Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe

If you’re looking to wow your guests with a drink that’s vibrant, refreshing, and absolutely bursting with holiday cheer, this Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe is your new go-to. I absolutely love how this sangria marries tart cranberries, crisp green apples, and bubbly sparkling cider with a sweet Moscato base—it’s like Christmas in a glass! Stick around because I’m sharing all my favorite tips to make this cocktail foolproof and festive.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

This Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe is all about fresh, seasonal flavors that bring the holidays to your glass. Each ingredient plays a role in creating that refreshing, tangy, and sweet balance you’ll love. When grabbing your ingredients, fresh cranberries and firm green apples are your best friends here.

• Green Apples: Choose crisp ones like Granny Smith for tartness and crunch that hold up well in the drink.
• Fresh Cranberries: Fresh is key because they provide that beautiful pop of color and tart flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Use this to rim the glasses and coat some cranberries for a sparkling effect.
• Rosemary: Fresh sprigs add an herbal aroma and look stunning as a garnish.
• Moscato: This sweet, fruity white wine is the perfect base—don’t substitute with dry wines if you want it just right.
• Sparkling Apple Cider: Adds a bubbly, festive touch without overpowering sweetness.

Variations

I love how versatile this Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe is—you can easily tweak it to fit your mood or dietary preferences. Sometimes, I swap out the Moscato for a dry Riesling, or add a splash of brandy for a boozier punch. You can totally make it your own!

• Make it Alcohol-Free: Replace Moscato and cider with sparkling white grape juice and sparkling water for a festive mocktail.
• Spiced Sangria: Add a cinnamon stick or star anise for warm holiday spices that cozy up the drink.
• Berry Medley: Toss in some frozen blueberries or raspberries for added color and flavor.
• Herbal Twist: Swap rosemary with fresh thyme or mint to experiment with the aroma.

How to Make Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Fruit

Start by chopping two green apples into small pieces. I like leaving a few pieces out to use later as garnish—it adds that fresh crunch once the sangria is served. Rinse your fresh cranberries and then grab a handful to roll in sugar, setting them aside to use as sparkly garnish. The trick I learned? Rolling cranberries in sugar right after rinsing makes them sticky enough for the sugar to stick perfectly.

Step 2: Muddle and Mix

Add most of your chopped apples and all the plain cranberries (reserve the sugared ones for garnish) to your pitcher. Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to gently crush some of the fruit—this releases the juices and infuses the sangria with vibrant flavor. Don’t overdo it or the fruit will turn to mush, but a few good presses work wonders.

Step 3: Add Your Liquids and Rosemary

Pour in a whole bottle of Moscato followed by a bottle of sparkling apple cider. The combination is delightful because Moscato adds sweetness while the cider brings festive fizz without being too sugary. Top it all off with a bunch of fresh rosemary sprigs. I love how the rosemary floats on top, offering both aroma and a classy touch to your holiday beverage.

Step 4: Rim Glasses and Serve

Before pouring, rim your champagne or cocktail glasses with sugar for an instant festive look. Fill each glass with the sangria, then drop in a few sugared cranberries and apple pieces. Don’t forget to garnish each with a little rosemary sprig—I promise your guests will be impressed. Cheers!

How to Serve Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe

Garnishes

I always make sure to include sugared cranberries and apple slices on top of each glass—the sugar sparkles and the apple adds a refreshing crunch. A single rosemary sprig completes the look, making each glass look like a holiday centerpiece. Plus, the rosemary’s scent adds such a cozy vibe to the whole experience.

Side Dishes

This sangria pairs insanely well with light cheeses like brie or goat cheese, plus spiced nuts or a charcuterie board. If I’m serving it at a party, I love offering gingerbread cookies or cranberry orange scones as sweet bites that make the pairing extra special.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like serving this sangria in a clear glass punch bowl with a floating wreath of rosemary and fruit slices. It looks so festive and guests love ladling their own glasses. Another fun idea is using stemless wine glasses decorated with mini candy canes on the rim for that extra touch of holiday spirit.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Since this sangria is best served fresh, I store any leftovers in a sealed pitcher or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The fruit will absorb more liquid over time, so it can get stronger in flavor but still delicious. Just give it a gentle stir before serving again.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing the sangria because the carbonation from the sparkling cider doesn’t hold up well, and the fruit texture changes once frozen. For best results, stick to making it fresh or storing chilled.

Reheating

This is a cold drink, so reheating isn’t really a thing here. If you want a warm variation, try simmering fresh apple cider with cinnamon and rosemary separately instead, but that’s a different cozy holiday treat altogether.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Festive Cranberry and Apple Sangria Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it takes something as simple as fruit and sparkling wine and turns it into a showstopping holiday treat. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party or just want to treat yourself on a cozy winter evening, this cocktail will deliver smiles and compliments. I genuinely hope you try it and fall in love with it as much as my family and I have—cheers to making lasting holiday memories!

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