Winter Sangria

Sangria is super simple to make, which is why it's such a great party cocktail. Not only does it serve a crowd, it's also a time saver for the host.

And despite common conception, sangria is just as delicious and appropriate at the height of the holiday season as it is in the middle of July. The key is to tweak ingredients with seasonal favorites.

For this winter sangria recipe we've enhanced the fruity flavors with a bit of citrus and cinnamon to give it some holiday flair. The citrus adds a bit of bite and the cinnamon works to warm the drink up.

Check out the video to see how quick and easy it is to prep and mix up your sangria, then check out the list of ingredients and directions below to make some at home for your next holiday party!

Ingredients:

2 apples (diced)

2 pears (diced)

2 cups orange juice

1/4 cup vodka

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 bottle red wine

1 liter ginger ale

Directions:

Start by chopping your apples and pears into chunks - about a 1-inch dice.

Next, mix up the marinade your fruit will soak in. To do this, combine the orange juice with the vodka. Then, mix in the two tablespoons of honey. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and give the mixture a good stir. You want to be sure to mix the honey in well. We use a spoon in the video, but a whisk is better!

Once your marinade is mixed, add in your diced apples and pears. Give it another good stir making sure to get each piece submerged in the marinade and coated with cinnamon.

Allow your fruit to rest in the marinade for at least an hour and up to overnight. The longer it soaks, the better!

About an hour before serving, combine the rest of your sangria ingredients with the fruit mixture. Pour the fruit and all the juices into whatever you'll be serving your sangria in. Then, over that, pour your red wine followed by your ginger ale. Give it a good stir and allow to chill together in the fridge.

Serve in small tumblers garnished with a slice of apple for one deliciously festive holiday drink!