Festive Sangria

Sangria is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a cocktail.  This recipe is a festive twist on a classic, incorporating seasonal flavors like cranberry, orange, and spices.  It's perfect for a holiday party because its easy to mix up a whole pitcher at a time, it's a sweet-but-not-too-sweet crowd-pleaser, and it even looks beautiful in the pitcher!  

Spiced Cranberry Sangria
(Serves 6-8)

1 cup orange simple syrup
1 bottle red wine (I like Cabernet Sauvignon for this recipe)
4 cups Trader Joe's Spiced Cranberry cider (if you're not lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe's, use regular cranberry juice and add some mulling spices when you're making your orange simple syrup.)
1 Granny Smith apple, cut into large chunks
1 orange, cut into thin slices
1 cup fresh cranberries, frozen (these will keep it cold!)

For the orange simple syrup: combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 4-5 large strips of orange peel (and mulling spices, if you're using them) in a medium saucepan.  Bring the syrup to a simmer, stirring occasionally.  Allow the syrup to simmer away for 10-15 minutes, until the sugar dissolves completely and your kitchen starts to smell like oranges.  Once its done, pour the syrup through a strainer and allow to cool.


For the sangria: combine 1 cup of the orange simple syrup with the wine and cranberry cider.  Add the apples, orange slices, and frozen cranberries, and stir.  

Watch out, this stuff is more than a little bit dangerous!