Print

Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider Sangria for a Crowd

easy slow cooker apple cider sangria for a crowd - featured image
Print Recipe

This warm, spiced slow cooker apple cider sangria is the ultimate party drink. It fills your home with the coziest smell, keeps itself warm for hours, and serves a crowd without any fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 64 ounces apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine (fruity, medium-bodied like Merlot, Zinfandel, or red blend)
  • 1/2 cup apple brandy or bourbon
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 2 oranges, sliced into rounds
  • 2 apples (firm variety like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), cored and sliced
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
  • For garnish: extra apple slices, orange wheels, fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit: Wash apples and oranges thoroughly. Core the apples and slice into thin rounds or half-moons. Slice oranges into thin rounds. Peel ginger and slice into thin coins. Set aside.
  2. Combine the liquids: Pour the entire bottle of red wine into the slow cooker. Add the 64 ounces of apple cider and 1/2 cup apple brandy or bourbon. Stir to combine.
  3. Add the sweetener: Drizzle in 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup. Stir well to dissolve. Taste and adjust if needed.
  4. Add the spices: Drop in cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise pods, and sliced ginger.
  5. Add the fruit: Gently place apple slices and orange rounds into the liquid, submerging as much as possible.
  6. Cook on low: Set slow cooker to low and cook for 2 to 3 hours. After about 90 minutes, gently stir to redistribute.
  7. Taste and adjust: After 2 hours, taste and add more honey or spices if desired.
  8. Serve warm: Switch slow cooker to warm setting. Ladle into mugs, ensuring each cup gets some fruit and a cinnamon stick. Garnish with fresh apple slice or rosemary sprig.

Notes

Do not boil the sangria or alcohol will evaporate. Tie cloves in a cheesecloth bundle to avoid biting into them. For longer parties, remove fruit after 2 hours and add fresh fruit before serving. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on low.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker sangria, apple cider sangria, warm sangria, holiday punch, party drink, mulled wine alternative, fall cocktail

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/easy-slow-cooker-apple-cider-sangria-for-a-crowd/