Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Cider Sangria: Easy Fall Recipe
This Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Cider Sangria is the perfect fall drink—sweet, tart, and spiced, with a salted caramel rim that makes it feel special. It’s quick to prepare, budget-friendly, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any autumn gathering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (includes chilling)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (950 ml) apple cider
- 1 cup (240 ml) bourbon or whiskey
- ½ cup (120 ml) apple brandy
- ½ cup (120 ml) salted caramel sauce, plus extra for rim
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), thinly sliced
- 1 large orange, thinly sliced
- 3–4 cinnamon sticks
- 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
- ½ teaspoon whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Ice cubes for serving
- For the Salted Caramel Rim:
- 2–3 tablespoons caramel sauce
- 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Salted Caramel Rim: In a small shallow dish, pour about 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce. In another dish, mix the coarse sea salt and granulated sugar together. Dip the rim of each glass into the caramel, then into the salt-sugar mixture. Set aside to let the rim set.
- Slice the Fruit: Thinly slice the apples and oranges (about ¼-inch thick). Remove seeds from apple slices. Leave the peel on the oranges.
- Combine the Liquids: In a large pitcher, pour in the apple cider, bourbon, and apple brandy. Add the salted caramel sauce and stir until fully dissolved.
- Add the Spices and Fruit: Drop in the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole cloves. Add the sliced apples and oranges. Stir gently.
- Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Serve: Fill prepared glasses with ice cubes. Stir the sangria gently, then pour over ice, including some fruit slices in each glass. Garnish with an extra cinnamon stick if desired.
Notes
Don’t skip the chilling step—it allows flavors to meld. If the sangria tastes too sweet, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. For a non-alcoholic version, omit bourbon and brandy, add 1 extra cup apple cider and 1 cup ginger ale. This sangria can be made up to 3 days ahead (store covered in fridge).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: sangria, apple cider, fall, salted caramel, bourbon, easy, party drink