Thanksgiving Sangria is an ideal make-ahead cocktail for holiday gatherings. Ready in about 5 minutes, it brings bright, festive flavors and serves a crowd with minimal effort.
Super Easy Holiday Sangria
If tequila isn’t your thing, this Thanksgiving Sangria is a festive alternative. Sangria feels a bit sophisticated thanks to red wine, but it’s effortless to make, can be prepared ahead of time, and yields plenty for a party.
This recipe is a hands-off host favorite. It combines a sweeter red wine with cranberry juice for seasonal brightness, plus rum or vodka and triple sec for depth. A splash of sparkling water adds effervescence, and fresh fruit provides color and flavor.
This sangria pairs well with holiday appetizers and mains. It’s easy to scale and customize—swap juices, adjust sweetness, or add warming spices for a fall twist.
Recipe Ingredients
- Red Wine – Choose a fruit-forward, not overly dry red (red blend or zinfandel work well).
- Cranberry Cocktail Juice – For a holiday touch. Pomegranate juice can be substituted.
- Rum or Vodka – Use whichever spirit you prefer.
- Triple Sec – An orange liqueur adds citrus sweetness.
- Sparkling Water – Provides fizz. Club soda works too; use soda (Sprite, Squirt, ginger ale/beer) for a sweeter finish.
- Fruit – Garnish with apples, oranges, pomegranate seeds, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks if desired.
See the recipe card below for exact measurements and full details.
Serving suggestions
Pair this sangria with other festive recipes or appetizers to round out your menu. Consider serving it alongside seasonal starters or using holiday-themed ice cubes and garnishes to make the presentation pop.
How to Make This Thanksgiving Sangria Recipe
1. Fill a large pitcher or punch bowl with ice. Open a bottle of red wine and pour it into the pitcher.
2. Add cranberry juice, rum (or vodka), and triple sec. Stir gently with a wooden spoon. Slowly top with sparkling water, then juice about ½ an orange into the mixture.
3. Garnish with fresh orange and apple slices, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks for extra aroma and color.
4. Serve immediately over ice or refrigerate for a few hours so the fruit soaks up the flavors. Adjust by adding more cranberry juice or sparkling water if you prefer a milder or sweeter drink.
Expert Tips
- Use seasonal fruit to enhance color and flavor; apples, oranges, pomegranate seeds, and cranberries work exceptionally well.
- For a festive rim, dip glasses in honey and then in a cinnamon-sugar mix before pouring the sangria.
- To highlight warming flavors, add whole spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, or a small piece of fresh ginger to the pitcher.
Recipe FAQs
Store sangria in the refrigerator in a covered pitcher for up to 3 days. The carbonation will fade over time, so add sparkling water just before serving if you want more fizz. Keep ice out until serving to avoid dilution.
Avoid very dry reds like Cabernet Sauvignon. Choose a fruit-forward, slightly sweeter red such as a red blend or Zinfandel for best results. You can also experiment with lighter wines for a different style.
Make it sweeter by using a sweeter wine, replacing sparkling water with soda (Sprite, Squirt, or ginger ale), adding simple syrup, or increasing the triple sec while reducing spirits.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Cranberry Apple Muffins
Sourdough Stuffing
The Best Cocktail Recipes for Thanksgiving
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating and a comment in the recipe card below. Thanks for visiting!
Print
Pin Recipe
Thanksgiving Sangria
Equipment
- Pitcher
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
- Wine opener
- Juicer
- Cutting board & knife
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine (red blend or zinfandel; not too dry)
- 12 oz cranberry juice (or pomegranate)
- 1/2 cup rum or vodka
- 1/2 cup triple sec
- 16 oz sparkling water
- Juice of 1/2 orange
- 2 cups ice
- Apple slices, orange slices, cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- Add ice to a pitcher or punch bowl. Uncork a bottle of red wine and pour it into the pitcher.
- Add cranberry juice, rum (or vodka), and triple sec. Stir with a wooden spoon.
- Slowly pour in sparkling water, then juice ½ an orange into the pitcher.
- Garnish with orange slices, sliced apples, and cranberries.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for a few hours so the fruit absorbs the flavors. Adjust sweetness or strength with extra cranberry juice or sparkling water as needed. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
If the sangria tastes too strong, add extra cranberry juice or sparkling water. For a sweeter cocktail try a sweeter wine, swap sparkling water for soda (Sprite, Squirt, or ginger ale), or add simple syrup.
more of our favorite Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes…
- Thanksgiving Margarita
- Apple Pie Cocktail
- Thanksgiving Sangria
- Crown Apple Mixed Drinks
- Champagne Punch with Pomegranates
- Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
- Festive Cranberry Fizz Cocktail
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
Search “A Paige Of Positivity” for THANKSGIVING SANGRIA to find calories and nutrition facts. For the most accurate macronutrient breakdown, enter each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal diary.
Note: The post includes guidance on counting alcohol in macros. If tracking macros, follow your preferred method for accounting for alcohol calories.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Share what you loved or say hi!