Holiday Punch
What do you and your family drink for holiday meals? Growing up we always had some sort of punch. I am proud to own the very punchbowl my grandmother used to combine Sherbert ice cream and ginger ale. The combination of juices, Sherbert and ginger ale has changed over the years, but the result has always been the same. A delicious sugary concoction that we drank way too much of.
We didn’t drink much alcohol, as a family, during the holidays. Now, as I plan to host my own family for Thanksgiving, I decided I want to give everyone the option. Holiday punch is the perfect option for everyone, whether you drink alcohol or not. It’s also great for those who can’t consume a ton of sugar.
I combine 100% fruit juices with a homemade cinnamon simple syrup. I have the option of controlling how much sugar is used to sweeten the punch instead of mixing a bunch of overly sweet juices and hoping for the best.
This holiday punch recipe combines orange juice concentrate which has no added sugar like the orange juice you purchase in the dairy section. You can easily find orange juice concentrate in your grocer’s freezer section near the frozen fruit. I also use 100% cranberry juice. This is not the same as cranberry juice cocktail. Cranberry juice doesn’t have any sugar in it which gives this holiday punch a unique tartness.
I know that pineapple juice isn’t very seasonal for winter holidays, but it is inexpensive, easy to find and provides a natural sweetness that balances the flavors of this holiday punch.
I love a little fizz with my holiday beverages. Topping this off with Prosecco or ginger ale is the perfect little bubbly fizz to round off this holiday punch.
Holiday Punch
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cup water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 12 oz orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 12 oz 100% cranberry juice
- 16 oz pineapple juice
- 8 oz apple juice
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 apple, sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh cranberries (optional)
- Prosecco or ginger ale
Instructions
- Combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Cook until the sugar has dissolved. Once dissolved, remove the simple syrup from the heat and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
- Pour orange juice concentrate, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and apple juice into a pitcher or punch bowl. Add cinnamon simple syrup and stir until combined. Garnish the punch bowl or pitcher with orange and apple slices and fresh cranberries.
- Pour punch over ice, filling the glass ⅔ full. Top off the glass with prosecco or ginger ale.
Notes
Punch can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Can also be chilled before serving with or without ice.