Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyNeed a signature cocktail for Thanksgiving? I have the ideal recipe for you. Loaded with cranberry flavor and seasonal spices, this Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria is the perfect libation to warm you up from the inside out.
Thanksgiving Sangria Recipe:
This post is sponsored by Crock-Pot® brand. As always, all opinions are my own.
I got super excited when my friends over at Crock-Pot® brand challenged me to come up with new ways to use my Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker. Everyone knows that they are great for soups, stews, dips, and slow-cooking meats, but they have other uses that you might not have thought of. One example: Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria. How’s that for outside the box?
How to Make Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria:
To make this warm fall flavor-inspired cocktail, I used the Crock-Pot® 4-Qt Digital Slow Cooker. The size is perfect for this particular sangria recipe since it serves about 12 people.
What are the ingredients in Thanksgiving Sangria?
For this red wine-based sangria, start with two bottles of a Rioja from Spain. It’s my preferred varietal. However, any nice dry light-bodied red wine will work. A Pinot Noir would be my second choice.
Next, add a splash of brandy and cranberry juice for warmth and seasonal flavor.
Fruit is another traditional sangria ingredient. My fruit choices: cranberries and orange slices. These two work well together and fit the flavors of the fall season.
Simple syrup gives the recipe some sweetness. You can add more or less depending on how sweet you like your drinks.
Finally, to spice things up, I put in a few cinnamon sticks and about a teaspoon of whole peppercorns. Place the peppercorns in a little mesh bag to make it easy to remove them before serving.
With that, set the temperature to high and let the sangria cook for an hour. Once the sangria is warm and the spice and fruit flavors have melded, you change the setting to low. Your Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria is now ready to serve.
Garnished with fresh cranberries, oranges slices and cinnamon, this libation looks at delicious and bright as it tastes. It’s a classic recipe that you and your guests are going to love and server time and time again.
Challenge complete! The flavors of this warm sangria are perfect for fall, and to be honest, the whole way through winter. I come back to this time and again as a signature cocktail for entertaining.
Like any recipe made in a Slow Cooker, this Thanksgiving Sangria is a simple way to serve a lot of folks when entertaining. Cheers!
Thanksgiving Sangria Recipe:
Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria
Ingredients
- 2 bottles Spanish Rioja (or another dry light-bodied red wine)
- 1 cup brandy (I used apple brandy.)
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 cup simple syrup*
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 4-5 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns (in a sachet)
Instructions
- Add the wine, brandy, cranberry juice, simple syrup, orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and whole peppercorns to your Crock-Pot® 4-Qt Digital Slow Cooker. Stir to combine.
- Set the temperature to high and cook the sangria for one hour. Then, set the temperature on low to keep it warm for up to 5 hours.
- Serve in insulated mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Know any good substitute for the wines listed?
Hi there! Will be making for today’s Thanksgiving gathering & cannot wait! One question tho. I was unsure whether to buy unsweetened Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Juice Cocktail. Should I still add the simple syrup with the sweetened juice
cocktail?
Do you think I could use Crown Apple as a substitute for the Apple Brandy?
For sure!
xo Michael
I went for it and it was amazing!!! Huge hit for Thanksgiving! Thank you!
If there is some leftover will it still be good chilled and served the next day?
I’m not sure. There’s usually none leftover. Ha!
xo Michael
We made some and had some leftover. We refrigerated in a glass container with a lid. It was fine the next day. Some even preferred it chilled! I reheated mine in the microwave and it was still tasty.
Me and everyone else loved this recipe. Pretty much followed it exactly, not too sweet. Highly recommend
So happy to hear this! Thank you!
xo Michael
does the alcohol from the wine cook off? It sounds delicious but this is my only concern
No. You shouldn’t be boiling it. Keep it at a nice drinking temperature and you should be fine. (Obviously you can’t keep it heated for days and days.)
xo Michael
Can this be bottled and given as gifts!?
No. You need to drink it after it’s been prepared.
xo Michael
Can this be re-heated up the next day? If so is the microwave ok?
I’d try and drink it the same day. You can probably reheat it, but I can’t guarantee it will taste AS delicious.
xo Michael
Hit at the office Thanksgiving party! Will definitely make again.
This recipe is perfect!! Thanks for sharing!
I can’t tell you how much I love anything made simply in a crockpot, and apple cider and sangria are no exception. I haven’t tried this particular recipe, but I can tell you it is definitely on my list to make. Thanks for sharing this.
I need to try this cocktail immediately, it looks so good!
WOW, this looks fabulous!! I can’t wait to try your recipe!! LOVE it!!
I finally got a chance to try this sangria and it’s as amazing as it looks!
I love sangria, but never thought about making it in a slow cooker! What a great idea! I’m sure the house smells so good. I totally want to try this for the holidays!
This is so beautiful! Cheers to the most festive cocktail and Crock-Pot!
This recipe just got added to my company Christmas party menu! Can’t wait to try it.
This looks and sounds amazing. Yum!
Thank you!!
xo Michael
This sounds delicious….my girlfriends and i love sangria… but since we live in South Florida, would this be good served chilled?
This recipe was designed to serve warm. I’d just look for a cold sangria recipe if you wanted to go that route.
xo Michael
I love sangria and am looking forward to trying this for the holidays! When do you add the fresh cranberries? Thanks for a festive easy recipe!
You add them in the beginning with everything else. 🙂 Enjoy!
xo Michael
Looks delicious and so easy! My kind of cocktail 🙂
Thanks, Kate! You’re always welcome for a drink!
xo Michael