If you’re looking for a festive, fresh, and fun holiday drink to wow your guests, this Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe is exactly what you need. I absolutely love how it combines tart cranberries, crisp green apples, and fragrant rosemary with bubbly Moscato and apple cider. Trust me, once you try this, it’ll become your go-to holiday cocktail that everyone asks for year after year.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive Flavors: The tart cranberries and crisp apples make it taste like the holidays in a glass.
- Easy to Make: With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a sophisticated cocktail ready to impress.
- Beautiful Presentation: The sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs add that perfect holiday sparkle.
- Crowd-Pleaser: My family goes crazy for this every Christmas—it’s sweet, bubbly, and refreshing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe lies in its fresh and seasonal ingredients. Using tart green apples and tangy cranberries balances the sweetness of the Moscato and apple cider perfectly. Pro tip: Choose a Moscato that’s not too sweet to keep the drink lively.
- Green Apples: Crisp and tart, these add crunch and freshness to your sangria.
- Fresh Cranberries: They give a beautiful pop of color and tartness; fresh is best here.
- Granulated Sugar: Used for rimming glasses and sweetening the garnish—adds a festive sparkle.
- Rosemary: This herb adds a fragrant piney note and looks gorgeous as garnish.
- Moscato: A light and semi-sweet sparkling wine that’s perfect for this cocktail.
- Sparkling Apple Cider: Adds bubbles and enhances the apple flavor without alcohol.
Variations
I love how versatile this Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe is, so I often switch it up depending on what I have on hand or my mood. Don’t hesitate to make it your own and add your favorite twists.
- Use Red Apples Instead of Green: For a sweeter sangria, I sometimes swap green apples with Fuji or Gala—takes the tartness down a notch.
- Add Cinnamon Sticks: I discovered this trick when I wanted an extra cozy vibe—a cinnamon stick in each glass gives a subtle warm spice.
- Try Different Sparkling Wines: Champagne or Prosecco work beautifully here if Moscato isn’t your favorite.
- Make It Non-Alcoholic: Skip the wine and double up on sparkling apple cider for a festive mocktail everyone can enjoy.
How to Make Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Fruit and Sugared Garnish
Start by chopping the green apples into small, bite-sized pieces. Don’t forget to save a few apple pieces and a handful of cranberries for the garnish—they make the drinks look so festive. I like to roll the reserved cranberries in granulated sugar to give them a frosted holiday sparkle that pops in the glass.
Step 2: Muddle for Flavor
Place the chopped apples and most of the cranberries into your pitcher. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, gently crush some of the fruit to release their juices. This helps to infuse the sangria with bright, fresh fruit flavor without turning it into a puree. I find that just a few presses are enough to get that lovely burst of flavor.
Step 3: Add Your Bubbles and Herbs
Pour in the Moscato and sparkling apple cider right over the muddled fruit. The bubbles make this drink feel celebratory and light. Toss in a bunch of fresh rosemary to float on top—that aroma alone will get everyone excited to take a sip!
Step 4: Prepare Glasses and Serve
Rim your champagne or wine glasses with sugar for an extra touch of elegance. Pour the sangria into each glass, making sure to add a few sugared cranberries and apple pieces on top. Finish off with a sprig of rosemary as a garnish for that beautiful holiday look. Cheers!
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe
- Don’t Over-Muddle: Crushing fruit releases juice and flavor, but too much muddling can make a cloudy sangria—gentle presses do the trick.
- Chill Ingredients: Using chilled Moscato and cider keeps your sangria refreshingly cool without diluting it with too much ice.
- Prep Ahead: Making the sangria a few hours ahead helps flavors mingle beautifully and saves you time when guests arrive.
- Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh rosemary smells so much better than dry—it really elevates your presentation and aroma.
How to Serve Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe
Garnishes
I genuinely love using sugared cranberries and apple slices to garnish each glass—they add sparkle and a welcome pop of color. The rosemary sprig is my favorite finishing touch because it infuses the drink with a piney freshness and looks like it’s straight from a winter garden.
Side Dishes
Pair this sangria with classic holiday finger foods like baked brie with cranberries, spiced nuts, or a savory charcuterie board. The fruity, bubbly drink balances salty and creamy flavors so well. For a cozy night, I like serving it alongside roasted turkey sliders or warm brussels sprouts.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve served this sangria in clear glass pitchers with floating rosemary and cranberries—they look stunning on the buffet. Another fun idea is to freeze some cranberries in ice cubes and use those in the glasses; it keeps the sangria cold without watering it down. You can also rim glasses with colored sugar for a festive flair.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers (and you probably will because it’s that good), store your sangria in a sealed pitcher or bottle in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep the garnishes separate so apples and cranberries stay fresh and crisp when you serve it again.
Freezing
I don’t recommend freezing sangria because it alters the bubbly texture and freshness. However, you can freeze sugared cranberries ahead of time, which is super handy when preparing garnishes in bulk for holiday parties.
Reheating
This sangria is best enjoyed chilled, so I wouldn’t reheat it. If you want a warmer holiday drink, you might try a spiced mulled wine instead. But for this recipe, just keep it cold and bubbly for the best taste.
FAQs
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Can I make this Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! Making it a few hours in advance lets the flavors meld beautifully. Just keep it refrigerated and add fresh garnishes right before serving to keep everything looking and tasting perfect.
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What wine is best for this holiday sangria?
I recommend a Moscato because it’s light, slightly sweet, and bubbly, which complements the tart fruit and rosemary nicely. But you can also use Prosecco or Champagne if you prefer drier bubbles.
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Can I make this sangria non-alcoholic?
Yes! Just replace the Moscato with more sparkling apple cider or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. It’s just as festive and delicious for guests who prefer to skip alcohol.
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How do I keep the sangria from getting watery?
Use chilled ingredients and avoid adding ice directly to the pitcher. If you want it colder, freeze some cranberries or fruit pieces and add them as ice substitutes—they cool the sangria without watering it down.
Final Thoughts
Personally, this Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe is one of my favorite ways to bring a little sparkle to holiday gatherings. I love how easy it is, how beautiful it looks, and most importantly, how much everyone enjoys sipping it. So the next time you want to impress your friends or family with a festive drink that’s light, fruity, and a bit magical, give this recipe a try—you’ll be so glad you did!
Print
Christmas Sangria with Cranberries and Apples Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
A festive and refreshing Christmas Sangria Cocktail featuring crisp green apples, tart cranberries, aromatic rosemary, sweet Moscato, and sparkling apple cider. Perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations with a delightful balance of fruity flavors and bubbly zest.
Ingredients
Fruit
- 2 Green Apples, chopped
- 2 Cups Fresh Cranberries
Sweetener
- ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
Liquids
- 1 Bottle Moscato
- 1 Bottle Sparkling Apple Cider
Herbs
- 1 Bunch Rosemary
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Chop both green apples into small pieces. Add all but a few pieces to the bottom of a large drink pitcher for the sangria base, reserving some apple pieces for garnish later.
- Rinse and sugar the cranberries: Rinse the fresh cranberries in a colander. Roll a handful of them immediately in granulated sugar and set these sugared cranberries aside to use as a garnish.
- Add cranberries to pitcher: Place the remaining cranberries into the pitcher with the chopped apples.
- Muddle the fruit: Using a muddler or wooden spoon, crush some of the fruit in the bottom of the pitcher to release their flavors and juices into the sangria.
- Mix the sangria: Pour in the bottle of Moscato followed by the sparkling apple cider. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Garnish with rosemary: Add a bunch of rosemary to the top of the pitcher to infuse a fresh herbal aroma.
- Prepare the glasses: Rim champagne or cocktail glasses with sugar for an elegant touch.
- Serve: Fill the glasses with the Christmas Sangria. Add some of the reserved sugared cranberries and apple pieces on top. Garnish each glass with a sprig of rosemary for presentation.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy the festive, fruity, and bubbly holiday drink!
Notes
- For a stronger cocktail, substitute some of the sparkling apple cider with sparkling wine or champagne.
- The sangria can be prepared a few hours ahead and refrigerated to let the flavors meld better, but garnish just before serving.
- Use organic fruit if possible to avoid pesticides, especially since the fruit is used fresh in the drink.
- Adjust sugar amount based on sweetness preference and the sweetness of your Moscato.
- To make it non-alcoholic, replace Moscato with white grape juice and use sparkling apple cider as is.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
