Easy Cranberry Sangria Recipe

This sangria is perfect over ice for a cool Christmas sangria – or you can serve it warm, too! We love to serve this cocktail with a holiday treat – like our gingerbread truffles, easy buckeyes, or German chocolate cookies!

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Cranberry Flavored Sangria

We love wine-based drinks – they are easy to prepare, get better over time, and are great for parties and holiday celebrations. This sangria is pretty simple – you don’t need a ton of equipment or a fancy bar kit to make this cocktail.

Cranberry Sangria Ingredients

First assemble the following ingredients:

• Cinnamon Sticks (4) -adds warm, cozy spices and a subtle wood aroma.
• Ground Nutmeg (1 tsp) -brings a nutty fragrant depth that rounds out the tart cranberry.
• Ground Ginger (1 tsp) – adds a bright zest kick and gentle heat.
• Star of Anise pods (3) – imparts a licorice-like sweetness and aromatic complexity.
• Bottle of white wine – provides the base acidity and fruity character that ties all flavors together.
• Cranberry juice (1 cup) – boosts tartness and intensifies the cranberry flavor for a more vibrant taste.
• Apple juice (1 cup) – adds sweetness, fruitiness, and a smoother, mellow finish.
• Fresh cranberries (1 cup) – Adds bursts of tangy flavor and texture as they soften and release their juices.

My Pro Tip

Spice Mix Tip

You can use Mulling spices instead of the spices listed. Use 1-2 teaspoons of Aspen Mulling Spices, taste, and add more to fit your tastes.

Steps to Make Cranberry Flavored Sangria

Once you have assembled the ingredients, use this method:

Assemble Sangria

In a small pan, bring apple juice and cranberry juice just to a boil with cinnamon and spices. Remove from heat immediately and let cool in pan before pouring into pitcher, about 10 minutes.

Tips and Tricks for Seasonal Sangria

Cranberries. Always use fresh cranberries. If they are not in season you can often find them frozen whole. I buy extra around the Holidays and freeze them.

Citrus. Add lots of citrus for a wonderful brightness and an extra kick. I like adding oranges or blood oranges in particular.

Wine. Go for a dry to semi-sweet wine like a Rioja or Merlot to balance the cranberries tartness.

Sparkle. Add some sparkling water, la croix, or ginger ale when serving for an extra fiz.

Sweeten. You can sweeten this drink with some honey or simple syrup. Don’t add any sugar until you have tasted it.

Other Easy Drinks You’ll Love

Sangria is one of our favorite things to make during the holidays – it is colorful, fun, festive – and so easy to make!

To find some of our favorite wine drinks, like this delicious Port and Tonic, or Traditional French Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine) Recipe, or even our Wine Grilled Cheese.

We love celebrating with some fun, vibrant cocktails – like our Boozy Negroni Gummy Bears, RumChata Hot Cocoa, or Easy Samoa Martinis – and hope these simple and delicious cocktails help you get in the mood to celebrate!

If you love this Christmas Sangria recipe, be sure to check out more of our favorite easy drinks:

For an etched glass pitcher with lid, click here.

Mulled Beer Recipe

Mulled Simple Syrup Recipe

Mulled Cranberry Cider

Best Mulled Cider Ever

Easy Apple Cider Mojitos Recipe

Easy Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Punch

Easy Peach Simple Syrup Recipe

You can find our complete cocktail archive page here.

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Cranberry Sangria FAQ’s

This sangria is designed to be made before a party or dinner – it tastes better if it sits for at least an hour before serving, so the flavor can fully develop.
You can make this sangria up to a day ahead of serving – simply store in a jar, or pitcher with a lid, in the refrigerator.

Yes just use white grape juice instead of white wine.