Winter Sangria Recipe

I dunno about you, but this girl is OBSESSED with sangria. It’s a summer drink, but my love cannot be contained to just one season. It’s not possible. So, I did what any crazed wino self-respecting sangria drinker would do. I winterized it! Now, you can sip sangria whilst sitting by the fire. Yeah, I said it whilst.  Let’s do this!

Winter Sangria

Instead of a summery juice, we are going to use apple cider; Lemon/lime soda? Nope, Ginger Ale. More you say? Ok, how about a winter-spiced simple syrup, some dried cranberries and cinnamon sticks? Yeah, baby…That sounds about right. It’s winter sangria time!

I usually serve this cold, but really… it’s your world. Room temp works, it’s red wine after all. You wanna throw it in a crock pot and serve it warm? No one is gonna stop you. Pretty much the only thing I wouldn’t recommend is boiling it, because then the alcohol would burn off and that would be an epic tragedy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground Nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground Cloves
• 1 apple chopped
• 1 pear chopped
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 bottle of red wine ( I used Trader Joe’s Syrah)
• 2 cups Ginger Ale
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 cup apple cider
• ¾ cup brandy or cognac
• Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Directions

We start by making a simple syrup. Emphasis on the word simple.

1. In saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Simmer that bad boy for 10 minutes.
2. Let cool. It will magically turn into a thick syrup that smells like everything that has ever been good in life.
3. In a pitcher combine your syrup and fruit.
4. Add the cognac/brandy.
5. Let that soak overnight. Impatient? Try streaming a netflix movie and wait at least 2 hours. It’s worth it, I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
6. Resist the urge to eat the fruit, right then and there… or just do and make another batch. No judgments.
7. Add your wine, ginger ale, apple cider and orange juice.
8. Garnish glasses with cinnamon sticks and serve.

It’s delish! And it’s a great party drink. You can make a big batch of the fruit/syrup/cognac mixture and keep it in the fridge, then just add your liquids as needed. Perfection.

What’s your favorite winter drink? Let us know in the comments!

Images by Trinidad Pena – Branding + Design

Co-founder | Trinidad Pena Trinidad Pena is a blogger, foodie, and design superhero bent on helping others kick-ass online, world domination and convincing the world that wine belongs in the fruit food group since it’s made from grapes.