Let it be known that it’s November 27th and I’m still wearing sandals when I go outside. Yes, I get weird looks. No, I do not care. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – flip flops ’till it snows. Quite frankly, I could easily go without the white stuff. This girl does not need a white Christmas. A brown Christmas works just fine for me. Christmas on a tropical beach would be even better. Sadly, neither scenario will play out as I so desperately want it to. The Weather Network has snow in the forecast for this week, so I best be fishin’ out my winter boots and digging deep into the liquor cabinet.
Drinking booze in winter to keep warm is totally a thing – at least according to Mama Kancz (my friend Edith’s mom). The topic arose ever so innocently. She had just served me my first ever mug of mulled wine. It was sweet and spicy and took away any chill I had in my body – how was this the first time I’m trying this?! Mama K was just as shocked as I was. She used to drink this all the time back in Hungary. She so eloquently reminded me that “there isn’t much to do in the dead of winter and drinking keeps you warm”.
I can think of one other thing that both occupies time and keeps you warm…
But I digress.
While I do love mulled wine, I prefer cold drinks – even in winter. I have moccasins, fleece lined leggings and a heated blanket, so I don’t really need warm booze, although if it’s offered to me, I won’t turn it down.
I took Mama Kancz’s mulled wine concept and turned it into a spiced sangria. Instead of heating the wine with spices, I chilled it with apples, pears, oranges and a touch of homemade spiced syrup. I added a splash or two of Cointreau for good measure. Mix everything together and let it sit overnight – the longer the better. The fruit will sweeten the wine and the warm spiciness will be elevated.
It’s basically the holidays in a glass. It’s also what’s gonna get me through the cold, dank winter. Cheers!
Spiced Fall Sangria
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole black peppercorns
- 3 whole cloves
Sangria
- 1 750 ml bottle red wine preferably Spanish (I used Le Petit Bonnhome)
- 1 Granny Smith apple thinly sliced
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 1 pear thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup Cointreau or Grande Marnier
- 1/4 homemade spiced simple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks you can use the two from the simple syrup
Instructions
Simple Syrup
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Remove cinnamon stick (keep them handy for the sangria), peppercorns and cloves.
Sangria
- In a large pitcher, add red wine, apple, orange, pear, Cointreau/Grand Marnier, and cinnamon sticks.
- Add about 1/4 cup of the spiced simple syrup.
- Mix the sangria and chill in the fridge overnight. The longer it sits, the fruitier the sangria.
- Serve over ice, with apples, pears and oranges in each glass. Garnish with cinnamon sticks if desired.
Oh man! I thought Sangria was a summer only drink!!! Glad it not the case anymore!! It’s friday, it’s cold outside and I’m soo going to make winter sangria this weekend! Yum
I’ve made this a few times and it’s always a hit! Enjoy
I haven’t had a sangria in years (it was a phase 🙂 ) and that looks so cozy and yummy. Since I am a booze fan (warm or cold) I’m totally up for this!
I, too, am a booze fan haha!
Oh wow, this sangria looks so perfect, warm or cold. So glad I saw this on a Friday, and I’m with you on being OK with a brown Christmas. Snow is so over rated. Making this for sure, thanks!
Agreed! Snow is so so overrated.
I love this! IMO, it’s never too cold (or too hot, for that matter) for a big glass of sangria, but I do love the seasonal mulled-wine twist you’ve put on your version. I can totally see a pitcher of this making an appearance at my holiday party!
Any weather is Sangria weather if you ask me!
The holidays in a glass! LOVE this! Looks a lot like our mulled wine we make for the holidays too.
Haha, everyone seems to make mulled wine except me! I need to get on it!