Cranberry Vanilla Chai Sangria is a cozy, festive drink that is a fall must. Made with white wine, brandy, and a cranberry vanilla chai simple syrup, this is the perfect cranberry cocktail. Enjoy this simple white wine sangria that takes less than 25 minutes to make (and only 5 if you prepare the simple syrup beforehand).
There is nothing I love more than a delicious sangria in the fall. Sangria, without a doubt, is one of my favorite pitcher drinks. I love how versatile it is and how much you can play with the flavors.
I also love to take a break from the traditional fall red wine sangria and make a white wine option as well.
Pitcher drinks are perfect for the holidays, as you can make a batch to serve an entire table. It saves time and the hassle of making drinks as you go.
This vanilla chai pitcher drink is a crowd pleaser during the holidays. It tastes like everything you could possibly dream of in a holiday drink, plus so much more. The creamy vanilla pairs well with the spicy cinnamon and the fresh cranberries.
This drink would pair well with almost any fall appetizer, including my baked apple fries. If you are not a vegan, as we welcome all diets here, I know it will pair well with My Savory Adventures' Easy Green Onion Cheese Ball, which is shaped like a pumpkin!
This chai sangria is incredible easy to make, with the cranberry vanilla chai simple syrup being even easier. All you need is a pitcher, a burner and a sauce pan and you can make this drink.
Let me show you how easy it is to make!
Ingredients and Substitutions For Vanilla Sangria
This vanilla sangria is made with simple ingredients. All you need is fresh cranberries, vanilla bean pasta, cinnamon sticks, sugar, water, seltzer, chai tea bags, brandy and white wine. I have provided substitutions for you as well.
White Wine- I used a sovereign blanc, but you may use any white wine. If you want this drink to be on the sweeter side, you may use a Riesling. You can also use red wine.
Brandy- If you are not a brandy fan, you may substitute this for grand marnier. This will add more of a citrus taste to the drink, but will keep it boozy.
Seltzer- I used a raspberry cranberry flavored seltzer, but plain, raspberry, cranberry or lime would do well. You can also use club soda.
Sugar- I used sugar in the raw. You may use regular white sugar or coconut sugar at a 1-1 ratio.
Chai- If you are not a fan of chai, you may omit it from this recipe. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of tea.
Cranberries- If for any reason you do not like cranberries, you may use pears in place.
Vanilla Bean Paste- You may substitute this for vanilla bean pods or vanilla extract.
Cinnamon- Not a cinnamon fan, no problem! You may use cloves in place.
Optional Ad Ins- You may add orange slices, apple slices and pears into this sangria!
Tips on How To Make This White Wine Sangria
The first thing you will need to do is make the simple syrup. This is the key to this recipe! You want to make sure your sangria is sweet and full of the cranberry vanilla chai flavor. This syrup is simple to make!
Combine the water, sugar, vanilla bean pasta, cranberries and cinnamon into a sauce pan and heat over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to simmer and the sugar has dissolved, add in the chai tea bags and remove from heat.
Allow the chai to steep for 10 minutes. Then place the mixture into the fridge to cool.
While the simple syrup is cooling, begin making the sangria. First, add the cranberries and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher.
Next, pour the white wine, seltzer and brandy into the pitcher. Stir it well so it is combined.
Remove the syrup from the refrigerator and remove the tea bags from the syrup. Pour the syrup into the pitcher and mix!
Option to add in the ice to this pitcher drink if you are serving immediately.
That is it. You are done. It is that simple!
Tips for Storing This Vanilla Sangria
Storing - This wine based cranberry cocktail will store well in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Do not add ice if you are storing it, as the ice will melt and dilute your drink.
Short of time? - That is no issue. If you are short on time or do not want to transport this pitcher drink, make the simple syrup ahead of time! This will cut out 20 minutes of this recipe. Then, you can easily pour all ingredients into the pitcher in under 5 minutes.
Other Tasty Fall Cocktails:
Did you make this recipe?
I am so pleased you did. Please leave me a review, which encourages me and helps me improve in the future. Don't forget to tag me on social media too! @Peachhtreee !
Cranberry Vanilla Chai Sangria
Ingredients
Cranberry Vanilla Chai Simple Syrup
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ cup cranberries
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 chai tea bags
Sangria
- 750 ml white wine
- ½ cup brandy
- 2 cups Seltzer
- Simple syrup all that was made
- ½ cup cranberries and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
Cranberry Vanilla Chai Syrup
- Place sugar, water, cranberries and cinnamon sticks in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat stirring often.
- Once sugar dissolves and begins to simmer, remove from heat and add in two tea bags.
- Allow tea to steep for 10 minutes. If you are not short on time, place syrup into fridge and allow to cool for 10 minutes. If you are short on time, add a handful of ice into syrup to allow it to cool.
- Once cooled, remove tea bags from syrup. Do not strain the simple syrup.
Sangria
- Add cranberries and cinnamon (and any additional add ons you would like) into a large bowl or pitcher.
- Slowly pour in sangria, brandy and white wine. Stir well.
- Add in simple syrup and stir.
- If you are serving immediately, add in ice.
- If you are not serving immediately, place in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
Notes
Brandy– If you are not a brandy fan, you may substitute this for grand marnier. This will add more of a citrus taste to the drink, but will keep it boozy.
Seltzer- I used a raspberry cranberry flavored seltzer, but plain, raspberry, cranberry or lime would do well. You may also use club soda.
Sugar- I used sugar in the raw. You may use regular white sugar or coconut sugar at a 1-1 ratio.
Chai- If you are not a fan of chai, you may omit it from this recipe. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of tea.
Cranberries- If for any reason you do not like cranberries, you may use pears in place.
Vanilla Bean Paste- You may substitute this for vanilla bean pods or vanilla extract.
Cinnamon- Not a cinnamon fan, no problem! You may use cloves in place.
Optional Ad Ins- You may add orange slices, apple slices and pears into this sangria!
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