Caramel Apple Sangria is a light, refreshing, delicious, and easy fall sangria recipe that’s perfect for crowds. This apple pie sangria is made with apple cider, caramel vodka, white wine, ginger ale, cinnamon, and fresh fruit in a pitcher. I call this my Thanksgiving Sangria because it’s Autumn in a glass, and it’s always a hit on holidays!
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What’s in this Fall Sangria Recipe?
This apple sangria tastes like a slice of apple pie! You only need a few things to make this tasty caramel apple pitcher cocktail. It’s one of my favorite sangria recipes!
- Apple Cider: Apple cider creates a sweet, juicy, and fresh apple flavor for the base of this sangria. Use your favorite cider from the store or apple orchard, or try making Instant Pot apple cider.
- Wine: Use a white wine of your choosing–dry or sweet both work, depending on your taste preference. I recommend Pinot Grigio.
- Caramel Vodka: This is what adds that sweet caramel apple flavor to this cocktail. You can make this apple pie vodka instead.
- Apples: I love honeycrisp apples, but you can use your favorite type. These will sit in the pitcher of sangria and infuse more flavor.
- Pears: More fruit to infuse flavor into the sangria.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon sticks will infuse a warm spiced flavor just by sitting in the liquid.
- Ginger Ale: Ginger ale adds a bubbly texture and a kick of ginger flavor.
Pro Tip: If you like sweet wines, try this caramel apple sangria with moscato instead! You could also use a sparkling apple cider to increase the bubbly effect.
Can I make this apple sangria with regular vodka instead?
Absolutely! If you use a regular, unflavored vodka, you’ll still have a delicious apple pie sangria recipe. If you don’t have caramel vodka but still want that extra flavor, add a generous amount of caramel sauce or syrup at the bottom of the pitcher with the fresh fruit.
For best results, I recommend making a caramel simple syrup, or use a caramel flavored coffee syrup.
This caramel apple sangria can be made with whichever wine you prefer, but it will change the overall flavor. I recommend a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio. A sweet white wine like moscato or riesling will, obviously, make it taste much sweeter and fruitier. A sparkling white wine will add a fizzy component.
If apple juice is all you have, you can use it instead, but I highly recommend using apple cider for the best flavor. Cider and juice are made differently, so cider has a much deeper and more authentic apple flavor, while juice is much weaker.
In order for all of the ingredients to mix and meld together, I recommend refrigerating your apple pie sangria for at least 2 hours before serving. The longer it sits, the more the cinnamon and fresh fruit flavors will infuse into the liquid.
How to Make Ahead and Store
This caramel apple sangria needs time to “marinate” in the refrigerator, so it’s best to make it at least 2 hours ahead of serving time. Combine ingredients, stir, and simply let it sit in the fridge. Leave the ginger ale out until right before serving.
If you have leftovers, store the pitcher in the fridge up to 2 days. The ginger ale will lose its carbonation, but it will still taste yummy.
Serving Suggestions
This caramel apple pie sangria recipe tastes amazing with all your favorite apple desserts and dishes. Serve it along with apple baked brie, apple butter and skillet bread, apple cake, or apple crisp. For dinner, it pairs beautifully with apple butter pork chops or apple ginger glazed ham.
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Caramel Apple Sangria | Apple Pie Sangria
Ingredients
- 2 bottles white wine standard size white table wine or pinot grigio
- 5 cups fresh apple cider
- 1 cup caramel vodka (or make your own Apple Pie Vodka!) (see note)
- 4 honey crisp apples chopped
- 2 pears chopped
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cup ginger ale
Instructions
- Cut the fresh apples and pear, and place in the bottom of your pitcher or jug.4 honey crisp apples, 2 pears
- Add white wine, apple cider, caramel vodka into the pitcher, and stir well.2 bottles white wine, 5 cups fresh apple cider, 1 cup caramel vodka (or make your own Apple Pie Vodka!)
- Let sangria sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
- About 1 hour before serving, add the cinnamon sticks into the pitcher of sangria. Stir well and refrigerate.2 cinnamon sticks
- Stir in the ginger ale just before serving.2 cup ginger ale
- Serve chilled or over ice.
- Enjoy!
Video
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I can’t wait to try this, but I suggest you could improve this sangria in only one way. Use a REAL ginger ale instead of a cocktail mixer. Definitely Vernors or at the very least a ginger beer.
Thank you for the idea!
Plan to have this recipe for Book Club. Can it be made overnight or is that too long for the fruit to soak?
Is the apple cider alcoholic or plain apple cider you can buy in the store?
I just went ahead and bought plain apple cider at the store! :)
I am going to try and make this sangria next week for an open house. I went to the liquor store today and when I asked for “caramel vodka” they sold me Lovoka Caramel Liqueur. I didn’t even realize it was not a regular flavored vodka until I got home, opened it and tried it. I am assuming this will not work in the sangria (?)
Can you use prosseco instead of Pinot? For extra bubbles? Thanks :)
this is absolutely fantastic. we are on our second batch. didn’t add as much apple cider as the container we used couldn’t hold it all, but it was still wonderful
yay!!!
Our new Thanksgiving tradition! This is our 3rd year in a row. Thanks for the recipe. I like a little less sweet drink so I add club soda to mine and friends add ginger ale to theirs. I always use Pinot Grigio.
Love those suggestions! Happy Thanksgiving, makes me so happy you love the recipe :)
I make this every Thanksgiving! Love it.
Yay! Love to hear that. Happy Holidays
Thanks for sharing this important post with us.
Can you serve the Apple Pie Sangria warm?