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Festive Red Wine Holiday Sangria with Cranberry and Orange

A condensation-covered glass filled with rich red holiday sangria, garnished with cranberries, orange slices, and apple chunks.
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Make this easy, make-ahead holiday sangria featuring red wine, seasonal fruit, and warming spices. It is a crowd-pleasing drink perfect for Christmas or New Year’s gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle dry red wine (like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 1/2 cup brandy
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 1 large orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 crisp apple, cored and chopped
  • 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
  • 1 cup sparkling water or club soda (add just before serving)
  • Ice for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, sugar, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Add the sliced orange, cranberries, and chopped apple to the wine mixture.
  3. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the fruit to infuse the wine. This step is key for a flavorful holiday sangria.
  4. Before serving, remove the cinnamon stick and star anise if you prefer a milder spice flavor.
  5. Stir in the cranberry juice cocktail.
  6. Just before serving, top with the sparkling water or club soda for fizz.
  7. Serve the holiday sangria over ice, making sure each glass gets some of the infused fruit.

Notes

  • For a beautiful presentation, garnish individual glasses with fresh cranberries and a small orange slice.
  • If you want a brighter color, substitute half of the red wine with dry rosé wine.
  • You can prepare the wine and fruit mixture up to 24 hours in advance. Add the sparkling water just before guests arrive.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yummagnet.com/best-holiday-sangria-recipe-cranberry-orange/