Festive Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria: Your Perfect Holiday Sip

This Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria recipe offers the ideal solution for enjoying a vibrant, flavorful sangria without the commitment of making an entire pitcher. Whether you’re celebrating solo, with a loved one, or simply prefer a customized beverage, this festive concoction is designed just for you. Each sip promises a delightful blend of holiday cheer, beautifully enhanced by a sugar-coated sprig of fresh rosemary, making every moment merry and bright.

About This Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria

The holiday season often brings with it a whirlwind of social gatherings, elaborate meals, and endless preparations. Amidst this joyful chaos, finding a moment to relax and savor a truly delightful drink can be a challenge. That’s where this Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria comes in. It’s a sophisticated yet incredibly easy-to-make cocktail that captures the essence of Christmas in a glass.

For many years, my go-to festive drink has been a large batch of Christmas Sangria, a recipe beloved for its vibrant colors, refreshing flavors, and ease of preparation. It’s often adorned with fresh rosemary, a simple touch that adds a wonderful aromatic holiday feel. It has always been a crowd-pleaser, perfect for holiday parties and larger celebrations.

Why Single-Serve and Red Wine for the Holidays?

However, as life evolves, so do our holiday traditions and preferences. Lately, I’ve found myself hosting fewer grand parties and more intimate gatherings, or simply enjoying quiet evenings at home. Concurrently, my appreciation for red wine has deepened, leading me to crave a more robust and comforting sangria. This shift inspired the creation of this Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria. It’s about getting that delicious sangria fix without the need for a massive pitcher, perfect for when you’re not hosting a large crowd.

This recipe thoughtfully incorporates the rich, warming notes of red wine, creating a hearty and bold sangria that’s ideal for a cozy night in. Drawing inspiration from my original Christmas Sangria, I’ve reintroduced the aromatic rosemary, this time giving it a “frosted” look with a simple sugar coating – a truly magical touch for the season. Coupled with fresh fruit, warm cinnamon, and a hint of brandy, this drink is perfect for curling up by the fireplace, under the twinkling Christmas tree, or for a delightful gal’s or guy’s night in with your closest friends.

Ingredients for a Perfect Holiday Sangria

Crafting this delicious Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria requires a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the layered flavors that make this holiday drink so special:

• Red Wine: As the star of this red sangria, your wine choice is crucial. I personally lean towards a Merlot or Syrah for their rich, fruit-forward profiles and smooth tannins. However, a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or a lighter Pinot Noir can also work wonderfully, depending on your preference. The key is to select a varietal you genuinely enjoy drinking on its own, as its character will shine through in the sangria.
• Orange Juice: This provides a bright, citrusy base that beautifully complements the red wine and brandy. Freshly squeezed orange juice offers the best flavor, but a good quality store-bought 100% orange juice will also suffice, especially for convenience during the busy holidays.
• Brandy: A mid-tier brandy is perfect for sangria. It adds a lovely warmth, depth, and a subtle sweetness that elevates the overall profile of the drink without overpowering the wine. You don’t need to splurge on a top-shelf brandy, but avoid anything too harsh.
• Fresh Fruit: For that quintessential Christmas feel, we use a vibrant mix of fresh orange slices, chopped apple, and tart cranberries. The orange adds sweetness and aroma, the apple provides a crisp texture and mild flavor, and the cranberries bring a beautiful holiday color and a delightful tang.
• Cinnamon Sticks: Just a couple of whole cinnamon sticks are enough to infuse the sangria with a warm, inviting spice that screams “holiday.” It’s a subtle touch that makes a big difference.
• Rosemary: While optional, fresh rosemary sprigs are highly recommended for garnish. They not only add a touch of green and a pine-like aroma that enhances the festive experience but also serve as the perfect canvas for our frosted sugar coating.
• Granulated Sugar: This is solely for creating the stunning “frosted” effect on your rosemary garnish. A small amount goes a long way to make your sangria look extra special.

Essential Equipment for Your Sangria

Making this Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria is wonderfully simple, requiring just a few basic kitchen tools. Here’s what you’ll need to effortlessly prepare your holiday cocktail:

• Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife: Essential for safely and efficiently chopping your apple and slicing your orange. A good quality sharp knife makes fruit preparation quick and easy.
• Measuring Cups: For accurate measurement of your red wine, orange juice, and brandy, ensuring a balanced and consistently delicious sangria every time.
• Wine Glasses: Since this is a single-serve recipe, you’ll be building the sangria directly in your glasses. Large stemless wine glasses or even festive mugs work beautifully, allowing plenty of space for fruit and ice if desired.
• Cocktail Spoons (or regular spoons): Perfect for gently stirring all the ingredients together in your glass, ensuring the flavors begin to meld.
• Small Shallow Dish: For coating your rosemary sprigs in sugar, making it easy to roll and achieve that beautiful frosted effect.

How to Make Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria

Creating your perfect Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria is a delightful process, designed to be quick and easy. Follow these steps to assemble your festive drink:

Combine the Flavors

Begin by taking two large wine glasses – or just one if you’re truly making a single serving for yourself! Evenly divide the orange juice, red wine, and brandy between the glasses. Next, add a fresh slice of orange and one cinnamon stick to each glass. These aromatics will slowly infuse their wonderful scents and flavors into the liquid as the sangria chills. Finally, distribute the chopped apple pieces and fresh cranberries between the two glasses. Give everything a gentle stir with a cocktail spoon to ensure the liquids and fruits are well combined.

Chill for Perfection

Once your ingredients are combined, the sangria needs time for the flavors to meld and deepen. Place your glasses in the refrigerator for at least one hour. For the best infusion of fruit and spice, chilling for up to four hours is ideal. This allows the wine, juice, and brandy to absorb the festive notes from the orange, apple, cranberries, and cinnamon, creating a harmonious and truly delicious holiday beverage. While it can be served immediately, the chilling period significantly enhances the taste experience.

Garnish with Flair

Just before serving, prepare your show-stopping garnish. Take a shallow dish and add about 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Briefly rinse your rosemary sprigs under cold water – this helps the sugar adhere better – and gently shake off any excess water. Roll each rosemary sprig thoroughly in the sugar until it’s beautifully coated and looks “frosted.” Set them aside on a clean plate until you are ready to serve. Once your sangria is perfectly chilled and infused, place a sugar-coated rosemary sprig into each glass. This sangria can be enjoyed perfectly chilled straight from the fridge, or you can let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes if you prefer a slightly less cold beverage. The visual appeal of the frosted rosemary truly completes this festive drink.

What to Serve with Your Christmas Sangria

This Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria is not just a drink; it’s an experience. To elevate that experience, consider pairing it with some delightful holiday bites. Whether you’re making a full recipe to share or just a small snack for yourself, these options complement the rich flavors of the sangria perfectly. (Remember to adjust quantities if you’re cooking for one!):

• Roasted Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini: The tangy goat cheese and sweet-tart cranberries on a crispy crostini provide a wonderful contrast to the sangria’s fruity depth.
• Bite-Sized Baked Bacon Brie Pockets: The creamy, savory brie and crispy bacon offer a luxurious pairing that stands up well to the bold red wine.
• Berbere Fried Ravioli: For those who love a bit of spice, these flavorful ravioli add an exciting kick that surprisingly harmonizes with the sangria’s fruit notes.
• Chicken Spinach Artichoke Dip Puffs: Light, savory, and comforting, these puffs are a delightful and easy appetizer that won’t overpower the delicate balance of your sangria.

More Festive Holiday Recipes

The holiday season is a wonderful time for culinary exploration and creating memorable dishes and drinks. If you’re looking for more inspiration to make your celebrations extra special, be sure to explore these other fantastic holiday recipes:

• Day One – Red Wine Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
• Day Two – Gingerbread Challah Bread
• Day Three – Mini Beef Wellingtons
• Day Four – Bourbon Gingerbread Punch
• Day Five – Twice-Baked Chicken Shawarma Stuffed Potatoes
• Day Seven – White Chocolate Dipped Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

For those who love a good cocktail, don’t forget to check out our comprehensive list of Christmas cocktails and drinks, which includes a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. And if you’re ever in the mood for a larger batch, our Classic Red Sangria recipe is perfect for entertaining a crowd.

Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria Recipe Card

Finally, if you prepare this Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria, please consider leaving a rating or a comment below! I genuinely love hearing about your experiences with my recipes and take the time to respond to every comment. Feel free to ask any questions you might have!

And don’t forget to share your festive creations on Instagram by tagging me! Seeing these recipes come to life in your homes is truly my favorite part, and it means the world to me.