Refreshing Tart Cherry Sangria

If you ask me, sangria is one of summer’s best inventions.

This refreshing tart cherry version puts a fun twist on the classic Spanish drink. Sweet-tart cherries and red wine create a perfect balance, while fresh citrus adds a bright pop of flavor.

It’s mixed with a splash of brandy and a hint of cinnamon that gives it that special something. Fresh fruit soaks up all the good stuff, making every sip better than the last.

It’s a laid-back drink that’s perfect for warm afternoons on the patio or casual get-togethers with friends.

What Kind of Tart Cherries Should I Use?

For this sangria recipe, you’ll notice we’re using tart cherries in three different forms – frozen, dried, and as juice. Montmorency cherries are the most common tart cherry variety you’ll find in stores, and they work perfectly here. Fresh tart cherries can be tricky to find outside their short summer season, which is why this recipe smartly relies on frozen and dried options that are available year-round. When shopping for tart cherry juice, look for 100% pure cherry juice without added sweeteners – you’ll find it in the natural foods section of most grocery stores or near other fruit juices. If you’re having trouble finding frozen tart cherries, you can substitute frozen sweet cherries, but the flavor profile will be slightly less complex.

Options for Substitutions

This non-alcoholic sangria recipe can be tweaked in several ways while keeping its festive spirit:

• Tart cherry juice: If you can’t find tart cherry juice, you can use regular black cherry juice or pomegranate juice. The drink will be less tart but still tasty. Just add a splash of lemon juice to bring back some tartness.
• Non-alcoholic prosecco: Other alcohol-free sparkling wines work great here, or try sparkling apple cider or even plain sparkling water with a splash of white grape juice.
• Apple cider: Apple juice works in place of apple cider, though you might want to add a tiny pinch of cinnamon to make up for the missing spice notes.
• Frozen and dried cherries: Fresh cherries work when in season. For dried cherries, try cranberries or dried blueberries instead. Frozen cherries can be swapped with frozen cranberries or mixed berries.
• Spices (star anise, cloves, cinnamon): These spices create the signature flavor, but you can skip one or two if needed. If you’re missing star anise, add an extra cinnamon stick. No whole spices? Use 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves instead.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making cherry sangria is rushing the reduction process – a properly concentrated cherry base needs at least 20-25 minutes of gentle simmering to develop deep flavors, so keep the heat low and steady.

When adding the spices, avoid the temptation to crush or break them up, as this can make the drink bitter and create unwanted particles – instead, keep them whole and strain them out after the reduction has cooled.

Temperature control is crucial for serving – if your prosecco is too warm, you’ll lose the bubbles quickly, so make sure all components are well-chilled before mixing, and consider keeping your serving glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before pouring.

For the best flavor balance, taste and adjust the cherry reduction-to-prosecco ratio before serving, as different brands of cherry juice and prosecco can vary in sweetness.

What to Serve With Cherry Sangria?

This alcohol-free sangria pairs wonderfully with light appetizers and snacks that complement its fruity, spiced flavors. A cheese board with mild cheeses like brie or gouda, along with some honey-drizzled nuts and dried fruits, makes for perfect nibbling while sipping. Since this drink has warming spices like cinnamon and star anise, it goes really well with Spanish-inspired tapas like manchego cheese, marinated olives, or thin-sliced prosciutto. For a casual gathering, you could also put out some simple spiced nuts or a bowl of marcona almonds to match the drink’s cozy vibe.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: The cherry reduction can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. It’s great to make this ahead so you can quickly mix up drinks whenever you want!

Mix Later: For the best fizzy experience, don’t mix the full sangria until you’re ready to serve. Keep your cherry reduction and apple cider separate from the prosecco. When party time comes, just combine everything and add your garnishes for a fresh, bubbly drink.

Garnish Tips: If you’re prepping ahead for a party, you can have your garnishes ready to go. Keep frozen cherries in the freezer (they work great as ice cubes!), and have your cinnamon sticks and star anise stored in a dry place until serving time.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	15 minutes
Total Time	25-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 250-300
• Protein: 2-4 g
• Fat: 0-1 g
• Carbohydrates: 65-70 g

Ingredients

• 2 ounces cherry reduction
• 1 ounce apple cider
• Non-alcoholic prosecco, to top
• Optional toppings: tart cherries
• Optional toppings: cinnamon stick
• Optional toppings: star anise
• 1/4 cup frozen tart cherries
• 1/4 cup dried tart cherries
• 1 cup concentrated tart cherry juice
• 1 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 8 clove buds

Step 1: Prepare the Tart Cherry Reduction

In a saucepan, combine ¼ cup of frozen tart cherries, ¼ cup of dried tart cherries, 1 cup of tart cherry juice concentrate, 1 cup of water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise, and 8 cloves.

Set the saucepan over medium heat and stir the ingredients to mix thoroughly.

Step 2: Simmer and Strain the Reduction

Bring the cherry mixture to a simmer and let it gently simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and concentrate.

After 15 minutes, strain the mixture into a storage container to remove the solids, and allow the reduction to cool to room temperature before using.

Step 3: Assemble the Drink

Take a wine glass and fill it with ice cubes.

Add 2 oz.

of the tart cherry reduction and 1 oz.

of apple cider to the glass.

Stir the mixture to ensure it is well combined, creating a balanced base for your drink.

Step 4: Top with Non-Alcoholic Prosecco

Fill the glass the rest of the way with non-alcoholic prosecco, pouring slowly to maintain the carbonation and create a refreshing fizz.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Optionally, garnish your drink with a few tart cherries, a cinnamon stick, and a star anise for added aroma and visual appeal.

Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful, non-alcoholic tart cherry cocktail!