Christmas Sangria
This easy Christmas Sangria recipe is a festive blend of red wine, pomegranate and citrus juices, amaretto, and cinnamon. It’s an irresistible holiday cocktail that truly tastes like Christmas in a glass!
The Best Christmas Sangria Recipe
Whenever I make this Christmas Sangria recipe I can’t help but say, “This tastes just like Christmas!” I love how the ruby-colored, jammy red wine plays with the fresh, bright flavors of the pomegranate, orange, and lime juices. And a touch of amaretto liqueur and cinnamon syrup take this Christmas holiday sangria’s festivity to new heights. This is an easy make-ahead, big-batch cocktail that’s perfect for all your holiday get-togethers!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Christmas Drink
This holiday cocktail recipe has been a favorite addition to my other sangria recipes, so lovely for this time of year. Here’s why you’ll love this Christmas sangria recipe:
- So easy. Sangrias are so easy to make. Just add everything to a pitcher, stir, and chill.
- Great to make ahead. Every sangria benefits from spending some in the fridge, to let the flavors mingle. This makes it a great make-ahead option.
- Looks & tastes like Christmas! Yes, I just have to say that again! From the robust red wine, to the fresh juices and fruits, to the cinnamon and lovely almond-flavored liqueur, this gorgeous, festive drink was made for the holidays!
What You’ll Need
Here’s an overview of the ingredients in this recipe for Christmas sangria. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.
- Red wine – Choose a red wine that’s dry and robust with big fruit flavors. I like to use Rough & Ready red wine blend “Cab Franc vs. Cab Sauv” from Trader Joe’s. A Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Tempranillo would all be great choices – but there’s no need to splurge, as the wine will get infused with other flavors.
- Pomegranate juice – Use 100% pure pomegranate juice (not mixed with any other fruit juices). I like Pom brand, from the grocery store refrigerated section.
- Citrus juices – This freshly squeezed orange and lime juices in this sangria.
- Amaretto liqueur – Amaretto has almond and cherry flavors – I use Disaronno Originale Amaretto.
- Orange liqueur – Grand Marnier is my favorite, but you can use other brands.
- Cinnamon simple syrup – Use my recipe for cinnamon simple syrup or pick some up at the store – with the coffee syrups or in the mixers section at wine and liquor stores.
- Fresh fruits – I toss in pomegranate arils (seeds) plus slices of fresh apple, orange, and lime, for a tasty holiday twist on sangria. You can also garnish individual glasses with any of these fruits.
- Rosemary – This adds a woodsy undertone, so lovely.
What’s The Best Wine for Sangria?
You can use different kinds of wine in sangria, ranging from red to white to bubbly. In a red wine sangria recipe, like this Christmas sangria recipe, I prefer to use a dry (not sweet) red wine that plays well with the orange and lime juices. I don’t like overly sweet wines or sangrias, and because this sangria recipe features cinnamon simple syrup, orange juice, and sweet liqueurs, there is already some sweetness.
How to Make Christmas Sangria
This sangria is very easy to make, just follow my method below. You can find the detailed instructions in the printable recipe card lower down.
- Combine. Add all ingredients except the garnishes to a large pitcher, and stir to combine. That’s it!
- Garnish. To serve, pour sangria into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with fruits from the pitcher or with additional prepared garnishes.
Tips & Variations
Check out my tips plus a few variation suggestions below:
- Let it sit. I like to mix this holiday sangria about 3-4 hours prior to serving. This gives the different flavors time to mingle, to get all cozy and happy.
- Add cranberries. A handful of fresh cranberries would be a lovely touch in this Christmas holiday sangria.
- Use a different wine. Try swapping a robust red wine for a lighter red, such as Pinot Noir. Or really switch it up with a rosé or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Try a splash of bubbly. Bubbles are always fun during the holidays! If you want to add a little sparkling wine to this Christmas sangria, top each glass of sangria with a little bubbly.
Proper Storage
Store Christmas sangria in an airtight container or pitcher in the fridge for up to 1 week. I like to strain out the fruit if I keep sangria for longer than a few days because it can get a bit mushy. You can either serve the sangria with new fresh fruit added to it, or skip the fruit and make good use of the garnishes detailed in the recipe card.
More Holiday Drink Ideas
- Cranberry Margarita
- Homemade Eggnog (with or without alcohol)
- Eggnog White Russian
- Cranberry Gin and Tonic
- Pomegranate Gin and Tonic
- Salted Nut Roll Shot
- Eggnog Cocktail
Christmas Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 750 ml dry, robustly fruity red wine – I use Rough & Ready red wine blend “Cab Franc vs. Cab Sauv” from Trader Joe’s
- 1½ cups 100% pure pomegranate juice – I use Pom brand from the grocery store refrigerated section
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ cup amaretto liqueur – I use Disaronno Originale Amaretto
- ¼ cup orange liqueur – I use Grand Marnier
- 2 ounces cinnamon simple syrup
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- Half of a medium Honeycrisp apple cored, skin on, and thinly sliced
- Half of a naval orange skin on and thinly sliced
- Half of a lime skin on and thinly sliced
- 1 large rosemary sprig
- Optional additional garnishes for individual glasses: pomegranate arils apple slices, orange slices, lime slices, rosemary sprigs, cocktail cherries
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (except additional garnishes for individual glasses) to a large pitcher, and stir to combine. Place in refrigerator to chill and let the flavors mingle. I like to mix this sangria about 3-4 hours prior to serving.
- To serve, pour sangria into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with fruits from the pitcher or with additional prepared garnishes.
