I’m sharing my White Christmas Sangria Recipe that mixes dry white wine, orange liqueur, white cranberry juice, lemon-lime soda, fresh apples, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks for holiday parties and Christmas dinner.

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I love serving something unexpected at Christmas so I made a bright, festive drink that got everyone asking for the recipe. It’s light, not cloying, and delivers pops of tart from fresh cranberries with a dry Pinot Grigio base that keeps it grown up.

I call it my White Christmas Sangria Recipe and sometimes the flavor even reminds me of a White Wine Cranberry Sangria but softer, kinda more subtle. I won’t post the how to here, but you’ll wanna click the link to get this delicious White Christmas Sangria recipe and see why people keep coming back.

Ingredients

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Dry white wine: Lightly fruity, brings acidity and body, mostly alcohol carbs, no fiber or protein.
Orange liqueur: Sweet citrus kick, adds orange aroma and sugar, contributes carbs not protein.
White cranberry juice: Tart pale tang, gives vitamin C and carbs, but can be sugary.
Lemon lime soda: Bubbly and sweet, adds fizz and extra sugars, no vitamins or protein.
Apple: Crunchy slices add fiber and natural sweetness it’s mildly tart, has vitamin C.
Fresh cranberries: Super tart, bright flavor, high in antioxidants and vitamin C, very low sugar.
Cinnamon sticks: Warm spice aroma, almost no calories, no protein, adds cozy holiday scent.

Ingredient Quantities

1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc

1/2 cup (120 ml) orange liqueur such as Cointreau or triple sec

1 cup (240 ml) white cranberry juice

1 cup (240 ml) lemon lime soda, chilled

1 large apple thinly sliced

1 cup fresh cranberries

2 whole cinnamon sticks

Ice cubes for serving optional

How to Make this

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1. Chill the bottle of dry white wine and the lemon lime soda for a few hours so the sangria stays bright and crisp.

2. Core and thinly slice the apple, then put the slices in a large pitcher with 1 cup fresh cranberries and the 2 whole cinnamon sticks.

3. Pour in the full bottle (750 ml) of dry white wine, 1/2 cup orange liqueur, and 1 cup white cranberry juice over the fruit and cinnamon.

4. Give everything a good stir so the liqueur and juices coat the fruit, then taste quickly and add a splash more orange liqueur if you want it boozier.

5. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 to 4 hours, better if overnight, so the flavors meld; stir once or twice while it chills.

6. Right before serving add the chilled 1 cup lemon lime soda to the pitcher and stir gently to keep the fizz.

7. If you want ice, fill glasses with ice cubes, then ladle sangria and pieces of apple and cranberries into each glass.

8. Garnish with a cinnamon stick in each glass if you like, and serve immediately for best texture and fizz.

9. Store any leftover sangria in the fridge up to 48 hours; the cinnamon will get stronger over time and the apple may soften or brown a bit.

10. Quick tips: lightly muddle a few cranberries for extra tartness, break a cinnamon stick in half to boost flavor faster, and always add the soda last to keep it fizzy.

Equipment Needed

1. large pitcher (2 to 3 qt), for mixing and chilling the sangria
2. sharp chef’s knife, to core and thinly slice the apple
3. cutting board, a steady surface to slice on
4. measuring cups and spoons, for the wine, juice and soda measurements
5. jigger or small measuring cup, handy for the 1/2 cup orange liqueur
6. long wooden spoon or stirring spoon, to coat fruit and stir gently
7. ladle, to portion sangria and fruit into glasses
8. corkscrew or wine opener, to open the bottle
9. serving glasses and optional ice scoop or tongs, for ice and garnishes

FAQ

Q: Can I make this sangria alcohol free?

A: Yes. Swap the wine for 750 ml white grape juice or sparkling water mixed with extra white cranberry juice, and replace the orange liqueur with 1/4 to 1/2 cup orange juice or orange syrup. Chill and add the lemon lime soda just before serving so it stays fizzy.

Q: How far ahead can I prepare it?

A: You can mix it 4 to 12 hours ahead for best flavor. Up to 24 hours is ok, but the fruit will soften and the soda will lose fizz, so add the lemon lime soda right before serving.

Q: What wine should I use if I dont have Pinot Grigio?

A: Use any dry white you like, such as Sauvignon Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay. Avoid very sweet whites so the drink doesn't become too sweet.

Q: How do I make it less sweet?

A: Cut the orange liqueur amount, use unsweetened white cranberry juice, or swap the lemon lime soda for club soda. A squeeze of fresh lemon helps balance sweetness too.

Q: How many people does one batch serve and how do I scale it?

A: One 750 ml bottle batch serves about 6 to 8. To serve a crowd just multiply ingredients by the number of batches you need – for 12 to 16 guests double everything.

Q: Any tips for serving and storing leftovers?

A: Serve over ice and garnish with extra cranberries and apple slices. Store leftovers refrigerated up to 48 hours but expect the soda to be flat; stir before serving and top with fresh soda if you want fizz back.

Festive White Christmas Sangria Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Dry white wine: swap in Prosecco for bubbly brightness or a dry Riesling for floral notes, use the same 750 ml chilled, it’s a nice twist
Orange liqueur: use brandy for deeper warm flavor, or fresh orange juice plus one to two tablespoons simple syrup for a lower alcohol version
White cranberry juice: replace with white grape juice or pale apple juice for similar color and sweetness, same one cup amount
Lemon lime soda: choose chilled club soda if you want less sweet, or ginger ale for a lightly spiced sweeter finish

Pro Tips

1) Chill everything first, seriously. Cold wine and soda keep the flavors bright, and if you forgot to chill you can toss the bottle in an ice bath for 15 minutes instead of waiting, though that can rush flavors a bit.

2) Muddle a handful of cranberries and a little orange zest for extra tartness and aroma, but don’t mash everything to a pulp or it gets cloudy and bitter.

3) Break the cinnamon sticks in half so the wood opens up faster, and be careful with how long you leave them in the fridge cause cinnamon gets stronger the longer it sits.

4) Add the lemon lime soda at the very last second, stir gently so you dont kill the fizz, and use frozen grapes or chilled fruit instead of ice cubes if you want to keep the drink cold without watering it down.

Festive White Christmas Sangria Recipe

Recipe by Bob Jones

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

161

kcal

Equipment: 1. large pitcher (2 to 3 qt), for mixing and chilling the sangria
2. sharp chef’s knife, to core and thinly slice the apple
3. cutting board, a steady surface to slice on
4. measuring cups and spoons, for the wine, juice and soda measurements
5. jigger or small measuring cup, handy for the 1/2 cup orange liqueur
6. long wooden spoon or stirring spoon, to coat fruit and stir gently
7. ladle, to portion sangria and fruit into glasses
8. corkscrew or wine opener, to open the bottle
9. serving glasses and optional ice scoop or tongs, for ice and garnishes

Ingredients

1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup (120 ml) orange liqueur such as Cointreau or triple sec
1 cup (240 ml) white cranberry juice
1 cup (240 ml) lemon lime soda, chilled
1 large apple thinly sliced
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 whole cinnamon sticks
Ice cubes for serving optional

Directions

Chill the bottle of dry white wine and the lemon lime soda for a few hours so the sangria stays bright and crisp.
Core and thinly slice the apple, then put the slices in a large pitcher with 1 cup fresh cranberries and the 2 whole cinnamon sticks.
Pour in the full bottle (750 ml) of dry white wine, 1/2 cup orange liqueur, and 1 cup white cranberry juice over the fruit and cinnamon.
Give everything a good stir so the liqueur and juices coat the fruit, then taste quickly and add a splash more orange liqueur if you want it boozier.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 to 4 hours, better if overnight, so the flavors meld; stir once or twice while it chills.
Right before serving add the chilled 1 cup lemon lime soda to the pitcher and stir gently to keep the fizz.
If you want ice, fill glasses with ice cubes, then ladle sangria and pieces of apple and cranberries into each glass.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick in each glass if you like, and serve immediately for best texture and fizz.
Store any leftover sangria in the fridge up to 48 hours; the cinnamon will get stronger over time and the apple may soften or brown a bit.
Quick tips: lightly muddle a few cranberries for extra tartness, break a cinnamon stick in half to boost flavor faster, and always add the soda last to keep it fizzy.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.