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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 it’s the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail!
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 or club soda.
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 apple slices, orange slices, and pomegranate seeds. You can really use any mix of autumn fruits you love, fresh cranberries would be great. 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 Thanksgiving sangria recipe to share with guests!
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.
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!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Can I sub ginger ale or sprite for ginger beer? Or club soda? Which would be best?
Hey Amanda,
Sure, either of those would work well for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi! For some reason I can’t find apple or pumpkin butter! Do you have any thoughts on a substitute that might work? Thanks!!
Hey Kathleen,
I have recipes for both:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/6-ingredient-spiced-pumpkin-butter/
Please let me know if you have any other questions, cheers! xTieghan
Hi there!
Is it best to make this the morning of? Or Can I make this a day ahead of time? If a few more than 24 hrs ahead of time will the alcohol take over too much while sitting?
Hey Shannon,
You can make this a day in advance, just save anything bubbly for right before serving. I hope you love the recipe, cheers! xTieghan
Looks delicious. And way simpler (but equally elaborate result) than some others.
My crowd is a red wine-drinking group. If I exchanged white for red, any other suggested tweaks?
Thank you so much! And that sub sounds delish! xTieghan
This sounds delicious! What do you use for brandy in this recipe? I am not really familiar with tasty brandy. Also, do you use plain cider or mulled cider?
Thank you!
Hey Barbara! I use Hennessy for the brandy! And then I love mulled cider. Hope that helps and enjoy the sangria! xx
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was super delicious! My family loved it, thank you!
That is so amazing to hear! Thank you for trying this one, Maddy! xTieghan
I have a bottle of blackberry brandy at home, will that go well with this?
Hello, how do you make mulled cider? Do you add it to the sangria after it cools? Thank you
Hi Denise,
Sorry, I have never made mulled cider, I just use apple cider for this recipe. Cheers! xTieghan
This was such a huge hit in my home! So yummy and super easy! Will definitely become a Thanksgiving staple
Thank you so much Kyleigh! xTieghan
Can’t wait to make this for thanksgiving! What is a good substitute for blood oranges? My grocery store doesn’t have them.
Hey Courtney,
You can just use a regular orange. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this for Friendsgiving and it was gone in no time! Making again for thanksgiving this week! Does the star anise really flavor it if you leave it in? I kept it out since I can’t stand the taste but love it the way it looks.
Hey Anna,
You can skip the star anise:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Is ginger beer alcoholic? And can I use apple vodka??
Hey Karla,
Ginger Beer is not alcoholic and yes that would be fun! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Hi! Just curious for the pumpkin butter…will it end up sitting at the bottom of the bowl/pitcher? Or does it mix well with the rest of the ingredients?
Thanks 🙂
Hey Betsy,
The pumpkin butter will mix well with the rest of the ingredients. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
For the pumpkin butter, what should the consistency be for it when adding it to the sangria? Want to make sure it mixes in well!
Hey Bridget,
It should be like a thick jam. I hope you love the recipe, Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Do you think this would taste ok if I swapped out the apple cider for cranberry juice?
Hey Hallie,
Yes I think that would be okay! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
How far ahead can you make the sangria? I’d like to put separate servings in jars to give for a zoom thanksgiving (due to COVID). What would be the best way to do this? Thanks!
Hey Carrie,
You can make this a day or two in advance. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi, what do you recommend to make this non alcoholic?
Thanks!
Hey Michelle,
I would use sparkling water or ginger beer. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Planning on making this soon! Do you know how much it will make fluid wise, or like to fill one of those big cocktail dispensers, would you recommend doubling it?
Hey Samantha,
I would probably double:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
A. Maze. Ing. Shut my book club up for a while which is a tremendous compliment! Going to make it again for Thanksgiving!
I am so happy this turned out so well for you, Marisa! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan