If you’re on the hunt for a party-drink that’s festive, refreshing, and just a little bit spooky, you’ve got to try this Halloween Sangria Recipe. It’s hands down one of my favorite go-to drinks for October get-togethers, because it comes together fast, looks incredible, and tastes like fall in a glass with a bubbly twist. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween bash or just want to impress at your next casual hangout, this sangria will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Eye-Catching Presentation: Those ghost-shaped apple slices in here? Absolute show-stoppers for your Halloween spread.
- Delightfully Refreshing: The mix of fruity red wine, Italian soda, and fresh berries keeps it bubbly and light.
- Super Easy to Prep: You can make parts ahead of time and toss it all together last minute.
- Perfect for a Crowd: It makes a big batch to serve around 7 cups, great for parties or family gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All the flavors here work together to create a sangria that’s festive yet balanced. Each fruit adds a bit of natural sweetness and tartness, while the light red wine and soda keep it lively and sparkling. When you’re shopping, look for the freshest fruit and a bottle of red wine that’s not too heavy—something with bright fruit notes suits this drink best.
- Granny Smith apples: Their tart crunch is perfect, and carving them into ghost shapes adds a spooky touch you’ll love.
- Lemon juice: Prevents the apples from browning and adds a bright citrus kick.
- Ice: Essential for keeping the sangria chilled but not watered down too fast.
- Blood oranges: Slice them thin for sweet, tangy rounds that add color and a Halloween vibe.
- Blackberries: These little berries bring a juicy pop and gorgeous dark color.
- Pomegranate seeds: Tiny bursts of tartness and a festive jewel-like appearance.
- Light red wine: Grenache, Gamay, or Pinot Noir are my picks since they’re fruity and have less tannin.
- Italian soda: Blood orange, orange, or pomegranate flavors all work beautifully here for bubbles and flavor.
- Créme de cassis: Adds a subtle, sweet blackcurrant note that deepens the flavor.
- Simple syrup: Balances the tartness perfectly; you can adjust more or less depending on sweetness preference.
Variations
One of the things I enjoy most about this Halloween Sangria Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Over time, I found that small tweaks can make it feel fresh and exciting every time you serve it.
- Adding cinnamon sticks: For a cozy, warm touch, especially if you want to lean into fall vibes more strongly.
- Using sparkling rosé instead of red wine: This switch makes the sangria lighter and rosier—my family loves this one for brunch!
- Substituting simple syrup with honey syrup: I tried this once, and it gave the sangria a richer sweetness that paired nicely with the tart fruit.
- Making it non-alcoholic: Swap out the wine and créme de cassis for extra Italian soda or pomegranate juice—perfect for kids or designated drivers.
How to Make Halloween Sangria Recipe
Step 1: Craft Your Spooky Apple Ghosts
Start by slicing your Granny Smith apples lengthwise into about half-inch thick pieces. Then, grab your favorite ghost-shaped cookie cutter to punch out twelve ghost figures—this is my favorite part, and my kids love helping! To make those adorable spooky faces, use a straw or skewer to poke three small holes on each or ghost to look like eyes and a mouth. Toss these in lemon juice to keep them looking fresh and prevent browning—you’ll find they hold up beautifully for hours.
Step 2: Mix the Magic in a Big Bowl
Fill a large punch bowl with plenty of ice—this keeps everything cold without watering things down too quickly. Add in your apple ghosts, blood orange slices, blackberries, and pomegranate seeds. Gently toss these fruits together to mix the colors and flavors. Next, pour in your choice of light red wine, the Italian soda for fizz, créme de cassis for that lovely blackcurrant hint, and simple syrup for sweetness. Stir until everything is combined, and you’re almost done!
Step 3: Chill and Serve—Enjoy the Reactions!
At this point, your Halloween Sangria is ready to serve immediately. I like to give it a few minutes to let the fruit and flavors meld, but it’s tempting to dive right in! Pour into glasses, making sure to get some of the ghost apples and fruity bounty in each glass. Your guests will be amazed.
Pro Tips for Making Halloween Sangria Recipe
- Use a sharp cookie cutter: For crisp ghost shapes, a cleanly cut apple slice is key; dull cutters make messy edges.
- Chill the wine beforehand: It makes the sangria taste fresher and lets the ice maintain rather than dilute the drink.
- Add soda last: This preserves the bubbles, so your sangria stays lively longer.
- Prep fruit ahead: Making apple ghosts and mixing wine with syrup the day before saves time and enhances flavor melding.
How to Serve Halloween Sangria Recipe
Garnishes
For me, the ghost-shaped apples are the star garnish. Plus, I love adding a few extra pomegranate seeds in each glass and sometimes a small sprig of fresh mint or rosemary—it adds a subtle herbal aroma that contrasts nicely with the fruity sweetness. Sometimes I float a thin blood orange slice on top for a pop of color too.
Side Dishes
I usually pair this sangria with light Halloween-themed bites like stuffed mushrooms, cheesy pumpkin dip with crackers, or a charcuterie board filled with cured meats and seasonal cheeses. The fruity drink balances rich and savory snacks perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I love serving this sangria in a clear glass punch bowl to really show off all the colorful, spooky fruit shapes. Adding LED tealights underneath or around the bowl creates a fun eerie glow at night—guests always comment on how festive it looks! If it’s a small gathering, individual mason jars with a cinnamon stick garnish give a rustic, cozy vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
When I’ve had leftover sangria, I usually transfer it to a sealed glass container and refrigerate it. The flavors actually deepen overnight, but the bubbles from the Italian soda fade, so I recommend adding fresh soda when you serve it again. The fruit can sit in the liquid, but I sometimes pick out the apple ghosts so they don’t get soggy.
Freezing
I personally haven’t frozen sangria because freezing breaks down the fruit texture and kills the bubbles, but if you want to freeze just the wine and fruit without the soda, you could do that—then add soda fresh when thawed.
Reheating
This is a cold beverage, so reheating isn’t necessary. However, if you want to try a warm version, like mulled wine, you’d skip the soda and heat the wine gently with spices—though that’s a totally different recipe from this Halloween Sangria Recipe.
FAQs
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Can I make the Halloween Sangria Recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the apple ghosts and mix the wine, créme de cassis, and simple syrup up to a day before your event. Store them refrigerated separately, then combine with ice, fruit, and Italian soda right before serving for the freshest and fizziest sangria.
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What wine is best for Halloween Sangria Recipe?
I recommend light red wines like Grenache, Gamay, or Pinot Noir because they are fruity, low in tannins, and won’t overpower the fresh fruit flavors in the sangria.
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Can I make this sangria non-alcoholic?
Yes! Swap out the wine and créme de cassis for flavored Italian sodas or fruit juices like pomegranate or blood orange. This way you keep all the fun flavors and fizz, making it perfect for kids and guests who don’t drink alcohol.
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How long does Halloween Sangria last?
It’s best enjoyed fresh on the day it’s made, but if refrigerated, it’ll keep for 1-2 days. The fruit may begin to break down and the soda will lose fizz, so add fresh soda before serving leftover sangria.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Halloween Sangria Recipe brings fun and flavor to the table without requiring a ton of work. The ghost apples are such a whimsical touch that always sparks smiles, and the combination of seasonal fruits with sparkling Italian soda keeps it light and refreshing. I remember the first time I made this for a Halloween party—my friends couldn’t stop sneaking sips! Trust me, once you try this, you’ll have a new holiday tradition that’s both simple and spectacular. Give it a go—you’re gonna love it.
Print
Halloween Sangria Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 7 cups
- Category: Beverage
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Celebrate Halloween with this festive Halloween Sangria featuring ghost-shaped apple slices, blood oranges, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, and a blend of light red wine with Italian soda and créme de cassis. This refreshing and spooky punch is perfect for parties, offering a visually stunning and deliciously fruity drink served chilled.
Ingredients
Fruit
- 3 large Granny Smith apples
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 blood oranges, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
Alcohol & Mixers
- 1 (750-mL) bottle light red wine, such as Grenache, Gamay, or Pinot Noir
- 3 cups Italian soda, either blood orange, orange, or pomegranate flavor
- 3 oz. créme de cassis
Syrup
- 1 1/2 oz. simple syrup
Other
- Ice
Instructions
- Prepare the apple ghosts: Slice the Granny Smith apples lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Using a ghost-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 ghost-shaped apple pieces. With a straw or skewer, punch 3 holes into each apple ghost to create eyes and a mouth. Transfer the apple ghosts to a medium bowl, add the lemon juice, and gently toss to coat and prevent browning.
- Assemble the sangria: Fill a large punch bowl with ice. Add the apple ghosts, blood orange slices, blackberries, and pomegranate seeds. Gently toss to mix the fruit. Pour in the light red wine, Italian soda, créme de cassis, and simple syrup. Stir carefully until all ingredients are well combined. Keep the sangria chilled and serve cold.
- Make ahead tips: The apple ghosts can be prepared up to 3 hours in advance and stored in an airtight container with lemon juice in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent browning. The wine, créme de cassis, and simple syrup mixture can be made one day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. When ready to serve, pour the mixture over ice, add the fruits, and stir in the Italian soda.
Notes
- Use fresh Granny Smith apples for a tart contrast and to keep apple ghosts firm.
- Choose light-bodied red wines like Grenache or Pinot Noir for a balanced sangria.
- Italian soda adds a fruity fizz without overpowering the flavors.
- The créme de cassis adds a sweet, dark berry flavor to complement the red wine.
- Prepare apple ghosts shortly before serving to maintain their shape and color, or store properly with lemon juice and refrigeration.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup according to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
