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–+ servings
A pitcher and glasses filled with a red Thanksgiving drinks recipe, featuring oranges, apples, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon sticks.

Thanksgiving Drinks Recipe Everyone Asks For

This recipe creates a festive and flavorful sangria perfect for your Thanksgiving gathering. It features a spiced simple syrup and a blend of red wine and fruit, designed to impress your guests.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Refrigeration Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 16 minutes
Servings: 8 glasses
Course: Big Batch, Cocktails, Drinks, Thanksgiving
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Spiced Simple Syrup
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
For the Sangria
  • 1 green apple sliced
  • 1 red apple sliced
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • 750 ml fruity, full-bodied red wine e.g., Crianza from Rioja
  • 1/3 cup triple sec or Cointreau
For Garnish
  • pomegranate arils optional
  • chopped fruit additional
  • whole spices additional

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Large pitcher
  • Strainer

Method
 

  1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise for 3 minutes until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low.
  2. Add the water, sugar, and fresh orange juice. Simmer for 3 minutes, stirring gently to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Strain the sugar mixture into a large pitcher. Stir in the wine and triple sec, adding the whole spices from the sugar mixture.
  4. Add the chopped fruit and stir. Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours before serving. Taste, and adjust sweetness by adding additional simple syrup if desired.
  5. To serve, pour the sangria into ice-filled glasses, garnished with more sliced fruit, lemon wedges, and optional pomegranate arils and whole spices.

Notes

If you prefer a sweeter sangria, consider making a double batch of the spiced syrup. Add half to the pitcher to start, then taste and add more to taste. You can make this sangria up to 4 hours in advance, but longer storage makes the fruit soggy and discolored. The spiced simple syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance. To prepare the pitcher in advance, mix everything but the fruit and refrigerate, then add the fruit 1 to 4 hours before serving.

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