If you want a holiday cocktail that comes together in one pitcher, this cranberry orange sangria is it. Tart cranberries, fresh orange, and a bottle of crisp white wine do most of the work, and it's ready to chill in under 10 minutes.
Recipe at a glance
- 📋 Recipe name: Cranberry Orange Sangria
- 👥 Servings: 6
- ⏲️ Total time: 10 minutes
- 🍴 Best for: Thanksgiving and Christmas
- 🥘 Main ingredients: White wine, cranberry vodka
- 🔥 Cooking method: No cook
- 👩🏼🍳 Flavor profile: Tart and refreshing
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Easy
Jump to:
I'm a huge cranberry fan, especially around the holidays! My favorite dish at both Thanksgiving and Christmas is the cranberry sauce, so this cranberry orange vodka cocktail has become a must-make alongside it. It's the kind of drink that looks like it took effort (that jewel-red color, the floating orange slices and rosemary) but really just needs a pitcher and 30 minutes in the fridge. Using Deep Eddy's Cranberry Vodka also keeps it naturally gluten-free, which is an easy win if you're hosting guests with dietary restrictions.
Why this recipe is unique
- No cooking, no bar tools. Everything goes into one pitcher, no shaking, muddling, or simple syrup to make from scratch (unless you want to; see Substitutions).
- Make-ahead friendly. Unlike a lot of cocktails, this one actually improves after a few hours in the fridge as the fruit soaks up the wine and juice, genuinely useful for holiday hosting, when you don't want a to-do list on serving day.
- Easy to scale. The recipe card lets you double or triple it for a crowd, and it holds well in the fridge for up to 3 days (see Storing).
Ingredients
Recipe FAQs
Cranberry juice is pure, undiluted juice extracted from cranberries. Cranberry juice cocktail is a blend of cranberry juice and other fruit juices, sweetened with sugar or corn syrup. Use pure cranberry juice for a more intense, tart flavor with no added sugar; use cranberry juice cocktail for a sweeter, milder, fruitier taste.
Yes! This is one of the few cocktails that's better made ahead. Prepare it up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the fridge; the fruit absorbs the wine and juice, making the flavor even better by serving time.
A dry white wine like Pinot Grigio works best, since it won't compete with the tart cranberry and bright orange flavors. If you prefer a red wine sangria, swap in your favorite dry red.
How to make
- Build the base. Pour the white wine, cranberry vodka, cranberry juice, and honey into a large pitcher. Stir until the honey fully dissolves. It won't mix in on its own once the cold ingredients are combined, so give it a good 30 seconds of stirring.
- Add the fruit. Add the fresh cranberries, orange slices, and apple slices. Stir gently to distribute the fruit through the pitcher.
- Chill. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more the fruit soaks up flavor, and the more the flavors meld.
- Serve. Pour over ice into glasses, making sure each pour gets some of the fruit. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig, an orange slice, and a few extra cranberries.
Kaleena's Tips
- You can make this sangria cocktail a day before your holiday party to save you time the day of. Making this and letting it sit in the refrigerator helps all the flavors meld together and the fruit absorbs some of the juices, making it extra flavorful.
- If you use pure cranberry juice your cocktail will have that beautiful deep red color. If you use cranberry juice cocktail or light cranberry juice then your cocktail will have a lighter almost pink color.
Variations and substitutions
- Wine: I like to use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio, but you can use whatever kind of white wine you like. You can also use red wine if you prefer a red wine sangria.
- Cranberry juice: You can use regular cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail. I have also used light cranberry juice if you want a lower-calorie option. Using light cranberry juice cocktail will give this more of a pink color than the deep ruby red.
- Cranberry vodka: I prefer to use Deep Eddy's cranberry vodka, but you can use plain vodka if you can't find cranberry vodka.
- Honey: You can use maple syrup or agave in place of honey. You can also make an easy simple syrup to use (bring equal parts sugar and water to a low boil on the stove, then let cool)
- Non-alcoholic version: Swap the white wine and cranberry vodka for sparkling white grape juice or a non-alcoholic white wine, and use sparkling water in place of any additional liquid. You'll still get the same cranberry-orange flavor and festive look, just without the alcohol, which makes this easy to serve alongside the alcoholic version for guests who aren't drinking.
- Another light cocktail option: An Aperol Soda or Topo Chico Margarita would also pair great with this for a holiday get together.
Serving Suggestions
This sangria is built for a pitcher, so it's an easy addition to a holiday drink station or Thanksgiving table. Set it out next to the cranberry orange sauce so guests see the connection. For a bigger gathering, serve it in a large glass beverage dispenser with the fruit floating inside so people can see it before they pour. It also pairs well with a lighter Thanksgiving spread, think roasted sweet potatoes and green beans or honey glazed roasted carrots and asparagus, since the sangria itself is fairly sweet and citrus-forward.
Storing
Storing: You can store this sangria cocktail in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a star rating or drop a comment below. Your feedback means so much to me! And if you snap a photo, tag me on Instagram at @kaleenas.kitchen so I can see your version!
Recipe
Cranberry Orange Sangria Cocktail
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Pitcher
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of white wine I used a Pinot Grigio
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
- ½ cup Deep Eddy's Cranberry Vodka
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup frozen or fresh cranberries
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 apple, sliced
Instructions
- Pour the white wine, cranberry vodka, cranberry juice, and honey into a large pitcher. Stir until the honey fully dissolves, it won't mix in on its own once the cold ingredients are combined, so give it a good 30 seconds of stirring.
- Add the fresh cranberries, orange slices, and apple slices. Stir gently to distribute the fruit through the pitcher.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more the fruit soaks up flavor and the more the flavors meld.
- Pour over ice into glasses, making sure each pour gets some of the fruit. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig, an orange slice, and a few extra cranberries.
Notes
- Use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio, or red wine for a red sangria twist.
- No cranberry vodka on hand? Plain vodka works fine.
- Can be made up to 24 hours ahead, flavor improves the longer it chills.
- Pure cranberry juice gives a deeper red color; cocktail or light cranberry juice gives a lighter pink.
Nutrition
*nutrition information is an approximate
Share this recipe on Facebook
Hey, I'm Kaleena!
Here you'll find wholesome recipes made easy, with big flavor. I share easy, approachable recipes designed for everyday life, from 30-minute dinners and simple side dishes to cozy soups and crowd-pleasing favorites.
The focus is always on food that tastes amazing and feels doable. Whether you're cooking for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend at home, my goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen and enjoy cooking meals you're excited to make.
