Fall Cocktails: Cider Sangria Spritzer Recipe
Updated Jun 30, 2026, Published Sep 15, 2021
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As the leaves start to fall, so does my taste in beverages. Any old cocktail won’t do. I want something that is full of fall flavor and spice.
This Sangria Spritzer is exactly that! With apple cider, wine, fresh fruit, a little brown sugar, soda and spices, you are going to love every last drop.
It’s an easy fall cocktail that comes together with just a little overnight soak time and a splash of soda right before serving.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
We’re combining a classic spritzer with a sangria for a doubly wonderful drink, and this apple cider spritzer takes the best parts of both.
The fruit soaks in the wine and cider mixture overnight, so every sip is packed with fall flavor. Sage, maple, caramel and ginger all go great with this drink, which is part of why it feels so at home on a fall table.
Love fun seasonal drinks? Try this Cranberry Bliss Mimosa next!
Ingredients Needed
- Apples – I love to use Honey Crisp, but any apple you have on hand will do. They soak in the drink as an added bonus.
- White Wine – Pinot Grigio is my choice, but use what you love.
- Apple Cider – One of the main ingredients, so it’s worth using a good quality cider.
- Lemon Lime Soda – This is what makes it a spritzer and gives it that extra special touch. Add at serving so that you don’t lose the carbonation.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make a Cider Sangria Spritzer
- Add wine, apple cider, orange juice, orange juice and brown sugar to a pitcher and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add cinnamon sticks, apple slices and orange slices to the pitcher. Stir gently, cover and refrigerate for 6-24 hours.
- Wet the rim of your glasses with water, then dip into colored sugar or a cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Pour the sangria into the glass, being sure to add pieces of fruit, filling it about half full. Top off to three-quarters full with lemon lime soda.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Pro Tips
- Save a few extra cinnamon sticks for garnish. The ones that soak in the pitcher lose their crisp look, so fresh ones make for a better-looking glass.
- Cut the apples right before using. This helps keep them from turning brown before serving.
- Add the soda right before serving. If you add it too early, you’ll lose the carbonation.
Storage Instructions
Store the sangria in a pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep in mind the longer it sits, the more the fruit soaks up the alcohol. If your pitcher doesn’t have a lid, cover the top with plastic wrap.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, omit the wine and add the same amount of apple cider or apple juice. You could also use a sparkling cider in place of the lemon lime soda for the bubbles.
A spritzer is a simple cocktail that contains wine, soda and ice. In this case, we’re combining that with a sangria for a doubly wonderful drink.
This Easy Winter Salad with butternut squash and pomegranate is a great match. This Sweet and Yukon Potato Au Gratin also makes a wonderful side if you’re serving this as part of a full dinner. And if you want something sweet to go with it, this Cranberry Orange Bottom Bundt Cake is a perfect accompaniment.
Want more fun drinks to make at home? Try these recipes…
- Cranberry Bliss Mimosa
- Festive Pomegranate Punch
- The Perfect Margarita
- Mixed Fruit Frozen Daiquiri
- Watermelon Limeade
Cider Sangria Spritzer Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (750ml) bottle white wine, {I used Pinot Grigio}
- 2 cups apple cider, {I used Honey Crisp}
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks, {plus more for garnish}
- 2 red apples, thinly sliced {I used Honey Crisp}
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar, or sugar sprinkles, to rim the glass
- 2 cups lemon-lime soda
Instructions
Cider Sangria Spritzer
- Add wine, apple cider, orange juice and brown sugar to a large pitcher and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add cinnamon sticks, apple slices and orange slices to pitcher. Stir gently, cover and refrigerate for 6-24 hours.
Serving Cider Sangria Spritzer
- Wet the rim of your glasses with water and then dip it into plate of colored sugar {or a mixture of cinnamon sugar}. Pour sangria {be sure to add pieces of fruit} to about ½ full and fill to ¾ full with lemon lime soda. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Store leftovers for up to 3 days, covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
- To make this drink non-alcoholic: substitute wine for additional apple cider or apple juice. You can also substitute the lemon lime soda with sparkling apple cider if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
