Holiday Punch
Say “Cheers” to the holidays with this festive party drink packed with fresh fruit, apple cider, cranberry juice, and holiday spices!
Hello, friends!
I took a wee break from the blog and social media these past two weeks to focus on work, spend some much-needed time with family, and prepare for my favorite holiday of the year!
Christmas!
Now that the tree(s) are up and decorated, the stockings are hung, and our house is filled with all the wonderful & cozy ‘feels’ of Christmas, it’s time to start planning a few holiday gatherings that we’ll be hosting in the next few weeks.
And one of my favorite things to do when it comes to planning any party is trying to create a signature cocktail that everyone will love.
Last year, our Peppermint Mocha-Tini’s were such a HUGE hit with our family & friends, and one of my absolute FAVORITE cocktails thus far.
But this year I wanted to create something TOTALLY different.
This year I wanted to blend all the amazing flavors of the holidays into one refreshing and delicious cocktail. And I wanted that cocktail to be just as good with or without alcohol.
.
Well, my friends. It took a bit of trial and error, but after serving the festive punch at a recent family gathering it would seem the recipe I created was indeed worth all my effort!
It not only was a big hit and gone before the cocktail hour was over, but everyone asked for a copy of the recipe before they left!
what you’ll need to make holiday punch:
- Pitcher
- Glasses
- Toothpicks
- Crockpot (for hot version)
- Ice
- 100% Cranberry Juice (NOT cranberry cocktail juice)
- Apple Cider(fresh)
- Oranges
- Apples
- Cranberries
- Cinnamon Sticks (optional)
- Whole Cloves
how to make holiday punch:
- Add cranberry juice, apple cider, and freshly squeezed orange juice to a large glass pitcher.
- Stir until well blended.
- Peel, core, and dice one large apple.
- Slice one large orange. Place both into the pitcher.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
NOTE: I felt the freshly-squeezed orange juice added enough sweetness to offset the tartness of the cranberry juice. I’m also not a fan of sweet punch. But, if you find the punch isn’t sweet enough for your taste you can definitely add in a tablespoon or so of sugar, honey, or agave. Some recipes also add in some type of flavored soda but again, I wanted this recipe to be flexible enough to use for brunch or cocktail hour, and I also wanted the juice and cider to shine through.
creating a cocktail:
Our Holiday Punch can be served with or without alcohol.
With Alcohol: Add ice to a short cocktail glass. Pour in one and a half ounces of rum or vodka. Fill with Holiday Punch. Thread four frozen cranberries onto a toothpick. Place in the drink, along with a half slice of orange.
can this holiday punch be served warm?
YES! If you’re a lover of warm cozy drinks then you’re going to be as thrilled as I am that this punch can also be served warm!
Individual drinks can be heated in a saucepan or microwave. Or serve the entire recipe warm by pouring the punch into a crockpot or slow cooker. Then add in cloves and cinnamon sticks. Turn the crockpot on low and simmer for 2-3 hours. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks. Serve in mugs with additional cinnamon sticks, and sugared cranberries.
Here’s the full recipe:
Holiday Punch
Served hot or cold this festive punch will be a favorite throughout the holidays!
Ingredients
- 4 cups 100% cranberry juice not cranberry cocktail
- 3 1/2 cups apple cider fresh
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1 apple peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 orange sliced
- 2/3 cup frozen cranberries
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR HOT PUNCH
- cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
Instructions
-
Combine cranberry juice, apple cider, and orange juice in a large glass pitcher. Stir until blended. Add in apples, oranges, and cranberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve over ice with additional cranberries, and an orange slice.
NOTE: The fresh-squeezed orange juice should add enough natural sugar to balance the tartness of the cranberry juice but if not, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar to taste.
Alcohol Version: Add ice and 1 1/2 ounces of rum or vodka to a short cocktail glass. Fill with the punch.
Warmed Version: For individual drinks, you can add to a saucepan or heat in the microwave. Or instead of placing ingredients in a pitcher, pour into a crockpot or slow cooker. Add in cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Turn on low and heat for 2-3 hours. When ready to serve, use a slotted spoon and remove cinnamon sticks and cloves. Serve with fresh cinnamon sticks.
Recipe Notes
***We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information of any recipe on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only.
Whether served hot or cold, I guarantee this punch is going to become a favorite during the holidays, and even into the new year!
SAVE FOR LATER♥
Looking for more holiday beverage ideas?
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Thank you so much for stopping by!
This sounds amazing! And perfect for a refreshing holiday drink!
Thank you so much, Michelle! It truly is refreshing and yummy!
This holiday punch looks amazing, Christine! I love how the red is so festive and cheery and your garnishes are all super cute too! The littles will be so thankful they can finally join in on our holiday cocktail hour too. They’re always so funny about the kid drinks vs the adult drinks and will be thrilled they can feel fancy now too! Can’t wait to try this recipe! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you so much, CoCo! The kids will love it for sure! Enjoy!