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Spicy White Sangria

December 21, 2023

A bright and flavorful sangria is a fun and festive way to serve wine during the holidays. And when it comes to sangria, my Spicy White Sangria is the way to go! This sangria comes together with a base of white wine, stewed together with fresh apples, mango, and jalapeño for a fun and spicy sangria that is perfect for getting the party started. Whether you’re serving it to a crowd or giving a pitcher-full as a gift, you can’t go wrong with this modern twist on a classic holiday recipe!

A glass of the spicy white sangria, topped with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a cinnamon stick

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Friends, one of my favorite parts about the holiday season is getting to enjoy all of the Christmas-themed cocktails. From my Holiday Pomegranate Mimosas to my Pomegranate Moscow Mules, I love coming up with fun and festive cocktail recipes that are perfect for celebrating the holiday season. This year, I’m back with a holiday cocktail recipe that is perfect for serving a crowd: my Spicy White Sangria.

The origins of sangria are often debated, but can be traced all the way back to the ancient Roman empire, when fruit was added to lower-quality wine in order to make the flavor better. Fast forward to today, and now sangria can be made with all different types of wine (whether white, red, or rosé), and not only includes fruits, but also herbs and spices as well. It’s a fun and festive way to elevate wine into a treat that even the most experienced sommeliers will enjoy!

And because this sangria is filled with so many other flavors, it’s perfect for making with a cheaper bottle. Don’t make this recipe with the vintage bottle of Napa wine that’s been sitting in your cellar – instead, a less-expensive bottle from Trader Joe’s is perfect for this recipe!

All of the ingredients needed to make this spicy white sangria, laid out on a countertop — To make this spicy white sangria, you will need apples, mango, pomegranate arils, jalapeño, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, white wine, apple cider, brandy, and garnishes.

A pitcher of the spicy white sangria, sitting on a countertop — To make this spicy white sangria, you will need apples, mango, pomegranate arils, jalapeño, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, white wine, apple cider, brandy, and garnishes.

What You Need to Make This Perfect White Sangria Recipe

Fresh Fruit: Sangria is known for being a blend of wine and chopped fruit, so of course the fruit is key to making this sangria recipe! This recipe calls for chopped apples and mango, which is the perfect combination.
Pomegranate Arils: Pomegranate arils (aka pomegranate seeds) are full of antioxidants and add a powerful punch to this sangria.
Jalapeño: I love a sangria with a little kick to it, and the addition of a jalapeño is the perfect way to add this spicy kick. It doesn’t make the sangria super spicy, but if you absolutely can’t handle spice, you can always omit it.
Maple Syrup: Maple syrup makes this sangria perfectly sweet, without adding in the refined sugars.
Cinnamon Sticks: A few cinnamon sticks make this sangria warm and cozy and perfect for the winter time!
White Wine: Since this is a white sangria, it requires white wine! You can pick your favorite white wine and use it in this recipe – any one works well!
Apple Cider: Spiced apple cider is a great way to add flavor to this sangria, especially since we’ll already be using whole apples, too.
Brandy: Brandy adds a certain sweetness and lightness to this sangria.
Garnishes: These are optional, but I love garnishing this sangria with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a cinnamon stick!

A pitcher, filled with the ingredients needed to make this spicy white sangria, with the brandy actively being poured into it — Then, add in the remainder of the sangria ingredients: the pomegranate arils, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, white wine, apple cider, and brandy, and stir until they’re fully combined.

How to Make This Simple & Festive Sangria

To make this sangria, start by washing and chopping the red apple, mango, and jalapeño, and add them to a large pitcher. Then, add in the remainder of the sangria ingredients: the pomegranate arils, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, white wine, apple cider, and brandy.

Stir until the ingredients are fully combined. Then, transfer the sangria into individual glasses. Top each glass with a sprig of rosemary and a cinnamon stick, then serve and enjoy!

A pitcher of the spicy white sangria, sitting on a tray surrounded by smaller glasses of the sangria — Transfer the spicy white sangria into individual glasses.

A glass of the spicy white sangria, sitting on a tray with a small bowl of pomegranate arils in the background — Transfer the spicy white sangria into individual glasses.

What to Serve With This Sangria

Since sangria is a sweet blend of wine and fresh fruit, it often pairs best with salty, smoky, and spicy flavors that help to offset the sweetness. From appetizers to main courses, these are a few of my favorite dishes to pair with this Spicy White Sangria!

Jalapeño Popper Wonton Cups: These small but mighty jalapeño poppers are the perfect spicy appetizer to serve alongside this sangria! Plus, it’s a great way to use up any extra jalapeños that you may have purchased for this recipe.
Oven-Baked Tri-Tip Roast: This smoky tri-tip roast is super easy to make in the oven and is perfect for serving with this sangria!
Viral Crispy Garlic Parmesan Crusted Potatoes: When all else fails, potatoes go with anything, including this sangria.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Bea Moreno