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
Scale
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
