This Festive Christmas Sangria is the perfect celebratory drink for all your holiday gatherings! It's a beautiful, easy-to-make red sangria packed with seasonal flavors like cranberry, pomegranate, orange, and warming cinnamon. I absolutely love making a big pitcher of this sangria for parties - it looks stunning, tastes delicious, and it's always a crowd-pleaser. The combination of red wine, fruit juices, orange liqueur, and a homemade cinnamon simple syrup makes this the best red sangria for the holidays!
Why You'll Love This Christmas Sangria
- Festive and Flavorful: The vibrant red color and combination of seasonal fruits and spices make this sangria perfect for the holidays.
- Easy to Make: It's incredibly simple to mix together, making it great for entertaining.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Sangria is always a popular choice, and this festive version is sure to be a hit.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare it ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences.
Ingredients for Christmas Sangria
Here's what you'll need to make this festive holiday drink. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Sangria
- Dry red wine (Wine) See notes in original recipe
- Cranberry juice (Juice) See notes in original recipe
- Pomegranate juice (Juice)
- Grand Marnier (Liqueur) Specific brand mentioned
- Cinnamon simple syrup (Sweetener/Flavoring) Recipe below
- Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced (Fruit)
- Navel orange, thinly sliced (Fruit)
- Fresh cranberries (Fruit)
- Pomegranate arils (Fruit)
- Crushed ice (for serving)
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- Water (Liquid)
- Sugar (Sweetener)
- Cinnamon sticks (Spice)
Sugared Cranberries (Garnish)
- Fresh cranberries (Fruit)
- Water (Liquid)
- Granulated sugar (Sweetener)
Garnish
- Cinnamon sticks (Spice)
- Rosemary sprigs (Herb)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this Christmas Sangria recipe as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Wine: Use a different dry red wine like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. You could even try a rosé for a lighter version.
- Add Brandy: Substitute brandy for the Grand Marnier or add a splash in addition.
- Different Fruit: Add sliced pears, star anise, or cloves for different flavor dimensions.
- Sparkling: Top off each glass with a splash of club soda or sparkling water for extra fizz.
- Make it Non-Alcoholic: Substitute the wines and liqueur with pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, and sparkling grape juice or cider.
How to Make Christmas Sangria
Let me show you how easy it is to make this festive Christmas Sangria:
Make the Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- First, I make the cinnamon simple syrup. In a medium saucepan, I bring the water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks to a boil.
- I boil for 1-2 minutes to infuse the cinnamon flavor into the syrup a bit more.
- I let it cool completely, then discard the cinnamon sticks.
Make the Sugared Cranberries (Optional Garnish)
- To make the optional sugared cranberries for garnish, I bring water and ½ cup of the sugar to a boil.
- Once boiling, I stir for thirty seconds until the sugar is dissolved.
- I remove it from the heat and stir in the fresh cranberries until completely coated.
- I transfer them to a wire rack to dry.
- I let them dry for 30 minutes, then roll them in the remaining 1 cup of sugar, working in batches.
- I transfer them back to the rack and let them dry for an additional hour.
Make the Sangria
- In a large pitcher, I combine the red wine, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier, and ¾ cup of the cooled cinnamon simple syrup.
- I add the sliced apples, sliced oranges, fresh cranberries, and pomegranate arils.
- I stir everything gently to combine.
Chill and Serve
- I chill the sangria in the fridge for 2-4 hours or until ready to serve. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Alternatively, I can serve it immediately over crushed ice.
- To serve, I garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick, a sprig of rosemary, and a handful of sugared cranberries!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Christmas Sangria
Here are my secrets for making this sangria truly exceptional:
- Choose the Right Red Wine: Use a dry, fruity red wine that you enjoy drinking on its own. Avoid anything too oaky or tannic. Good choices include Tempranillo, Garnacha, Pinot Noir, or Merlot.
- Chill Thoroughly: Letting the sangria chill for at least 2-4 hours allows the fruit and spice flavors to infuse the wine.
- Don't Add Ice to the Pitcher: Add ice to individual glasses just before serving to avoid diluting the sangria.
- Make it Ahead: Sangria is perfect for making ahead, saving you time on party day.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the sangria before chilling and add more cinnamon simple syrup if you prefer it sweeter.
How to Serve
This Christmas Sangria is perfect for:
- Holiday Parties: A festive and crowd-pleasing drink for Christmas, New Year's Eve, or any holiday gathering.
- Dinner Parties: An elegant beverage to serve with dinner.
- Cozy Winter Nights: A flavorful drink to enjoy by the fire.
Serve chilled in wine glasses, garnished generously with cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, and sugared cranberries.
Make Ahead and Storage
This sangria is best made at least 2-4 hours ahead and chilled to allow the flavors to meld. Store leftover sangria in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (remove fruit if storing longer than a day to prevent bitterness).
FAQs about Christmas Sangria
- What kind of red wine is best for sangria?
- Choose a dry, fruity red wine like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Pinot Noir, or Merlot. Avoid heavy, oaky wines.
- Can I use frozen cranberries for the sangria itself (not garnish)?
- Yes, frozen cranberries work well within the sangria mixture.
- How long does the cinnamon simple syrup last?
- Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the simple syrup should last for several weeks.
Enjoy this festive, flavorful, and easy-to-make Christmas Sangria! It's the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season.
Print
Festive Christmas Sangria
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Drinks, Cocktails, Holiday
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Christmas Sangria is the most festive red sangria recipe for all of your holiday celebrations! It's the best red sangria ever, and SO easy to make. It's made with your favorite red wine, a touch of cinnamon simple syrup, pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, a little orange liqueur, pomegranate arils, sliced oranges, honeycrisp apples, and fresh cranberries!
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
For the Sugared Cranberries (Optional):
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
- ½ cup water
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
For the Sangria:
- 1 (750ml) bottle dry red wine (such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 1 cup 100% cranberry juice (unsweetened or sweetened, adjust simple syrup if using sweetened)
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- ⅓ cup Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- ¾ cup Cinnamon Simple Syrup (from recipe above)
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
- 1 navel orange, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup pomegranate arils (seeds)
- Crushed ice, for serving
For Garnish:
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Sugared Cranberries (from recipe above, optional)
Instructions
1. Make the Cinnamon Simple Syrup:
- In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 2 cinnamon sticks.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Boil for 1-2 minutes to infuse the cinnamon flavor.
- Remove from heat and let the syrup cool completely. Discard the cinnamon sticks before using. This can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
2. Make the Sugared Cranberries (Optional):
- Bring ½ cup water and ½ cup of the granulated sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir for 30 seconds until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the fresh cranberries until completely coated.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cranberries to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to dry for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the remaining 1 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl or dish. Roll the slightly sticky, dried cranberries in the sugar, working in batches, until coated.
- Transfer the sugared cranberries back to the wire rack and let them dry for at least an additional hour. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
3. Assemble the Sangria:
- In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur), and ¾ cup of the cooled Cinnamon Simple Syrup.
- Add the sliced apple, sliced orange, fresh cranberries, and pomegranate arils to the pitcher.
- Stir gently to combine.
4. Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2-4 hours (or preferably longer, up to overnight) to allow the flavors to meld.
5. Serve: Serve the sangria over crushed ice in glasses. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick, a sprig of fresh rosemary, and a few sugared cranberries (if using).
Notes
- Red Wine: Choose a dry red wine that you enjoy drinking on its own. Pinot Noir, Merlot, or a lighter Cabernet Sauvignon work well.
- Juice: Use 100% cranberry and pomegranate juice for the best flavor. If using sweetened cranberry juice, you may want to reduce the amount of simple syrup slightly.
- Orange Liqueur: Grand Marnier is recommended, but Cointreau or Triple Sec are good substitutes.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of cinnamon simple syrup to your preference. Start with ¾ cup and add more if you like a sweeter sangria.
- Chilling: Chilling the sangria for at least 2-4 hours allows the fruit and spice flavors to infuse the wine beautifully.
- Make-Ahead: The sangria base (without ice and sparkling elements, if adding) can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
- Storage: Store leftover sangria in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, although the fruit may soften over time.
