thanksgiving sangria
It’s practically November so let’s get our Thanksgiving on, folks!
Howdy and happy Friday! Most importantly, Happy Halloween! As an adult I haven’t really embraced Halloween so much, even though our weather is absolutely divine this year. My only real observance of the occasion is all the sale candy I find over the few days succeeded Halloween. Reese’s pumpkins, anyone?
So, for those of us jumping into Thanksgiving prep mode (I’ve been at that point since the beginning of the month), I’ve got us a beautiful sangria to share. This is such an easy and gorgeous pitcher, one not just for the holiday itself but any hosting event you may have or attend this season.
Sangria is wonderful this time of year because of its natural big-batch nature, and to make a quality pitcher you needn’t indulge in the highest-quality wines. In fact, a cheap-ass bottle of Trader Joes’ generic sauvignon blanc is my go-to for each white sangria recipe I share, and it costs less than $5.
I dunno about ya’ll, but that makes my budget very happy indeed.
Give Thanks for Sangria
I don’t have much direction to give you today, just a few tips and tricks.
All you need to do is find a good-sized serving pitcher and stir together the following: apple cider, cranberry juice, bourbon, Cointreau, white wine, a couple sliced apples, some pomegranate arils, a few cinnamon sticks, and a couple star anise pods. Cover and pop in the fridge at least 2 hours to chill, for up to overnight.
Now, if you’d like to prep the sangria ahead, you can do so up to three days in advance, but omit the fruit and spices. Add those no sooner than 1 day prior to serving. The fruits will be edible, but they’ll absorb the colors and flavors of the juices and alcohol and might look a little goofy to guests. Best keep it fresh if you can.
For serving, I like to slice up a couple more apples to garnish each glass, and keep a bowl of pomegranate arils out, too, for a pretty little pop. Nothing fancy, but definitely pretty enough for a party.
Enjoy the weekend, friends! Stay safe and have fun with your Halloween festivities, designate a driver or take a rideshare if needed, and watch out for pedestrians everywhere you drive. For myself, I’ll be prepping for a Saturday 10K race so no late night in my vision. But that ain’t unusual anyway cos I’m an old hag.
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
More cozy sangrias to try:
thanksgiving sangria
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup Cointreau (orange liqueur)
- 1 bottle white wine of choice (I like a sauvignon blanc)
- 2 apples, sliced
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise pods
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir to incorporate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.
- When reach to serve, garnish glasses with additional apple slices and pomegranate arils, as desired.
