Fall is my favorite time of year.
Not that fall actually exists in San Diego.
For this Easy Apple Cider Sangria recipe, I decided to combine by love of red wine and apples. There are just a few ingredients, and you can make it 24 hours in advance to have ready for guests.
When I lived in Atlanta I always looked forward to fall. I love the crisp air, the changing leaves, the fresh apples… and the fact that the cooler evening call for a bottle glass of red wine. In San Diego there’s no crispness or changing of leaves, but we do have fresh apples!
I almost never order sangria in restaurants because it is so sweet. What I love about this recipe is that there is no added sugar; it allows the fruit to do all the talking.
Yes, that’s “Bitch” wine. Courtesy of my hilarious sister.
The apples in the recipe soak up the red wine and ferment overnight in the fridge. The longer you let your sangria sit before serving it, the more the fruit will infuse its flavors into the cocktail…. and even more booze will soak into all the fruit slices (read: you can get drunk on pieces of apple).
One note on the club soda. Don’t skip it! Add it right before serving to lighten the sangria with a little fizzy pop. It makes it even better!
The cinnamon sticks, cider, and fresh apples in this recipe scream fall. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings, football watching, and holiday parties! Just make sure you double the recipe… you’ll need more.
[Tweet “This No-Sugar Added Apple Cider #Sangria is the perfect fall drink!”]
Easy Apple Cider Sangria
- 1/2 C brandy
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, cubed
- 1 bottle dry red wine
- 1.5-1.75 C apple cider
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4-1/2 C club soda
Place all of the ingredients except the soda in a large pitcher and stir to combine. Allow to sit 6-8 hours, or overnight.
Just before servings, add 1/4 cup of club soda. Taste and adjust flavors as needed. If you like a sweeter sangria, add a bit more apple cider.
Makes 4-6 servings.
***
If you’re a whiskey drinker check out my Christmas in Manhattan recipe. It’s one of my favorites!
What is your favorite season?
Are you a sangria fan? Red or white?
I am so ready for fall too! It has been warm in SC as well, and I am getting rather antsy! Still, this recipe looks like a great one to share for the holidays despite the stubborn weather! 🙂
Right this is bookmarked and highlighted! As you know it is coming into summer here now and this is just the ideal summer festive drink – and I adore the fact that you have kept the sugar outta there!
And sangria soaked apples…. My favourite kind of fruit! Along with rum soaked pineapple of course 😉
Woot! I wished I’d named this fruit salad…
Fall is slipping away into the dulldrums of November here in NH. It’s always my least favorite part of the year. 🙁 I love sangria but like you, never order it when out. This is perfect!
You had me at “easy.” LOL 🙂 And yes, fall is the best! Unfortunately, it’s coming to an end very quickly around here.
That’s what she said… 😉
Obviously I need the Christmas in Manhattan recipe. I love sangria, and I too love apple cider sangria!
Fun fact: never order sangria in Virginia. By ABC law, they can’t mix wine and spirits and let it sit, so no sangria ever has time to develop any flavor.
Pinning!
For real?! That’s completely unreasonable. WTF?
ooh that sounds yummy! I like that you have only used a little bit of alcohol in there so not to be too overpowering. Have a great weekend!
Sharing this with one of my clients- she LOVES sangria!
Thanks! I hope she enjoys it. 🙂
What is San Diego like in January…. it’s on my winter trip radar since I know it doesnt snow! PS i alway love your drink recipes… if i come out next year I demand a cocktail (or craft beer) meet up 🙂
It’s pretty nice, actually! About 70 as a high. The worst is cloudy and drizzly May/June (“June Gloom”) and the sweltering heat in Sept/Oct.
And yes – I’ll be mad at you if you don’t at least have a drink with me!!!
I love that you can customize sangria for any season.
Ha, I almost never order sangria in restaurants because it’s never sweet enough! They must make it differently over here. I love that you posted a sangria recipe, BTW. This is the kind of healthy living I can get behind!
It’s is WAY too sweet in restaurants. You have to make mine. Or just come over. 😉
The glorious thing about fall this year here is that we actually had about 3 months of fall. We haven’t really had any snow… Can you believe it? For Colorado it just seems crazy! 🙂 But it’s been wonderful watching the leaves fall slowly and really enjoying the fall temperatures before snow comes.
That is crazy! My sister just got back from Brek and said the same thing. I hope it snows by New Year’s – we’re going skiing!
I love love love, San Diego! The people are so chill, and down to earth, it’s beautiful, I could defiantly see me living there one day. I’m also a Sangria lover; there’s something about having fruit in my adult beverage that makes me oh so happy deep down inside lol 😉 I didn’t realize most places add sugar to Sangria that’s a good thing to know. I’m looking forward to making some this week
You must let me know if you end up down here!
And yeah… look at most sangria recipes online. There’s like a cup of sugar in them all!
YUM! I’m with you, I absolutely love sangria – and I like it best with just wine, a hard alcohol, some fizziness and fruit. But I love the idea of adding in apple cider for an autumn flair!
Speaking of our lack of fall – more so this year – did you see that it’s supposed to be 90 on Wednesday?!
This weather insane… I’m glad it was cooler today. I actually went running!
Yum! This for sure screams fall
you know i love this. like… A LOT! apple cider anything! and sangria! pretty sure we’re going to be needing buckets for Thanksgiving this year. 😉
Bring IT ON!
I need a whole vat. A wine vat. Wouldn’t it be fun to bathe in one of those?
This sounds so great for Thanksgiving. Or maybe I’ll start it early for myself haha! I like both kinds of sangria at the right temperatures! I am so ready for boots weather. 🙂
I recommend starting early this year. 😉
Is there ever boots weather here???
The Fall is the Hubby’s favorite too. Me, I’m just down with any excuse to drink.
This is why we’re friends. Mwah!