Why I love this pumpkin sangria recipe
Sangria is one of my favorite cocktails to serve for a party because you can make a whole pitcher ahead of time instead of mixing drinks as people arrive.
This pumpkin sangria takes that same easy-to-serve format and gives it all the flavors of fall, with a fruity base, warm spices and just enough pumpkin to make it feel seasonal.
Since it can be mixed ahead of time, there’s very little left to do when you’re ready to serve it.
Add the sparkling cider at the end to give it some fizz, and you have a festive fall cocktail that works just as well for Thanksgiving as it does for a casual get-together.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 12 6-ounce servings):
- Alcohol – 4½ cups (about 1½ 750-mL bottles) dry white wine, 1 cup spiced rum. I used Pinot Grigio, but any white wine that you like will work.
- Syrup – 1 cup pumpkin syrup*. For the best flavor, try to find one that uses pumpkin puree, rather than just pumpkin spice seasoning.
- Mixer – 1 750-mL bottle sparkling apple cider
- Fresh produce – 2 to 3 red apples. I used gala apples.
- Flavoring – ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- Spices – 1 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice, 3 to 4 Cinnamon sticks plus more for garnish
Substitutions & Additions
- You can eliminate the vanilla and pumpkin pie spice if you don’t want too much of a pumpkin pie flavor.
- Replace the spiced rum with fireball whiskey (for a cinnamon twist) or bourbon (for a stronger flavor).
How to make pumpkin sangria
1 | Prep work
Wash and core the apples.
Then cut them into slices that will fit easily in the pitcher.
If you are making the recipe ahead of time, wait until close to serving time to slice the apples to use for garnish. Otherwise, they will turn brown.
2 | Mix the sangria
Pour 4½ cups white wine, 1 cup spiced rum and 1 cup pumpkin syrup into a large pitcher.
Make sure your pitcher is big enough to hold this plus the sparkling apple cider that will be added later.
Add the sliced apples, 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice, ½ teaspoon vanilla and 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks to the pitcher.
Stir until the pumpkin syrup is evenly mixed into the wine, cider, and rum rather than settling at the bottom.
Do not add ice to the pitcher as it will melt and water down your drink.3 | Chill
Cover and put the pitcher in the refrigerator.
Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. This will allow the flavors to blend.
4 | Garnish and serve
Just before serving, add the bottle of sparkling apple cider to the pitcher.
To serve, fill each cocktail glass with ice and add 3 to 4 apple slices.
Pour in the pumpkin sangria.
Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!
Storage
Store leftover sangria covered in the refrigerator.
The sparkling apple cider will gradually lose its carbonation, so the sangria is best served relatively soon after it is mixed.
Pumpkin Sangria
Ingredients
- 4½ cups (about 1½ 750-mL bottles) white wine
- 1 cup spiced rum
- 1 cup pumpkin syrup
- 2 to 3 red apples plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- 3 to 4 Cinnamon sticks plus more for garnish
- 1 750-mL bottle (about 3 cups) sparkling apple cider
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
- large pitcher
- cocktail glasses
Instructions
- Pour 4½ cups white wine, 1 cup spiced rum and 1 cup pumpkin syrup into your pitcher.4½ cups (about 1½ 750-mL bottles) white wine, 1 cup spiced rum, 1 cup pumpkin syrup
- Add the sliced apples, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks. Stir to combine.2 to 3 red apples, 1 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice, ½ teaspoon Vanilla, 3 to 4 Cinnamon sticks
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Just before serving, add 3 cups sparkling apple cider to the pitcher.1 750-mL bottle (about 3 cups) sparkling apple cider
- To serve, add ice and 3 to 4 apple slices to each cocktail glass. Then fill with sangria.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!
Notes
- Replace the spiced rum with Fireball whiskey (for a cinnamon twist) or bourbon, if desired.
- Eliminate the pumpkin pie spice and vanilla if you want less of a pumpkin pie flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Have comments or questions about our pumpkin sangria recipe? Tell us in the section below.