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!
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.
- 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.
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.
More Fruity Cocktail Recipe Ideas to Enjoy
- Red Death Martini Cocktail
- Blackberry Bourbon Smash
- Royal Apple Pomegranate Cocktail
- Christmas Punch
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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Caramel Apple Sangria
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.
Breana says
Omg will try this recipe and also love those glasses ! Where did you buy them?
Rachel says
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.
Steph says
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?
Rachel says
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!
Tina says
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
Kimberly Dziobak says
I’m not a big vodka fan, so I subbed in spiced rum and it was delicious!! Thank you for a great recipe!!
Shauna D. Freeman says
With some Sangrias you can let sit overnight…..can this sit overnight for better flavor?
Rachel says
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.
Gwen says
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!!!!
Rachel says
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.
Anne says
I’m a sucker for sangria. This caramel apple twist has me looking forward to sweater weather.
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I hope I could find all the ingredients to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing!