommend that you try our holiday sangria for the first time just as it is written for the best results, because that is how the recipe has been tested.
However, the next time you make this fruity drink, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.
- Add a splash of orange liqueur such as grand marnier, to your cocktail mixture.
- Substitute any other fruit juice like cranberry juice cocktail or apple juice for the orange juice.
- Other types of fresh fruit such as berries or halved grapes are also delicious.
- Use white cranberry juice or a flavored cranberry juice.
- To make a sparkling cranberry sangria without alcohol, substitute the wine with sparkling cider.
More Holiday Cocktails
Here are a few more mocktail and cocktail recipes you'll love:
Traditionally, sangria is made with red wine, but you might also like to check out this White Wine Sangria from Minimalist Baker.
If you love cranberries, try our Cranberry Eggnog French Toast Bake!
In Conclusion
Not ready to make this sangria with cranberries yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later.
When you do make our delicious holiday cocktail, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below; it totally makes my day!
Holiday Cranberry Sangria
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Equipment
- Pitcher
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup brandy
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 large apple halved and chopped
- 1 large pear halved and chopped
- 1 cup whole frozen cranberries
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 1 bottle of dry red wine Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1 cup seltzer water
Garnish
- rosemary sprigs
- orange wheels
Instructions
- Into a large pitcher add the chopped fruit.
- Pour in the honey, brandy, juices and wine. Stir to combine.
- Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours. (
- Just before serving, add the selzter water to the sangria mixture.
- Pour over ice or serve chilled. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and orange wheels
Notes
Pro-Tip: Make Cranberry-Orange Ice Cubes
No one wants a watered-down sangria! My favorite trick for keeping sangria or punch cold but not watered down is to make some ice cubes out of juice ahead of time. It’s really easy to do.- Just combine equal amounts of cranberry and orange juices and pour into extra-large ice cube trays filling two-thirds of the way full.
- Add a little extra festive touch with frozen cranberries seeds in each well in the mold., if you like.
- Freeze until solid.
Sangria Tip
When you are making this, keep in mine that the longer it sits, the better it will taste! So, if you can make it the day before, you'll have a super flavorful Cranberry Sangria!For best results, be sure to check our Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help your delicious recipe come out perfectly.
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