Description
A warm, spiced, and slightly boozy sangria featuring Honeycrisp apples, caramel sauce, and white wine. This make-ahead cocktail is perfect for autumn gatherings, offering a cozy, complex flavor profile that tastes like apple pie in a glass.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Apple Brandy or Cognac (e.g., Calvados)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1 cup (240ml) fresh cold-pressed apple juice
- 2 large Honeycrisp apples, sliced into thin wedges
- 1 large Red Delicious or Gala apple, sliced into thin wedges
- 1 medium orange, sliced into rounds
- 1 medium pear (Bosc or Anjou), sliced into wedges
- 1/2 cup (120ml) caramel sauce
- 3–4 cinnamon sticks
- 3–4 star anise pods
- Ice cubes or frozen apple chunks for serving
- Mini cinnamon sticks for garnish
- Thin apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- Wash all fruit thoroughly. Slice Honeycrisp and Red Delicious/Gala apples into thin wedges (approx. 1/4 inch), keeping the skin on. Slice the orange into rounds and the pear into wedges.
- Pour the white wine into a large 2-3 quart glass pitcher. Add the apple brandy, triple sec, and apple juice. Stir gently to combine.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce into the pitcher. Let it swirl through the wine to create ribbons, then gently stir to incorporate about 80% of the caramel.
- Add the sliced apples, oranges, and pears to the pitcher. Add the cinnamon sticks and star anise pods. Stir gently to submerge the fruit.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
- Before serving, give the sangria a final gentle stir. Fill glasses with ice or apple chunks, pour the sangria over the top ensuring a mix of fruit and liquid, and garnish with a mini cinnamon stick and thin apple slice.
Notes
Use dry white wine to balance the sweetness; avoid sweet wines like Moscato. For best results, marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Pears are softer than apples, so add them right before serving if you want them to retain their shape. The caramel sauce can be store-bought or homemade salted caramel. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the brandy and triple sec, and double the apple juice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (approx. 6-8
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: fall sangria, caramel apple sangria, autumn cocktail, white wine sangria, party drinks, make-ahead cocktail, cozy fall recipes, apple cider sangria