It’s the weekend and couldn’t we all use a drink? A glass of Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria is just the thing! Fruity and delicious, this sangria gets its slight sweetness from fresh fruit, juice and with a little warmth from homemade cinnamon simple syrup.

Pitcher of Sangria

Autumn in a glass.

That’s what this pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria tastes like to me. You get the robust wine, the tart pomegranate juice mixed with fresh fruit (and juice) and there’s a subtle warms from a homemade cinnamon syrup. SO GOOD.

group shot of glasses and pitcher of pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria

And beautiful.

Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria ingredients

To Make This Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria You Will Need:

  • water
  • cinnamon sticks
  • sugar
  • grapes
  • pomegranate arils
  • red delicious apple
  • pear
  • blood oranges (and juice)
  • Spanish red wine (like Rioja)
  • pomegranate juice
  • vanilla brandy
  • cinnamon simple syrup
  • ice
  • sparkling apple cider

cinnamon simple syrup

Making the cinnamon simple syrup is easy! Start by adding 1 cup water to a saucepan with 4 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil and reduce, simmering for 10 minutes. Strain out the cinnamon sticks, and pour the cinnamon water back into the saucepan. Lastly, add in 3/4 cup sugar and heat on low until dissolved. Remove and cool completely.

This cinnamon syrup can be made a few days in advance and stored covered in the fridge once cool.

grapes, pomegranate arils, apples and blood oranges in a glass pitcher.

In a glass pitcher, add 1 cup grape halves, 1/2 cup pomegranate arils,  1/2 cup each diced apples, pears and blood oranges. Of course you can just eyeball these.

close up of fruit in glass pitcher

So colorful!

pouring wine into pitcher

Open the bottle of Spanish wine and pour it over the fruit. Once while online ordering my groceries, I typed in “Spanish wine” and this was the only option. This is still the only Spanish wine I can find in the stores where I live. But I would think any full bodied wine should work here.

then pouring pomegranate juice into pitcher.

Next, pour in 3/4 cup pomegranate juice.

next pouring vanilla brandy into pitcher.

And then pour in 1/2 cup vanilla brandy.

pouring blood orange juice into pitcher.

Add in 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed blood orange juice. If you can’t find blood oranges, regular ones work too!

cinnamon simple syrup is added next.

Lastly, pour in 1/4 cup to 6 tablespoons of the chilled cinnamon simple syrup. I go with 1/4 cup but you can sweeten to your taste!

Stir, cover and chill until ready to serve.

bottle of sparkling apple cider.

Before serving grab your chilled bottle of sparkling cider.

ice and some fruit to glasses.

Fill your glass or glasses with ice and spoon in some of the fruit.

pour in sangria.

Pour in the sangria. The lid to the pitcher I was using has a stopper sort of thing, keeping the fruit in the pitcher. So be careful pouring!

top off with sparkling apple cider

Fill your glass 3/4 of the way with sangria and then pour in the sparkling cider.

pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria

This deep ruby color is absolutely gorgeous.

close up of fruit in glass of pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria.

Slightly sweet and fruity with the warmth of the cinnamon syrup.

Like I mentioned… autumn in a glass.

partially full glass of pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria.

Enjoy! And if you give this Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

have drank glass of pomegranate sparkling apple cider sangria

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Yield: 6 servings

Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

It's the weekend and couldn't we all use a drink? A glass of Pomegranate Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria is just the thing! Fruity and delicious, this sangria gets its slight sweetness from fresh fruit, juice and with a little warmth from homemade cinnamon simple syrup.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

FOR THE CINNAMON SIMPLE SYRUP:

  • 1 cup water
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 3/4 cup sugar

FOR THE SANGRIA:

  • 1 cup grapes, halved
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
  • 1/2 apple, chopped
  • 1/2 pear, chopped
  • 1/2 blood orange, chopped (or sub with a regular orange)
  • 1 bottle Spanish wine
  • 3/4 cup pomegranate juice
  • 1/2 cup vanilla brandy
  • 1/2 cup blood orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup cinnamon simple syrup, more or less to taste
  • ice
  • 2 bottles sparkling apple cider*
  • cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Instructions 

FOR THE CINNAMON SIMPLE SYRUP:

  • Add 1 cup water to a saucepan with 4 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil and reduce, simmering for 10 minutes.
  • Strain out the cinnamon sticks, and pour the cinnamon water back into the saucepan. Stir in 3/4 cup sugar and heat on low until dissolved. Remove and cool completely.
  • Can be made a few days in advance.

FOR THE SANGRIA:

  • In a glass pitcher, add grape halves, pomegranate arils, diced apples, pears and blood oranges.
  • Pour in the Spanish wine, pomegranate juice, vanilla brandy, orange juice, and sweeten with the cinnamon simple syrup.
  • Fill glasses with ice and some of the fruit from the sangria. Fill each glass 3/4 of the way full and then top off with sparkling apple cider.
  • Serve with a cinnamon stick if desired.

Notes

*I always have a few bottles in the fridge when I make this. Depending on how full you fill your glasses with sangria will depend on how much sparkling cider you'll go through.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 375kcal, Carbohydrates: 68g, Protein: 1g, Sodium: 9mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 57g
Author: Laurie McNamara
Course: Drinks & Adult Beverages
Cuisine: Spanish, American