This festive spiced Apple Cider Sangria is full of apple flavor + mulling spices for a sangria recipe that couldn’t be more perfect for fall if it tried!

A clear glass full of apple cider sangria with a red and white straw

Table of Contents

The Story Behind the Recipe

I’ve decided to try a slightly different angle this year when it comes to winter: I’m going to fully, enthusiastically embrace each phase of the season as it comes.

Rainy but mild? We’re donning raincoats and wellies and heading out to splash in puddles. Dark and dreary? Time to haul out the big blanket and cuddle in front of the fire. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day … there will be crafts to make, books to read, events to attend. A snowman will happen, and hot chocolate afterwards. And, of course, recipes to make for every season. Lots and lots of recipes.

Several of which – let’s be honest – will be cocktails.

three clear glasses of apple cider sangria with red and white striped straws

My new outlook – okay, yes, and maybe a glass or two of, say, this Apple Cider Sangria now and then – will help me to forget the fact that we will likely go for months without a peek of sunshine. It will help to make the three-week-long stretch of gray and drizzle come January more palatable. 16 hours of dark per day? No vacation to a sunny destination on the calendar?? Not a problem!

… Theoretically.

Man. Dark and gray. For the next five months.

Um, yeah. Get me another glass of apple cider sangria. Stat!

Yeah, winters can be tough, especially in the Pacific Northwest. But you know what? I actually am kind of excited for it now. In the immortal words of Patti LaBelle, I’ve got a new attitude!

And – AND! A new apple cider sangria recipe.

Apple Cider Sangria Ingredients

  • White wine – Something light, fruity, and a little dry. I really like Pinot Grigio with apple cider sangria.
  • Apple cider – Grab your fave.
  • Rum – A light rum is best.
  • Apples – I love to grab a variety of colors for the prettiest apple cider sangria, such as a combo of honey crisp, red delicious, golden delicious, and Granny Smith.)
  • Orange peels – Just a few to add mulled cider flavor to this cider sangria.
  • Cinnamon sticks & whole cloves
  • Ginger beer or ginger ale

How to Make Apple Cider Sangria

It’s super easy to make apple cider sangria! Just add all of the ingredients except ginger ale to a large pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Then, before serving, add the ginger beer or ginger ale and enjoy!

More Sangria Recipes

5 from 2 votes

Apple Cider Sangria

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 10 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 6 -8
This sweet spiced apple cider sangria is nice and light, a little bubbly, a tad sweet, and an absolutely perfect excuse to celebrate the season.
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 750 ml bottle of white wine (I like something light, fruity, and not too sweet. Pinot grigio is perfect for this sangria)
  • 3 cups apple cider
  • 3/4 cup light rum (aka white rum )
  • 4 medium apples (I like the colorful combo of honeycrisp, red delicious, golden delicious, and granny smith, cored and sliced)
  • 3 orange peels (about 2 inches in size; use a carrot peeler and try to avoid as much pith – the white part – as possible)
  • 4 cinnamon sticks (3-inch sticks)
  • 2 teaspoons whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice
  • 24 ounces ginger beer (or ginger ale [2 bottles])

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except ginger ale to a 2.5-quart or larger pitcher. Cover with airtight lid or cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 24 hours.
  • If desired, remove fruit and pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to strain out the spices and orange peel. Discard spices and orange peel and return liquid and apples to the pitcher. Personally, I like having the cloves and allspice bob around in each glass, so I don’t strain, but you do have to be careful to dodge the whole spices when drinking it.
  • Pour liquid into glasses about halfway. Add apple slices until glass is about 3/4 full. Top off with ginger beer. Serve with a straw.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1g, Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g, Trans Fat: 0.002g, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 285mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 104IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 1mg

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