Description
A sophisticated and festive fall cocktail featuring dry white wine, apple cider, and caramel sauce, with a secret trick of browning apples in butter for complex, smoky flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or dry Chardonnay)
- 1 quart (950ml) apple cider (cloudy, unfiltered)
- 3 medium apples (mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith), cored and sliced into thin wedges
- 2 tablespoons apple cider brandy (or bourbon/applejack)
- 3 tablespoons caramel sauce (thick, pourable)
- 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks
- 1–2 star anise pods (optional)
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Wash and core the apples, slicing them into thin, even wedges (about ¼ inch thick). Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Wait until it foams and stops.
- Toss half the apple slices into the hot pan and let them sit undisturbed for 2 minutes to develop a golden-brown crust.
- Flip the apples and cook for another minute. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the remaining apples and the second tablespoon of butter.
- In a large pitcher, combine the dry white wine, apple cider, apple cider brandy, and caramel sauce. Whisk vigorously until the caramel is fully dissolved.
- Add the browned apples, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the pitcher. Stir gently to coat.
- Let the sangria sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to meld flavors, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
- Stir well before serving. Ladle into glasses, ensuring each serving gets apples and spices.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a ‘float’ style.
Notes
The browning step is crucial for depth of flavor; do not skip it. Use dry wine to balance the sweetness of the cider and caramel. For best texture, serve within 4 hours of adding the apples. The base can be made up to 3 days ahead, but add fruit and spices the day of serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 10
- Fat: 1
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: fall cocktail, apple cider sangria, caramel apple drink, party punch, white wine sangria, easy cocktail, autumn recipes