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Best Fall Sangria with Cinnamon Apples: Easy Party Hit

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This quick and easy fall sangria comes together in under 10 minutes with simple ingredients like red wine, apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and fresh apples. It’s a crowd-pleasing party hit that skips the fussy overnight maceration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Tempranillo or Merlot recommended)
  • 1 cup apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1/4 cup brandy (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (plus extra for garnish)
  • 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Fresh apple slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Additional cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cinnamon apples: Wash and dry the apples. Leave the skin on. Cut into thin wedges about 1/4-inch thick, removing cores and seeds. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Toss the apple slices in the mixture until evenly coated. Set aside for 5 minutes.
  2. Combine the sangria base: In a large pitcher, pour the entire bottle of red wine. Add 1 cup apple cider, 1/4 cup brandy (if using), and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Drop in the cinnamon stick. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the maple syrup dissolves, about 30 seconds. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  3. Add the cinnamon apples: Carefully slide the coated apple slices into the pitcher. Give the pitcher one more slow stir to distribute the apples.
  4. Chill and rest: Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours. For make-ahead, prepare the base up to 24 hours in advance and add the cinnamon apples just before serving.
  5. Serve with style: Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the sangria, making sure each glass gets a few cinnamon apple slices. Garnish with a fresh apple slice, a cinnamon stick, and a sprig of rosemary if desired.
  6. Make it a punch: For larger gatherings, transfer everything to a punch bowl. Float thin apple slices and cinnamon sticks on top. Add a block of ice instead of cubes.

Notes

For best results, use a smooth, fruit-forward red wine like Tempranillo or Merlot. Avoid oaky wines. The cinnamon-sugar coating on the apples is key for flavor. Remove the cinnamon stick after 2 hours to prevent over-spicing. For a non-alcoholic version, replace wine with unsweetened pomegranate juice and brandy with vanilla extract.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall sangria, cinnamon apples, easy sangria, party drink, apple cider sangria, red wine sangria

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/best-fall-sangria-with-cinnamon-apples-easy-party-hit/