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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Published: Sep 7, 2020 · Modified: Nov 3, 2022 by Rachel

    Caramel Apple Sangria

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
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    Caramel Apple Sangria is the perfect fall sangria! In fact, it’s as easy as apple pie and tastes like it too! With apple cider and a sugared rim, this cocktail is perfect for adult gatherings and apple slices make it pretty too!

    Several glasses of Caramel Apple Sangria with apple slices and rosemary garnish
    Contents show
    1 Ingredients and Substitutions
    2 Single Serving Sangria Recipe
    3 Tips for Making the Best Apple Sangria
    4 How To Rim a Glass
    5 More Fruity Cocktail Recipe Ideas to Enjoy
    6 FAQs
    7 Caramel Apple Sangria
    7.1 Ingredients
    7.2 Instructions
    7.3 Notes
    7.4 Nutrition

    It’s no secret that I love making a festive sangria for all sorts of occasions. If you like pitcher sangria, then you need to make our Blackberry Sangria or Refreshing Strawberry Sangria.

    This fall just feels extra special. Like after the craziness of the rest of the year, I am down for a new season full of hope, cooler temperatures, and all things fall. The temperatures here have already started dropping to reasonable levels, and that put me in a mood for a good fall sangria drink.

    This sangria is just what the season calls for! It’s like a caramel apple cider with vodka – but better! Not only does it taste like fall, but it’s incredibly hard to not be cozy and nostalgic with the flavors like an adult apple pie!

    This easy pitcher sangria is great for a girl’s night and is going to be your new go to for the holidays – I know it is for me! But if you just want to enjoy a cute little cocktail on the back porch without making a whole pitcher, I have instructions for that below too.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Here is an overview of what you will need with notes on substitutions where applicable.

    Boozy apple cider sangria ingredients.
    • Apple Cider: Any apple cider you like from the grocery store. If you like, you can also use a sparkling apple cider like in the photo above.
    • White Wine: Although Sangria is pretty forgiving for bargain wines, I would choose a wine you want to drink. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and a light Chardonnay are good choices.
    • 3-4 apples sliced thin: You can use whatever you like taste-wise or visually, but I like to add a mix of granny smith and honey crisp apples. Core and cut into thin slices.
    • Caramel Vodka: The caramel flavored liquor is what gives this sangria a flavorful edge above the rest. Both Stolichnaya and Smirnoff make a caramel vodka that is pretty common in liquor stores. You can also substitute caramel liqueur or a good bourbon if that’s what you have on hand. They will bring a slightly different flavor and it will be less caramel tasting.
    • Caramel Syrup: Ah, the best! It’s not quite as sweet as sugar and we use it here instead of simple syrup. Squeeze bottle or caramel sauce from the jar is fine.
    • Sugar for Rimming: (optional) It’s pretty and you can mix a touch of cinnamon in the sugar for added effect. Regular granulated white sugar is fine, or you can use turbinado sugar.
    • Rosemary Sprigs: (Optional) This is for garnish, not for the taste. You can also use cinnamon sticks and/or star of anise pods.

    It’s quite simple but you can see how it comes together in the video below.

    Single Serving Sangria Recipe

    You don’t have to invite a crowd over to enjoy sangria. I’ve included the recipe for a single glass instead of a whole pitcher.

    • 5 ounces apple cider (slightly over a half cup)
    • 1 ounce caramel flavored vodka (2 Tablespoons)
    • 3 ounces white wine (⅓ cup)
    • 1 ½ teaspoons caramel syrup
    • apple slices, thyme sprig and/or cinnamon stick for garnish.
    Glasses of Carmel Apple Sangria for Fall Cocktail garnished with Rosemary

    Tips for Making the Best Apple Sangria

    • Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or Riesling are excellent choices.
    • Buy a wine you like, but don’t waste an expensive bottle on sangria. An everyday grade of wine (around $7-10) is perfect.
    • You will need 1-750ml bottle of wine. I usually find smaller bottles, so I use two.
    • I chill all of my ingredients before starting the recipe, just to get a jump on keeping the cocktails cold for serving.
    • This recipe easily doubles! Keep the ingredients in the same proportions.
    • If you like a fizzy sangria, consider adding a sparkling apple cider.
    • Can be served immediately, but it is better to let the flavors mellow and mix for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.
    • I have not personally tried it, but I’m sure that this could be served hot, for a boozy apple cider. Test using one glass and let us know in the comments if you do!

    How To Rim a Glass

    Start by either swiping the rim with a fresh apple slice or pour a bit of sangria on the plate. Gently dip the rim of your glass in and swish it around to let the juice climb the sides. On another plate mix ¼ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional). Below is a demonstration from our delicious Watermelon Margaritas.

    Demonstration of salt rimming a cocktail glass. A glass is dipped into a plate filled with lime juice while another plate is filled with kosher sea salt.

    More Fruity Cocktail Recipe Ideas to Enjoy

    • Blackberry Sangria
    • Blackberry Bourbon Smash
    • Royal Apple Pomegranate Cocktail
    • Christmas Punch

    FAQs

    What is the best wine for sangria?

    Sangria is beautifully forgiving for whatever you choose. I definitely wouldn’t use the high dollar varieties however, as that would mostly be a waste. A good balance is choosing a bottle of wine that you would actually like to drink even if it wasn’t in a sangria.
    A drier white wine is best, like a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and a lighter bodied chardonnay are good choices for this sweeter sangria. You could even use a dry sparkling wine like Prosecco.

    How long does apple sangria last?

    Once opened, a light white wine can generally be stored for five to seven days in the refrigerator. However, the cut fruit starts to spoil earlier. It will also become mushy over several days. From the time you first mix a batch of sangria, plan to finish or discard it within three days.

    What fruit should I put in sangria?

    You can use almost any fruit in sangria, although it should reflect or enhance the same flavors as the sangria itself. I like to use cherries, peaches, apples, citrus, or strawberries sliced, and sometimes presented on a skewer.

    Cookbook cover of Chicken and Rice casserole. The cookbook is titled Weeknight Supper Solutions

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    More Cocktails to Try!

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    Apple cocktail with crown royal and pomegranate juice with apples and red striped straws for garnish.
    Crown Apple Cocktail
    Two glasses of rum and coke over ice with a maraschino cherry garnish.
    Red Death Cocktail
    Glass of Christmas Punch garnished with orange slices, pomegranate seeds, and rosemary sprigs.
    Christmas Punch

    PS. If you make this recipe, leave a COMMENT AND A STAR RATING in the comments section at the bottom and be sure to take a photo and tag it #cravingcreative on Instagram! I appreciate you for taking the time to read about me and my family recipes. 

    Side view of three glasses of caramel apple sangria on a rustic wood board. Cinnamon sticks lay around the glasses with slices of apple and herbs as garnish.

    Caramel Apple Sangria

    Caramel Apple Sangria is a light, cozy, delicious Sangria! This Fall Sangria Recipe is as easy as apple pie and tastes like it too! Flavors of apple cider, caramel vodka, and white wine make this cocktail as delicious as it is pretty.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: drink
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 glasses
    Calories: 293kcal
    Author: Rachel
    Cost: $18

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups Apple Cider
    • ¼ cup Caramel Syrup
    • 1 750ml White Wine Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or Riesling are excellent choices.
    • 1 cup Caramel Vodka Stolichnaya and Smirnoff make this flavor
    • 3 lg Honeycrisp or Gala apples sliced thin
    • 2 lg Granny Smith Apple sliced thin

    Garnishes (optional)

    • rosemary sprigs, star of anise pods, or cinnamon sticks
    • ½ cup granulated sugar (fine or coarse)
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Stir the apple cider and the caramel syrup until the syrup dissolves.
    • Core and cut the apples into thin slices and place in the bottom of your pitcher or jug.
    • Pour the wine, caramel vodka, and apple cider into a pitcher.
    • Stir for several minutes until all ingredients are well combined. You can serve it immediately, but it is best to sit for 1-2 hours in the fridge.
    • To rim glasses with sugar, pour a bit of the sangria on a plate. On another plate, put ¼ cup of white sugar. Stir ground cinnamon into sugar until well combined. Dip the edges of the glass into the sangria and then press the edges of the glass into the sugar.
    • Serve over ice and garnish individual glasses. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Buy a wine you like, but don’t waste an expensive bottle on Sangria. An every day grade of wine (around $7-10) is perfect.
    • You will need around 1-750ml of wine. I usually find smaller bottles, so I use two.
    • I chill all of my ingredients before starting the recipe, just to get a jump on keeping the cocktails cold for serving.
    • This recipe easily doubles! Keep the ingredients in the same proportions.
    • If you like a fizzy sangria, consider adding a sparkling apple cider.
    Store
    Once opened, a light white wine can generally be stored for five to seven days in the refrigerator. However, the cut fruit starts to spoil earlier and become mushy. I recommend straining out the fruit. From the time you first mix a batch of sangria, plan to finish or discard it within three days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8oz | Calories: 293kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @CravingCreative or tag #CravingSomeCreativity!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Breana says

      October 16, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      Omg will try this recipe and also love those glasses ! Where did you buy them?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        October 18, 2022 at 3:26 am

        It is delish! I get most of my glassware for food from thrift stores and yard sales, but this set from Target looks almost identical.

        Reply
    2. Steph says

      November 24, 2021 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      I am so excited to try this but I am having a heck of a time finding caramel vodka! Could I sub whipped vodka? Or maybe the spiced rum like one reviewer commented?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        November 24, 2021 at 10:35 pm

        I think the whipped vodka is a really interesting idea! Both Stolichnaya and Smirnoff make a caramel vodka if you have not looked for those brands specifically. I think either could definitely work even if not originally intended, but you may need to add some more caramel flavoring because the caramel vodka does enhance that flavor. I have not tried either, so I can’t promise, but do let us know if you try it!

        Reply
      • Tina says

        September 01, 2022 at 2:36 pm

        the carmel vodka is impossible to find in the fall or around the holidays! I saw it in July and grabbed a few bottles! You may want to call your local liquor stores before you run for it. I think the whipped, along with a bit more carmel syrup will be fine

        Reply
    3. Kimberly Dziobak says

      October 22, 2021 at 8:44 pm

      I’m not a big vodka fan, so I subbed in spiced rum and it was delicious!! Thank you for a great recipe!!

      Reply
    4. Shauna D. Freeman says

      October 21, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      With some Sangrias you can let sit overnight…..can this sit overnight for better flavor?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        October 22, 2021 at 3:46 pm

        It can be served immediately, but it is better to let the flavors mellow and chill for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. I wouldn’t necessarily call it better the next day, just the same. The vodka and apple cider do mix pretty well. However, I wouldn’t store it overnight with the fruit in it if you plan on making ahead. Fruit, not just apples, tends to become more mushy and won’t really add to the flavor over time.

        Reply
    5. Gwen says

      September 23, 2021 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      Just curious if the caramel syrup is the Hershey’s Caramel Syrup type or the Torani Caramel Syrup type? I’m REALLY looking forward to making this!!!!

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        September 24, 2021 at 4:10 pm

        I’m glad you asked this question! I was actually in the middle of updating this post with an ingredient image and additional tips, so perfect timing. I’ve used both the squeezable Hershey’s caramel and the Smucker’s variety that comes in a jar. It’s thicker which is why I mix it with the cider first. However, I bet Torani would be delicious too, and easier to mix. I will keep that in mind next time I make it.

        Reply
    6. Anne says

      October 11, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      I’m a sucker for sangria. This caramel apple twist has me looking forward to sweater weather.

      Reply
    7. hotmail email login says

      September 22, 2020 at 3:56 am

      5 stars
      I hope I could find all the ingredients to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

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