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My go-to Thanksgiving Sangria – to kick off a night with family and friends. This is one of my favorite festive pitcher style drinks to serve up this November. White wine mixed with cider, brandy, pumpkin butter, citrus, spices, and a splash of ginger beer. It’s a touch sweet, refreshing, so easy to make, and perfect for both Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving gatherings!
Happy first Saturday of November everyone! Stopping in for a quick cocktail Saturday post to officially kick off the holiday season! Crazy that November is already here! We have a very full month ahead, stocked with delicious Thanksgiving recipes and quick weeknight dinners. But first, a cocktail to celebrate the season!
Over the years I’ve made a few Sangria recipes, this Christmas Sangria being one of my favorites to date. I’ve known for about a month now that I wanted to create a Thanksgiving Sangria. I figured if Christmas has its own Sangria, then Thanksgiving needs one too!
Enter today’s recipe. It’s the EASIEST pitcher cocktail to throw together. You can make it up to a day in advance and it’s pretty festive too. Especially when served in this pumpkin punch bowl with accompanying seamless pumpkin wine glasses.
Here is how you make this sangria.
Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl. Chill until ready to serve. Top off with ginger beer.
DONE.
I mean, how easy is that?!?
The Secret?
Using a mix of white wine, apple cider, and brandy, then stirring in spiced pumpkin butter or apple butter. I prefer using spiced pumpkin butter, but only because I find it a little more appropriate for Thanksgiving. Either pumpkin butter or apple butter works great, and both add just the right amount of spice and sweetness to your sangria.
For my mix of fruit, I used sliced apples, blood oranges, and pomegranates. You can really use any mix of autumn fruits you love. But I found these particularly pretty, and they pair deliciously with the flavors in the wine and cider.
And then, the ginger beer. My complete obsession. I love topping all cocktails with just a little ginger beer. I find it adds the perfect amount of spice to every cocktail.
I’m excited to be including this in my 2019 Thanksgiving menu that will be coming in just about a week!
This is the perfect make-ahead party Sangria for both Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving!
Tip? Test this sangria out tonight. You know…just to be sure it’s Thanksgiving ready….hey, it’s a fun drink for the first Saturday of November too. Enjoy!
If you make this Thanksgiving Sangria, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Thanksgiving Sangria.
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 219 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 (750 ml) bottle dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup pumpkin butter (or apple butter)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2-4 tablespoons pure maple syrup, using more or less to your taste
- 2 honeycrisp apples, sliced
- 2 blood oranges, sliced
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1-2 (12 ounce) ginger beers
- star anise, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, combine all the ingredients except the ginger beer. Stir and then place in the fridge until chilled.2. Before serving, add the ginger beer. Fill each glass with ice and pour the sangria over the ice. If desired top with more ginger beer. Drink up!
If I leave out the white wine and brandy, what else should I change or add to make a non alcoholic version of this? I want to keep an option for people who dont drink.
Hey Maddy,
I would use a mixture of apple cider and sparkling water. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi there! I have a bottle of Dewar’s white label. Would I be able to use this in place of the Brandy?
Hey Carlye,
Yes that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this for Thanksgiving this year (2019), it was fabulous! Everyone loved it! A few days before, I made the apple cider then the pumpkin butter that is used in this recipe. The apple cider is the best I have ever had!
That is so great! Thank you so much for trying this Janet! xTieghan
I made this Sangria for Thanksgiving and it was EXCELLENT! My family requested I make this again today so I did! I used your pumpkin butter recipe. It is PERFECT – Thank You!!!
Thank you Debra! I am so glad you all enjoyed this! xTieghan
Made this drink for Thanksgiving! LOVED it! Thank you so much!
Thank you Aline! xTieghan
This turned out great! I improvised slightly on the amounts, but overall kept to your recipe. So festive! Loved the apple, blood orange, and pomegranate combo!
Thank you Krista! xTieghan
Honestly one of the best Sangrias I’ve had! My family agreed. I couldn’t find pumpkin butter but the apple butter worked beautifully. I also left out the maple syrup since the cider, fruit and ginger beer make it sweet enough for my taste. Soo good! The cinnamon flavor and the subtle spiciness from the ginger beer paired with the apple makes for a delicious fall drink. Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
Thank you for trying this Elizabeth! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Thank you, Tieghan! Recipe was a hit! Dangerously delicious and crowd pleaser. I ended up using navel oranges (since we didnt have any blood oranges in my area), worked very well. That apple brandy was the perfect touch. Definitely will be a repeat fall/winter recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Ashley!! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
I have this chilling in the fridge as I type this for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I tasted it and it’s amazing!!
That is so great to hear! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holly! xTieghan
I served this for a happy hour with friends to rave reviews! It’s a perfect blend of sweet and holiday spice – and the ginger beer provides just the right balance. Highly recommend!
Thank you Ashley! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Delicious & refreshing with the ginger beer. I tested this weekend in prpearation for Thanksgiving. Love it! Thanks!
Hello! Love all your recipes I have tried! I am planning on making this recipe for this Thanksgiving, but cant seem to find any blood oranges in my area. Is there a substitute that could be used that you would recommend? Thank you!
Hey Ashley!! You can use grapefruit slices or even just a regular orange! Either option is great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
Would bourbon be an okay replacement for the brandy?
Thanks!
Shalene
HI! Yes, bourbon will be so great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan
I made this for my husband’s 50th birthday party and had to make another batch! People LOVED it– even my friends who are wine purists, were just amazed by it. Thanks so much for the special touch it gave!
I am so glad everyone loved this Callie! Thank you so much! Happy Birthday to him! xTieghan
What kind of brandy do you recommend?
Hi Abbey! I love using apple brandy, but also love something darker like gran duque de alba. I recommend using a brandy you have enjoyed previously. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan