Description

A warm, non-alcoholic sangria made with apple cider, cranberry juice, and warm spices. Perfect for cozy evenings and holiday gatherings, this forgiving recipe comes together in minutes and fills your kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and clove.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cups (960 ml) unsweetened apple cider or apple juice
2 cups (480 ml) unsweetened cranberry juice
1 cup (240 ml) orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
1 tablespoon (15 ml) maple syrup or honey
3 cinnamon sticks, plus extra for garnish
4 whole cloves
2 star anise pods (optional)
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
A pinch of black pepper
1 large orange, thinly sliced (peel on)
2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and thinly sliced
1 pear (Bartlett or Bosc), cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup (about 60g) fresh cranberries (optional)
2 cups (480 ml) sparkling water or ginger ale
Ice cubes (if serving cold)
Fresh rosemary sprigs or cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions

Prep the fruit: Wash all fruit thoroughly. Slice the orange into thin rounds, about 1/4-inch thick. Core the apples and pear, then slice into thin half-moons. Rinse fresh cranberries if using.
Combine the liquids: In a slow cooker or large pot, pour in apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Add maple syrup or honey. Whisk gently to combine.
Add the spices: Drop in cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, grated nutmeg, and a pinch of black pepper.
Add the fruit: Gently place sliced orange, apple, and pear into the liquid. Scatter cranberries on top if using.
Heat it up: If using a slow cooker, set to low and simmer for 2-3 hours. If using stovetop, bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and cook for 30 minutes. Do not let it boil rapidly.
Taste and adjust: After minimum heating time, taste and adjust sweetness or spice level as desired. Add more maple syrup if needed, or let it simmer longer for deeper flavor.
Add the fizz: Just before serving, pour in sparkling water or ginger ale and stir gently. For best results, add fizz to individual glasses rather than the whole batch.
Serve and garnish: Ladle warm sangria into mugs or heatproof glasses, including some fruit in each serving. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or rosemary sprig. For cold version, let cool, refrigerate at least 2 hours, then add sparkling water and serve over ice.

Notes

For a lower-sugar version, use unsweetened apple cider and skip the maple syrup. The fruit provides enough natural sweetness. Toasting spices in a dry skillet for 60 seconds before adding enhances flavor. This sangria improves overnight; make the base (without sparkling water) a day ahead and reheat gently. Do not reheat more than once to avoid mushy fruit. Always use heatproof glassware for warm drinks.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes (stovetop) or 2-3 hours (slow cooker)
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 8 ounces
Calories: 85110
Sugar: 1822
Sodium: 10
Carbohydrates: 2228
Fiber: 12

Keywords: spiced apple cider sangria, non-alcoholic sangria, warm sangria, apple cider drink, holiday drink, cozy drink, slow cooker sangria