I have a festive cocktail for you today.

It’s perfect for serving to your holiday guests – no shaker required. Just whip up a pitcher of this and serve it all day long. Couldn’t be easier!

This sangria is wonderful for this time of year…which is weird to me because when I think of sangria, I think of summer. It strikes me as a warm-weather drink. Maybe it’s just me.

It’s just that sangria is usually light and crisp and chock-full of yummy fruit. These characteristics pair perfectly with those of warm summer evenings…complete with lightening bugs, burgers on the grill, lingering sunsets, and…ankles covered in mosquito bites. Er, sorry for that last visual, but it’s true for me! I’m their victim of choice.

Anyway.

In recent weeks, I’ve seen many variations on standard summery cocktails, like margaritas, that have a seasonal twist.

Not that I need to be talked into drinking a margarita in the dead of winter! Margaritas, no matter when consumed, remind me of warm sun and bowls upon bowls of chips and salsa. Mmm. Nothing wrong with that when it’s freezing outside!

Aside from the margarita, however, I struggle with drinking summery drinks at this time of year. I mean, you won’t find me with a mai tai in hand after Labor Day (likewise with my white cranberry cosmos after March).

This cocktail challenges my notion of seasonally appropriate drinks. It is warm, effervescent, and punchy all at once. The addition of ginger liqueur gives it that warm spiciness we all know and love this time of year, and the bright flavors of apple, cranberry, and lime keep things fruity and balanced.

It’s also incredibly easy to make (and make ahead, which is ideal for any holiday gathering).

Ingredients You Need for this White Cranberry Holiday Sangria:

Dry white wine
Apple brandy
Ginger liqueur
White cranberry juice
Lime juice
Granny Smith apples
Lime slices
Cinnamon sticks
Frozen cranberries
Ginger ale or club soda

How to Make this White Cranberry Holiday Sangria:

At least one hour before you want to serve, combine the wine, brandy, liqueur, and lime juice in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
Add in sliced apples and limes and a couple cinnamon sticks.
Transfer the pitcher/bowl to the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour (longer is even better – you can make this up to two days ahead and keep it in the fridge).
When you are ready to serve, add the frozen cranberries to the mix and give everything a good stir.
Pour into glasses, making sure to get some of the fruit, and top each glass off with ginger ale or club soda for some effervescence. So easy and delicious!

Tips & Tricks for this White Cranberry Holiday Sangria:

Ensure you give yourself enough time to have this chill. We want the flavors to meld, and this will taste better the longer it hangs out in the fridge. I recommend a minimum of 1 hour, but longer is better. You can make this up to two days ahead of time and keep it in your fridge until you are ready to serve. Add the cranberries and bubbly component just before serving.
I believe cocktails of all kinds should be a “to taste” situation. So, if you prefer a sweeter drink, you could sweeten this with a little maple syrup. Or, if you prefer something less sweet, you can add more dry white wine to the mix. The liqueurs and white cranberry juice have quite a bit of sweetness on their own, so adjust the quantities as needed to meet your preference.
You can switch up the fruit here, if you prefer. The combination of Granny Smith apples, limes, and cranberries are a great match for the other flavors going on here. That said, sliced pear and lemon would also work great. Pomegranate arils would be a very pretty addition, as well.
To set up the ideal sangria serving situation, I recommend having your pitcher or bowl on a table with glasses, napkins, bowls of extra apple slices and lime wedges, and bubbly options alongside. This allows your guests to serve themselves and fix their glasses however they prefer. Sangria is a wonderful hands-off hosting option!

So, while I’m calling this a “holiday” sangria, feel free to make it year-round. Just like those margaritas. No judgement from me.