This low-sugar Christmas Sangria was a hit at my ladies’ night holiday party!
It’s not too sweet and not too strong. It’s a great beverage to welcome your guests with as they arrive to your party.
I got the idea for this delightful drink from Stella Goods in Bozeman during a holiday party at my friend Keely’s store Spruce & Honey (check them both out if you stop by Bozeman).
A signature holiday drink instantly makes any gathering feel more special.
This is a well-rounded drink that everyone loves. I gave you an alcohol-free version below too that’s equally delicious.
You’ll need a punch bowl or large beverage container like I have here in the photos; I realized my jar was way too big once I had everything in but since I don’t have a punch bowl I just went with it. I used a big ladle to serve and it worked out perfectly. Try to use something large and clear—this drink is so pretty that you’ll want to show it off.
Chill all of the ingredients at least four hours ahead of time if possible; chilled sangria is always better than warm sangria. I try to not water it down with ice.
To choose the wine, I asked the wine store for a nice dry rosé at a good price. She picked out one from France that was a super reasonable price (around $12/bottle). You don’t have to spend a fortune, just choose something that would taste great on its own since it’s the base of your sangria. Just like all food, the quality of your ingredients determines how your dish turns out. A dry rosé really works here, or you could use another dry white wine. When in doubt ask your local wine store for help.
Since none of the other ingredients have added sugar there’s still a relatively low amount of sugar overall per serving. Simple syrup is usually made with one part water to one part sugar. To keep the sugar low, I used two parts water to one part sugar. Each servings of this Christmas Sangria has about two teaspoons of added sugar per serving, which is waaaaaay less than most holiday cocktails.
This drink is simple and impressive. It’s definitely my new holiday party go-to.
Delicious Christmas Sangria Recipe (Low Sugar)
Makes about 20 5-ounce servings
Easily halved for smaller crowds
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles dry rosé wine, chilled
- 8 ounces premium vodka, chilled (omit for a lighter drink)
- 2 12-ounce cans of club soda, chilled
- 2 1/2 cups pomegranate simple syrup from recipe below (completely cooled)
Floating garnish:
- 1/2 cup whole cranberries
- 1 orange, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1/2 of a green pear, chopped
- extra pomegranate seeds from the pomegranate used to make the simple syrup
- 5-6 two-three inch fresh rosemary sprigs, plus more to garnish glasses if desired
Method: Mix all chilled ingredients in a large serving container about 20 minutes before your party starts.
I like to leave the vodka out because hard liquor makes me feel like a train hit me the day after I drink it, but you do you.
Pomegranate Simple Syrup Recipe
Makes about 2 1/2 cups
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups purified water
- juice of one pomegranate (about 1/2 cup of strained pomegranate juice)
As I mentioned above, simple syrup is usually made with one part water to one part sugar. To keep the sugar lower than normal, I used 2 parts water to 1 part sugar. You can use honey, raw sugar, coconut sugar, or plain white sugar.
Method: Add 2 cups of purified water and 1 cup of white sugar to a sauce pan, bring to a simmer then stir until the sugar is completely dissolved (about 3 minutes). Remove from heat. Stir in the juice of one fresh pomegranate. To extract the pomegranate juice, gently roll your pomegranate on the counter until you feel the inside seeds (aka arils) crack—this will release the juice. Cut the pomegranate in half (do this in a bowl as juice will start to run everywhere) then squeeze each half to get as much juice out as possible. Strain to remove the sides and pith. You should end up with about 1/2 cup pomegranate juice (more or less depending on your fruit).
Let the simple syrup mixture cool completely before adding it to your sangria. It will take at least an hour to cool. This step can be done up to three days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
Christmas Sangria Mocktail Recipe (Alcohol-Free Version)
Makes about 20 5-ounce servings
Easily halved for smaller crowds
Ingredients:
- 1 1-liter bottle natural lemon-lime soda, chilled (or three 12-ounce cans) – I prefer to get this at the natural grocery store to avoid high fructose syrup
- 48 ounces (4 cans) of club soda, chilled
- 2 1/2 cups pomegranate simple syrup from recipe below (completely cooled)
Floating garnish:
- 1/2 cup whole cranberries
- 1 orange, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1/2 of a green pear, chopped
- extra pomegranate seeds from the pomegranate used to make the simple syrup
- 5-6 two-three inch fresh rosemary sprigs, plus more to garnish glasses if desired
Method: Mix all chilled ingredients in a large serving container about 20 minutes before your party starts.
Here’s a shot of how I set up my beverage station. It’s great to serve one signature drink, one non-alcoholic drink (I served this big bottle of kombucha tea in a champagne bucket), plus a red wine and a white wine. Line everything up with glasses and open all of the containers to create a self-serve bar for your guests. I have a filtered water tap on my sink right next to where I serve, but if water isn’t close include a water pitcher, too.
Sending you tons of love for your next holiday gathering!
Cheers!
