Description

A festive, easy-to-make holiday drink featuring apple cider, vanilla vodka, brandy, and caramel sauce, infused with cinnamon and star anise for a cozy autumn flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

1 gallon (3.7 liters) cold-pressed apple cider
1 cup (240ml) brandy or dark rum
1 cup (240ml) vanilla vodka
2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
1/2 cup (120ml) thick caramel sauce
4–5 cinnamon sticks
2–3 pieces star anise
2 large firm apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), sliced
Ice cubes

Instructions

Wash and slice the apples into thin rounds or wedges. Set aside.
Pour the apple cider into a large glass pitcher.
Add the cinnamon sticks and star anise to the cider. Stir gently to submerge the spices.
Let the cider infuse with the spices for at least 15 minutes (or up to an hour in the fridge).
Add the brandy (or rum) and vanilla vodka to the pitcher. Stir well to combine.
Add the lemon juice and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as needed.
Drizzle the caramel sauce into the pitcher in a slow, circular motion to create swirls. Do not stir completely.
Add the sliced apples to the pitcher.
Add ice cubes just before serving to prevent dilution.
Stir gently one last time and pour into glasses over ice. Garnish with extra apple slices or cinnamon sticks if desired.

Notes

For best results, use cold-pressed apple cider rather than apple juice for better depth of flavor. Avoid mushy apples like Red Delicious; use firm varieties like Honeycrisp or Gala. The sangria can be made up to 24 hours in advance by adding spices and alcohol, but add fruit and ice right before serving to maintain texture. To make it non-alcoholic, skip the spirits and add extra cider and vanilla extract.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 glass
Calories: 180
Sugar: 30
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 1
Protein: 0.5

Keywords: fall cocktail, holiday drinks, apple cider sangria, caramel apple drink, easy party drinks, autumn recipes, gluten-free cocktail