Best Budget-Friendly Caramel Apple Sangria with Cinnamon
This budget-friendly caramel apple sangria with cinnamon sticks is the perfect fall cocktail—sweet, tart, spiced, and just a little bit boozy. It comes together in about 15 minutes of active work and tastes even better after chilling overnight.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (includes chilling time, preferably overnight)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bottle (750 ml) inexpensive dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
- 2 cups apple cider or apple juice (not from concentrate preferred)
- 1/2 cup caramel syrup (like Hershey’s or Torani)
- 1/4 cup apple brandy or bourbon (optional, like Christian Brothers or Jim Beam)
- 1 large Honeycrisp or Fuji apple, cored and thinly sliced
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
- 1/2 cup sparkling water or ginger ale (for fizz)
- Optional garnish: extra apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and caramel syrup
Instructions
- Wash and slice the apple. Core the apple and cut it into thin rounds or half-moons about 1/4-inch thick. No need to peel.
- Combine the wine, apple cider, caramel syrup, and brandy (if using) in a large pitcher. Stir well until the caramel syrup is mostly dissolved.
- Add the apple slices and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher. Gently push the apple slices down so they are submerged.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld.
- Right before serving, gently stir in the sparkling water or ginger ale to keep the fizz.
- Serve over ice in glasses or mason jars, making sure to include some apple slices and a cinnamon stick in each glass.
- Garnish with a drizzle of caramel syrup around the rim, a fresh cinnamon stick, and an extra apple slice if desired.
Notes
The overnight rest is crucial for the best flavor. Use a dry white wine to balance the sweetness. Add the fizzy element just before serving to keep it bubbly. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the wine and brandy and use 4 cups of apple cider/juice with a splash of lemon juice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 23
- Sodium: 15
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: caramel apple sangria, fall sangria, budget-friendly sangria, cinnamon sangria, apple cider sangria, white wine sangria, easy sangria recipe