Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria
Spanish red wine, sparkling pomegranate soda and brandy with orange, apple, pear, cinnamon and split vanilla beans. A jewel-toned pitcher for holiday parties.
Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria
Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy10
servings20
minutes1
hourSpanish red wine, sparkling pomegranate soda and brandy with orange, apple, pear, cinnamon and split vanilla beans. A jewel-toned pitcher for holiday parties.
Ingredients
1 1/2 bottles Spanish red wine
16 ounces sparkling pomegranate soda
4 ounces brandy
1/2 ounce vanilla extract
Sugar, to taste
1 orange, sliced
1 apple, chopped
1 pear, chopped
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, for the pitcher
2 cinnamon sticks
2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
4 cups ice, for the glasses
1/4 cup extra pomegranate arils, for garnish
6 cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Directions
- Slice the orange and chop the apple and pear into small pieces.
- Put the fruit, cinnamon sticks and pomegranate seeds into a large pitcher.
- Pour in the Spanish red wine, sparkling pomegranate soda and brandy.
- Add the vanilla extract and a spoonful of sugar.
- Split the vanilla beans lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and stir them in, then drop in the empty pods too.
- Stir thoroughly with a long spoon so the vanilla seeds are spread through the wine.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour, until the sangria is cold and smells of vanilla.
- Taste and add more sugar if it is too tart.
- Spoon fruit into each glass, add ice and pour the sangria over the top.
- Garnish with pomegranate arils and a cinnamon stick.
Notes
- For a version without alcohol, use pomegranate juice and extra sparkling pomegranate soda in place of the wine and brandy, and keep the vanilla. Keep the pitcher covered in the fridge for about 3 days. The soda goes flat after a day, so top glasses with a little fresh sparkling water if you want the fizz back. Fish out the vanilla pods before the second day.
Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria for the holidays
Split vanilla beans and scraped seeds give a soft, floral note against the red wine. Sparkling pomegranate soda adds fizz and fruit, and brandy adds depth. The pitcher gets a jewel-like color.
A little sugar goes in at the end, to taste.
Swaps
Pomegranate juice and sparkling water replace the soda. Rum can stand in for brandy. Vanilla extract adds flavor, but beans taste better.
Do not skip the cinnamon. Without it, the drink tastes plain.
Serving and keeping
Serve over ice with a cheese board, roasted nuts or a holiday ham.
The soda goes flat after a day, so top glasses with a little fresh sparkling water. The pitcher keeps for about three days.
A mistake to skip
Adding the vanilla extract too heavy. A small amount is plenty, and the beans give the real flavor. Split each bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds with a knife, then drop in the pods. Taste before adding sugar, since the sparkling pomegranate soda is already sweet.
Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria at a glance
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 10 servings
- Ingredients: 14, led by bottles Spanish red wine, sparkling pomegranate soda, brandy, vanilla extract
Tips for Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria
For a version without alcohol, use pomegranate juice and extra sparkling pomegranate soda in place of the wine and brandy, and keep the vanilla. Keep the pitcher covered in the fridge for about 3 days. The soda goes flat after a day, so top glasses with a little fresh sparkling water if you want the fizz back. Fish out the vanilla pods before the second day.
Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria FAQ
How many people does Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria serve?
This recipe makes 10 servings.
What do I need to make Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria?
14 ingredients, led by bottles Spanish red wine, sparkling pomegranate soda, brandy, vanilla extract. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 25 Easy Fall Sangria Recipes for Thanksgiving and Cozy Nights
