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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.
Hi! I am so excited to try this for Friendsgiving next weekend. I don’t have a pretty way to display this (I don’t have a punch bowl or drink dispenser) so i was thinking I’d just keep it in the fridge and serve to people
In glasses. Since it won’t be displayed is there any reason to use the oranges/apple/pomegranate? Does the fruit add flavor or just
Make it look pretty? Thanks! 🙂
Hey Lexie,
Fruit is a huge part of sangria, so I would definitely use it if you can:) I hope you love this recipe! Cheers! xx
Hi there!
Can you advise which brand of ginger beer and brandy you used?
Excited to try!
Thanks in advance!
Hey Denae,
I love the Bundaberg ginger beer brand and for brandy I like Remy Martin. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
What ingredients would you use to make it non-alcoholic?
Hey Susan,
Can you use a non-alcoholic wine? I think that would be best for sangria. If not, I would try one of these mock-tail recipes:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cider-punch/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/spiced-cranberry-thyme-moscow-mule/
I hope this helps!! xx
If I’m mixing these one at a time, about what would the proportions be – I’m thinking maybe two parts mix to one part ginger beer?
Hi Aimee,
So sorry, I’m not sure what you are asking? Could you use make the whole batch and serve them up from there? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Hello, can I make this the night before? Can’t wait to try it! My first sangria!
Hey Stacy,
Sure, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! Cheers!! xx
Made your thanksgiving sangria this weekend to try it out. It was delicious and everyone liked it. I used sliced pears also and your pumpkin butter (which is fabulous.) So good! Needless to say it will be served at our Thanksgiving. I love all your recipes, btw.
Hey Doranne,
Happy Monday!! 🍁 Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for making it! xT
Trying out the recipe for a Friendsgiving. Where did you get the pumpkin dispenser?
Hey AJ,
Here is the link:
https://rstyle.me/+OYrDui_-wNKMPepw3RBgSQ
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi, could I use bourbon instead of brandy?
Thank you!
Hi Diane,
Sure, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Could you sub out the ginger beer for ginger ale?
Hi Justine,
Sure, that would work for you! I hope you love this recipe! Cheers!
I made this for Thansgiving to give the adults a nice “treat” between plates and it was a hit, my mother even commented how she never had ginger beer before and how nice the flavor offset the brandy. I love your recipes thanks for creating them ❤
Hi Nakia,
Happy Sunday! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
We all enjoyed this for Thanksgiving breakfast. Thank you!
Whoops, not breakfast! We had the apple dutch baby for breakfast! 🙂 BUT, we loved the Sangria in the afternoon!
Hi Lisa,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Loved it! Ran out of dry white and topped it with dry Champagne, just as delicious!
Hi Dinah,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
This was easy to make and delicious! I had to try it before making it for Thanksgiving and I am definitely adding it to my menu this year!
Hey Laura,
Happy Sunday! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! xTieghan
Did a taste test before Thanksgiving. Oh my goodness this is delicious. I did the apple butter since I couldn’t find the pumpkin butter. I didn’t add the maple syrup, it was already sweet enough for me. Did fresh pomegranate, and added fresh cranberries for more color. Had others taste test and loved it! Cant wait to pass it out this Thursday.
Hey Patricia,
Happy Sunday! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! xTieghan
can you use red wine?
Hey there,
Yes, red wine will also work. Cheers!
Hello, is it better to make it the night before so it mixes better or doesn’t matter?
Thanks!
Hey Anthony,
It really doesn’t matter, day of is just fine too! I hope you love the recipe, cheers! xTieghan
This recipe sounds so good, I am going to be making it this weekend. What other alcohols can you use to replace the brandy?
Hey Haley,
You could use whiskey or rum in place of the brandy. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try. Cheers! xTieghan