Black Halloween Sangria
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This black Halloween sangria has brandy, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, grapes, cherries, and blackberries! It only has a few simple ingredients that make for a fruity, boozy drink. Made in a pitcher, it’s a cute, spooky little cocktail for a Halloween party!
I know loving Halloween is a little basic these days, but I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t been planning my Halloween costume since June. So why not just lean fully into the holiday? I’m talking witchy black velvet cake and Halloween charcuterie boards.
It’s spooky szn y’all!
And of course, it isn’t Halloween without some kind of cocktail to sip on while passing out candy or partying with friends. This sangria is dark, spooky, and full of fruity flavors. Let’s get into it!
Why you’ll love this sangria
After throwing dozens of get-togethers, I’ve come to the conclusion that sangria is the perfect party drink. My family used to make it all the time for dinners or parties and now I’m carrying on the tradition with my friends.
- Sangria is truly the quickest, easiest cocktail ever. Just mix it, the end.
- It’s made in a pitcher so it’s great for parties and groups.
- With dark fruit and red wine, this cocktail is nice and spooky for Halloween!
- This is the perfect make-ahead cocktail because it needs to sit for a few hours.
What is sangria?
Sangria is a Spanish and Portuguese cocktail made up of red wine (traditionally Rioja), juice, and chopped fruit. Some recipes have other ingredients like brandy or flavored liqueurs. It’s served over ice for a fruity, super refreshing cocktail!
The ingredient list
- Red wine – Rioja is typically used in sangria but any fruity wine will do. I recommend picking something dry so the cocktail isn’t too sweet!
- Pomegranate juice – this will mellow out the cocktail and add tartness and acidity.
- Brandy – the brandy adds richness, depth, and a bit more alcohol to the sangria.
- Orange liqueur – go for something like Triple Sec. The orange liqueur perfectly complements the pomegranate juice – so good!
- Simple syrup – for just a touch of sweetness. To make your own, combine equal parts sugar and water in a pot, bring it to a boil for 1-2 minutes, and let it cool completely.
- Fresh fruit – black grapes, blackberries, black cherries, and figs taste amazing and add to the spooky vibes.
Pro tip!
For the best flavor, use 100% juice with no added sugar or flavors. Otherwise, the cocktail might be too sweet!
Ingredient variations
- Juice – try cranberry, sour cherry, grape, or apple juice. If you use grape or apple juice, reduce the simple syrup to offset the extra sugar in the juice.
- Brandy – if you’re not a fan, try vodka, bourbon, or rum instead.
- Liqueur – if you don’t have Triple Sec, you can also use Grand Marnier or even Chambord for a note of raspberry!
- Fruit – any dark fruit or autumn fruit would be delicious in this sangria. Try apples, pears, blueberries, pomegranates, or plums!
How to make this sangria
- Place the halved grapes, halved cherries, and blackberries to a large pitcher or punch bowl.
- Then, pour in the wine, pomegranate juice, brandy, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Stir until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Lastly, pour the sangria into glasses, garnish with blackberries and figs, and enjoy!
Quick tip
The sangria needs to sit for at least 2 hours. You want to give the cocktail time for all of the flavors to meld together. Trust me, this is the secret to great (not just good) sangria!
Storing & make-ahead
To store leftover sangria, cover the pitcher. Then, refrigerate it for up to 3 days. After a few days, the fruit will start to get a bit soggy.
This is also the perfect make-ahead cocktail! Since it needs to meld for at least 2 hours, you can mix up this cocktail the night before you plan on serving it.
Serving ideas
You can serve this sangria in a pitcher, punch bowl, or drink dispenser. (How cute would it look in a little cauldron?) I also like enjoying it Spanish-style with tapas (small plates) before dinner. Here are some of my favorites!
- Marinated mozzarella with basil & lemon
- Beef Wellington bites with Dijon sauce
- Mini cranberry orange cheese balls
- Spicy deviled eggs with crispy shallots
- Savory palmiers with Parmesan & everything spice
What kind of wine should I use?
The most traditional wine in red sangria is Rioja, but you can use other varieties too! For this sangria, I recommend something medium or full-bodied to get that dark color. Try these:
- Malbec
- Zinfandel
- Syrah
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
- Garnacha
Pro tip!
This is not the time to spend a whole lot of pennies on a nice bottle of wine. Since we’re mixing it with liqueurs, simple syrup, and juice, it’s not worth using a really nice bottle. Just pick something you enjoy drinking but is still affordable!
Tips & tricks
- For an extra spooky effect, use dry ice! Just be careful not to touch the dry ice with your bare hands!
- If you prefer less sweet cocktails, start with half of the simple syrup. Taste and add more simple syrup if you like.
- For a big crowd, double the recipe. You could even triple or quadruple it if you’re having a lot of people over!
- Serve this cocktail chilled. You can either serve it over ice or just refrigerate it right before pouring.
- If you want a red Halloween drink, use a light-bodied red wine instead. Pinot Noir is my favorite!
Recipe FAQs
Can I make this recipe with white wine?
I have never tried making this sangria with white wine, but I’m sure it would work great! It just won’t have the black effect (it’ll be more pink or red with the pomegranate juice). Choose a dry, fruity white wine like Pinot Grigio for the best flavor!
Can I use different kinds of fruit?
Sure! Any dark fruit or autumn fruit would be delicious in this recipe. Try blueberries, plums, apples, pears, or pomegranate arils.
What kind of alcohol is sangria?
Sangria is a mix of wine and different liquors or liqueurs. In this recipe, I use red wine, brandy, and Triple Sec, but some recipes use vodka, Grand Marnier, whiskey, or rum.
Do you serve red sangria cold?
Yes! I like to serve this cocktail chilled from the fridge, but it’s usually poured over ice.
More cocktails for Halloween
Witches Brew Cocktail Punch
Sour Spaghett Cocktail
Strawberry Gin Smash
Blueberry Lemon Vodka Spritz
Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
Blood Orange Bourbon Aperol Cocktail
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Black Halloween Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 cup halved black grapes (175 grams)
- 1 cup halved black cherries, pitted (200 grams)
- 1 cup blackberries, plus more for garnish (150 grams)
- 1 750 milliliter bottle of fruity, dry red wine (I use Rioja)
- 1 1/2 cups 100% pomegranate juice (354 milliliters)
- 1/3 cup brandy (80 milliliters)
- 1/3 cup orange liqueur (80 milliliters)
- 1/4 cup simple syrup, more or less to taste (60 milliliters)
- 4 figs, halved
Equipment
- 1 Pitcher or punch bowl
Instructions
- Add the grapes, cherries, and blackberries to a pitcher or punch bowl.
- Then, pour the wine, pomegranate juice, brandy, orange liqueur, and simple syrup over the fruit. Give it a good stir.
- Cover the pitcher or punch bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Pour the chilled sangria into glasses (you can also serve it over ice) and garnish with blackberries and figs. Enjoy!
Notes
xo Sara Lynn
Song of the day – Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
