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Thanksgiving Sangria (& More Cocktails!)

Thanksgiving Sangria in glass with fruit and spice garnish
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5 from 3 reviews

This Thanksgiving sangria is a festive cocktail for serving to a crowd! Made with red wine and spiced simple syrup, it’s infused with cozy, fruity flavor. Making up a pitcher is our pick for a fun holiday drink!

Ingredients

Scale

For the spiced simple syrup (see Notes)

  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 orange, juiced (about 1/3 cup juice)

For the sangria

  • 1 green apple, sliced
  • 1 red apple, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 750 ml bottle fruity, full-bodied red wine (we prefer a Crianza from the Rioja region of Spain)
  • 1/3 cup triple sec or Cointreau
  • For garnish: pomegranate arils, more chopped fruit, whole spices

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium low heat, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise for 3 minutes until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low. Add the water, sugar and fresh orange juice, and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring gently to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Strain the sugar mixture into a large pitcher. Stir in the wine and triple sec, adding the whole spices from the sugar mixture. Add the chopped fruit and stir. Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours before serving. Taste, and adjust sweetness by adding additional simple syrup if desired (here’s how to make simple syrup).
  3. To serve, pour the sangria into ice-filled glasses, garnished with more sliced fruit, lemon wedges, and if desired, pomegranate arils and whole spices. 

Notes

If you prefer a very sweet sangria, consider making a double batch of the spiced syrup. Add half to the pitcher to start, then taste and add more to taste.

You can make Thanksgiving sangria up to 4 hours in advance, but longer storage makes the fruit become soggy and discolored. You can make the spiced simple syrup up to 1 week in advance. If you want to make the pitcher in advance, you can mix up everything but the fruit and refrigerate, then add the fruit 1 to 4 hours before serving.

Find it online: https://www.acouplecooks.com/thanksgiving-cocktails-drinks/