This easy caramel apple sangria recipe is a perfect fall cocktail that’s so simple to make and a perennial crowd favorite. It’s one of my most popular recipes to date!

A few years ago I made this caramel apple sangria recipe for the first time to celebrate Halloween and it became an instant favorite. And with good reason!

It’s the perfect fall sangria recipe when you’re hosting a crowd or for sipping when you get back from trick or treating. You don’t want to skip this one.

We live in the best trick or treating neighborhood in the city, so I like to make a pitcher of this easy fall sangria to offer up to friends as they come through with their kiddos.

Have no doubt – the adults love a treat, too!

If you think of all the nostalgic flavors of a classic caramel apple on a stick – this is sort of like that only in the form of sangria.

I make this easy fall sangria with wine, vodka and fresh apple cider – and lots of caramel syrup! And honestly? It’s as perfect all fall long as it is for Halloween.

Caramel Apple Sangria Ingredients 

This delicious and easy fall sangria recipe requires just a few ingredients. Paired together they’re delicious!

• White wine – I prefer something crisp and not too sweet like a pinot grigio or a sauvingon blanc.
• Fresh apple cider – We buy fresh local apple cider, but any apple cider will work. You definitely want to use apple cider, not apple juice for the perfect fall flavor profile.
• Vodka – Classic unflavored vodka works well for this sangria or try a caramel or vanilla flavored vodka.
• Apples – Use your favorite kind of apple, but I generally use honeycrisp or gala apples for this sangria. 
• Caramel syrup – Make sure to have extra for swirling around the glass!

How to Serve Caramel Apple Sangria

I like to serve this sangria in a mason jar or a nice big glass, first swirled with caramel. Serve the sangria chilled, with or without ice to your liking.

When pouring it, I like to make sure each serving gets a few apple chunks on top. Otherwise, you can chop an extra apple or two for garnish.

1. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of caramel syrup to the bottom of a jar or glass
2. Tip the jar at a 45° angle and turn in circles, swirling to coat the sides of the jar
3. Once filled with sangria and topped with apples, drizzle with additional caramel syrup

While I originally whipped up this sangria recipe for Halloween, it’s definitely just one of those great fall cocktails in general. We love it all fall long and for Thanksgiving, too!

What Kind of Apples to Use in Caramel Apple Sangria

I prefer a sweet, slightly tart apple with fairly firm flesh in this sangria. Use your favorite kind of apples and experiment making it different ways.

If you prefer an apple that is more tart, such as a Granny Smith apple, you may find you need to use a semi-sweet wine in lieu of a dry for the right balance of sweetness.

Here are a few apple varieties to try in this caramel apple sangria recipe:

• Gala
• Honeycrisp
• Pink lady
• McIntosh
• Fuji
• Red Delicious

How to Make Caramel Apple Sangria

The beauty of this sangria recipe is how simple it is to make! Compared to other sangrias with multiple kinds of fruit, there’s much less chopping and prepping involved.

Step 1. Begin by cutting the apples into chunks. I try to keep everything consistent with roughly 1/2″ chunks.

If you cut them much smaller, they could get mushy. Much larger and they aren’t melding with all the flavors as well so I find this size works best.

Step 2. Add the apple chunks to the bottom of a large pitcher. Next, drizzle the caramel syrup liberally over top. 

I often just use the caramel syrup you can find in the grocery store along with the ice cream toppings. It works perfectly here!

Step 3. Add the white wine and the vodka to the pitcher next. I love vanilla or caramel vodka, but unflavored vodka is also great!

Another fun option is whipped cream vodka! It adds a creaminess to the flavors that works nicely in this sangria recipe.

Step 4. Top everything with the apple cider, then stir well to combine. Refrigerate for at least four hours before serving.

Alternately, you can prep it the day before and refrigerate overnight. There’s no wrong answer – the longer the flavors meld together, the yummier it will be.

Step 5. Serve your caramel apple sangria chilled in a big glass first swirled with caramel.

Don’t forget to scoop out some of the apple chunks, or even chop up an additional apple to use for garnishing. Then drizzle extra caramel sauce over top.

What Kind of Wine to Use in Caramel Apple Sangria

Generally speaking, as a good rule of thumb, you don’t need to get carried away with a fancy wine when making sangria. A dry riesling or a crisp pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc is perfect here paired with the apple cider.

Add the sweetness of the caramel and this tastes every bit as delicious as a classic caramel apple only sipped out of a glass. At the same time, it’s still tart enough to be surprisingly more sophisticated than you’d guess.

Um, not that you need to be feeling all sophisticated on my account, trust me.

Can You Make Caramel Apple Sangria in Advance?

This caramel apple sangria recipe is the perfect make ahead cocktail recipe. In fact, it should be refrigerated for at least four hours before serving so the flavors can all meld together. 

Want to prep it the night before? Or early in the morning before a party later that day? That’s totally a viable option!

The longer the flavors meld together the yummier this sangria tastes. You can also save the leftovers for up to three days when stored in a sealed jar or pitcher in the refrigerator.

I seriously hope you give this one a try! It’s really really good, which is what has made it a favorite of mine for several years now.

It tastes as if you melted down all of the best fall treats and poured them right into a glass. The best!

Try These Other Yummy Fall Sangria Recipes!

I love a good sangria recipe, but I especially love sangria in the fall. Here are a few more delicious sangria recipes to try:

• Sparkling fall apple cider sangria
• Autumn harvest fall sangria
• Hard apple cider punch with kombucha
• Sanderson sister black sangria
• Smoked cinnamon apple sparkling sangria

Caramel Apple Sangria

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This easy caramel apple sangria recipe is a perfect fall cocktail that’s so simple to make and a perennial crowd favorite. It’s one of my most popular recipes!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 liter bottle of white wine
• 8 cups fresh apple cider
• 1 cup unflavored or caramel vodka
• 4-5 apples, chopped
• 1/4 cup caramel syrup (plus more for garnishing)

Instructions

1. Place chopped apples in the bottom of a large pitcher then drizzle the caramel syrup over top.
   
   
2. Add the white wine, apple cider and vodka, then stir well to combine.
   
   
   
   
3. Place pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least four hours before serving.
4. Before serving, swirl additional caramel sauce around the inside of the glass.
   
   
5. Fill glass with chilled sangria, including some of the apples, and serve with a straw.
   
   

[Recipe by Cyd Converse | Photos by Alice G. Patterson for The Sweetest Occasion.]