Quick Slow Cooker Apple Cider Sangria – Easy Crockpot Fall Recipe
A warm, spiced sangria made in the slow cooker with red wine, apple cider, brandy, and fresh fruit. Perfect for fall gatherings, this easy recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep and delivers a crowd-pleasing drink that tastes like you planned it all along.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (Merlot or Zinfandel recommended)
- 4 cups apple cider (unfiltered, no added sugar preferred)
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (optional, adjust to taste)
- 2 apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and thinly sliced
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 3–4 cinnamon sticks (whole)
- 4–5 whole cloves
- 1 star anise pod (optional)
- Fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Prep your fruit (5 minutes). Wash apples and orange. Core apples and slice into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick). Slice orange into similar rounds.
- Add the spices (2 minutes). Drop cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise (if using) into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Layer in the fruit (2 minutes). Arrange apple and orange slices on top of the spices.
- Pour in the liquids (2 minutes). Add apple cider, red wine, and brandy. If using honey or maple syrup, pour it in now. Stir gently to combine.
- Set and forget (2-3 hours). Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. For a quicker version, cook on HIGH for 1-1.5 hours, but flavors won’t meld as deeply.
- Taste and adjust (1 minute). Before serving, taste and add more honey if desired, or let it cook longer with an extra cinnamon stick for more spice.
- Serve (2 minutes). Ladle warm sangria into mugs or heatproof glasses. Use a slotted spoon to add fruit slices. Garnish with a fresh rosemary or thyme sprig.
Notes
Don’t let the sangria boil, as it will cook off the alcohol and make the fruit mushy. For a cleaner look, strain the finished sangria through a fine-mesh strainer. The sangria tastes even better the next day—make it ahead and reheat gently. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute wine with pomegranate juice or non-alcoholic red wine and skip the brandy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 180220
- Sugar: 1822
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 2228
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: slow cooker apple cider sangria, crockpot sangria, warm sangria, fall sangria, apple cider drink, easy sangria recipe, party drink, mulled wine alternative