Halloween Sangria

Every Halloween party needs a punch bowl full of red wine sangria that every vampire, ghoul, and goblin will love. For this crowd-pleaser of a Halloween Cocktail, I lean into the deep fruity notes of a jammy red wine with blackberries, plums, and oranges. I add sweetness with apple cider, pomegranate juice, and maple syrup. And then I spike it with some brandy.

Watch Me Make Halloween Sangria

How to Make Halloween Sangria

1. In a pitcher add red wine, brandy, apple cider, pomegranate juice, and maple syrup.
2. Stir to combine until the syrup is dissolved.
3. Add in cinnamon sticks and fruit.
4. Mix together and let refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
5. Optional to remove the fruit before serving.
6. Pour into individual glasses filled with ice and top with soda water.

Halloween Sangria Ingredients

Red Wine

I recommend using a really jammy, fruit-forward red wine for this Halloween sangria. I like a Zinfandel, Syrah, or Grenache. Look for wines that have notes of blackberries and red cherries on the label.

Apple Cider

The difference between apple cider and apple juice is it’s processing. Apple cider is raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized and is usually made in the fall during apple harvest. It therefore has a shorter shelf life than apple juice, but is darker, richer, and has a stronger apple flavor. Some come sweetened, so look for ones that are unsweetened to ensure your sangria isn’t too sweet.

Brandy

You don’t need to spring for the fanciest bottle of brandy for a sangria, just one with mild oakiness and fruit-forward flavor. Cognac is a great choice for a red wine sangria like this one.

Pomegranate Juice

Make sure to get unsweetened pomegranate juice so your sangria isn’t too sweet. If you do get sweetened pomegranate juice, you can adjust the sweetness by adding less maple syrup.

Maple Syrup

Use pure maple syrup.

Fruit

For this red wine sangria, I use plums, blackberries, and oranges to go with the rich jamminess of the wine and to highlight seasonal fruit.

Cinnamon

Use cinnamon sticks, not ground cinnamon. The fresher the cinnamon sticks, the stronger their flavor will be.

Soda Water

Topping with soda water adds a festive spritziness to the Sangria. Guests can add as much or as little as they want, or none at all. You could also use ginger beer instead.

Tips for Making the Best Halloween Sangria

• No need to peel the oranges or plums before adding to the sangria.
• You can freeze the fruit ahead of time to help keep your sangria cold without watering it down.
• Using good ingredients here really makes a difference. You don’t need to go for the most expensive bottle of wine or brandy, but we don’t need to stoop to the bottom shelf either. You’ll be able to taste the quality when it’s all mixed together.
• Pair the flavor notes of the wine with the fruit you’re using.
• For a slightly sweeter sangria, increase the maple syrup.
• Use whole cinnamon sticks, not ground cinnamon.
• Put together a garnish bar if you’re serving this at a party. Guests can add their own soda water or ginger beer as a topping based on how much or little bubbles they want.

Why You’ll Love This Halloween Sangria

• This red wine sangria is the perfect batch cocktail for your Halloween party or if you’re in charge of the drinks at someone else’s party. It’s easy to make ahead, relatively affordable, easy to store and keep cold, and everyone will love it!
• This is one of the best Fall Cocktails around. A cozy red wine, apple cider, pomegranate juice, and maple syrup make this one extra seasonal.
• If you love red wine cocktails like my Holiday Red Wine Sangria or a classic Lambrusco Spritz, you’ll love having a pitcher of this Halloween Sangria in the fridge.
• This sangria recipe is not just for Halloween. The jammy fruits, red wine, and apple cider are flavors that can be enjoyed all fall and winter long.