Published on December 23, 2016 | Last Updated on December 23, 2016

Christmas is just days away and if your schedule has been anything like mine, the holiday parties are in full swing! I made this sangria recipe for a dinner party a couple weeks ago and it was a huge hit. It’s really easy to mix up and let sit in the fridge while you finish up the rest of the meal. 

CHRISTMAS SANGRIA
Makes 1 large pitcher

1 bottle of sweet red wine
1 can of sparkling water
6 ounces brandy
1 orange cut into slices
1 pear sliced into quarters
1/2 cup of cranberries
1/2 of a pomegranate
 1 red apple thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cloves
2-3 star anise

You don’t have to follow else exact amounts, you can add whatever fruit you have on hand! The main thing that sets this apart from traditional sangria, are the spices the wine will marinate in. Since the cloves are small, I stuck them into the cranberries because no one is going to eat raw cranberries anyways! So you’ll be able to get the flavor without having to fish them out before you serve. You’ll add all the fruit and spices to the pitcher, pour the wine, brandy and sparkling water over the top, give it a good stir and stick in the fridge for at least 3 hours. The pears absorb the brandy and they are SO good! You can serve over ice or just as still since it’s chilled. Cheers!