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From the first time I took a sip of a Caramel Apple Sangria while out to dinner with friends, I knew I had to recreate it at home. Not only did I nail it, but this is the best sangria I have ever tasted. It tastes just like an apple pie! Best of all, it needs just 15 minutes of prep.
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What apples should I use for sangria?
For this sangria with apples, use a mix of green and red apples for a good balance of sweet and tart. Honeycrisp and Granny Smith make a perfect match for sangria, but you could also use Fuji, Pink Lady, Gala for red apples, and Crispin or Rhode Island Greening for green.
Can I make non-alcoholic apple sangria?
If you want to make any sangria non-alcoholic, including this caramel apple sangria, all you have to do is swap out the alcohol for an alcohol-free alternative, such as any non-alcoholic dry white wine (non-alcoholic Pinot Grigio is best).
Sparkling apple cider is already alcohol-free, so the only replacement needed is for the wine. Then, everyone can enjoy this tasty caramel apple cider sangria!
How to Make Caramel Apple Sangria
- Core each apple and slice lengthwise.
- In a large pitcher, add Pinot Grigio, sparkling apple cider, and pure maple syrup. Then, add the chopped apples, and stir to combine.
- Let sit in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- To prepare the serving glasses for the apple sangria, dip the rim of each glass into the caramel apple dip.
- Next, dip each rim into the sugar. Lastly, pour the sangria into each glass and serve.
Tips for Making Caramel Apple Sangria
- Use the right wine: The best wines for sangria are dry to semi-sweet wines. For this recipe, I use Pinot Grigio, as it is a dry, semi-sweet white wine. I tend to use dry white wines in all of my sangria recipes, but for red wine sangrias, look for Spanish wines like Grenache.
- Make it ahead of time: Simply make it a day or two in advance as instructed and keep it in the fridge. It will taste even better after it has time to sit!
- Apple cider vs. sparkling apple cider: If you cannot find sparkling apple cider, use regular apple cider and add a half cup of sparkling water.
- What apples to use: Crisp apples are always best. I recommend Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, but there are other options.
- Use pure maple syrup: Be sure to use pure maple syrup. The difference in flavor is noticeable!
How long should caramel apple sangria set?
I always recommend making this easy fall sangria recipe ahead of time for two reasons:
- It needs time for the flavors to come together and marinate. It is ready when it sits in the refrigerator for at least one hour ahead of time, but ideally, four hours is just perfect!
- When hosting a party, I love anything I can make ahead of time and bring it out when my guests arrive. This is the perfect fall cocktail recipe to do that with. Serve it for Thanksgiving or Halloween parties!
FAQ
It is usually sold in plastic containers in the refrigerated section in the produce section of your local grocer. It's delicious for dipping apple slices in and of course, the rims of glasses!
If you can't find it, you can use caramel sauce which also works well.
The best wines for Sangria are dry to semi-sweet. Because of the addition of other sweeteners and fresh fruit, you want the wine to bring a dry crispness to the drink to balance the sweetness. Pinot Grigio or a Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect choice for this apple sangria as it's a dry, semi-sweet white wine. Riesling also works well.
It's best to leave fruit in Sangria for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours, or even overnight. The more time you give those flavors to meld, the better! It will last up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator before the fruit begins to break down. If you want to store it for that long, I recommend removing the fruit before that happens.
What goes with caramel apple sangria?
- Caramel Apple Empanadas - the BEST pairing for this sangria recipe are our caramel apple empanadas! These little apple hand pies are scrumptious and will have you smiling with every bite.
- Candied Bacon - the sweet, savory and spiciness in this fun appetizer is a perfect balance for this sweet sangria.
- Baked Apple Pork Chops - the apple flavors in each recipe pair nicely together!
- Charcuterie Board - wine cocktails go great with charcuterie boards!
Apple Sangria
After making this caramel apple sangria for the first time, I knew I had to share it with everyone. It was just too good to keep to myself. What better way to share than over the holidays?
As it turns out, caramel apple sangria makes the perfect Thanksgiving sangria. Pair it with my classic roasted turkey and holiday sides, and you have the perfect menu... in fact, I promise it will be the hit of the entire meal!
With a rim dipped in caramel and coconut sugar, every sip is sweet and filled with warm fall flavors. That's why I call it my Apple Pie Sangria - it's so delicious, that you could almost consider it dessert!
You'll only need a handful of ingredients to make it, too, and it only needs 1 hour to chill. Serve it up for a party, and enjoy!
Caramel Apple Sangria
Equipment
- 1 pitcher
Ingredients
- 2 red apples - cored and sliced
- 2 green apples - cored and sliced
- 1 bottle Pinot Grigio
- 2 cups sparkling apple cider
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup caramel apple dip
- 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar
Instructions
- Core each apple and slice lengthwise.2 red apples,2 green apples
- In a large pitcher, add the bottle of Pinot Grigio, sparkling apple cider, and pure maple syrup. Then, add the sliced apples and stir to combine.1 bottle Pinot Grigio,2 cups sparkling apple cider,¼ cup pure maple syrup
- Add the sangria to the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 1 hour.
- To prepare the serving glasses for the apple sangria, dip the rim of each short glass into the caramel apple dip. Next, dip each rim into the coconut sugar. Serve, and enjoy!1 cup caramel apple dip,2 Tablespoons coconut sugar
Notes
-
- Use the right wine: The best wines for sangria are dry to semi-sweet wines. For this recipe, I use Pinot Grigio, as it is a dry, semi-sweet white wine. I tend to use dry white wines in all of my sangria recipes, but for red wine sangrias, look for Spanish wines like Grenache.
-
- Make it ahead of time: Simply make it a day or two in advance as instructed and keep it in the fridge. It will taste even better after it has time to sit!
-
- Apple cider vs. sparkling apple cider: If you cannot find sparkling apple cider, use regular apple cider and add a half cup of sparkling water.
-
- What apples to use: Crisp apples are always best. I recommend Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, but there are other options.
-
- Use pure maple syrup: Be sure to use pure maple syrup. The difference in flavor is noticeable!
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