Description
This easy Thanksgiving Punch is one of the best holiday drink ideas for a festive gathering. Sweet apple cider combines with tart cranberry juice and fresh orange juice for a quick and simple drink that tastes like fall. Sparkling ginger ale adds a refreshing finish while sliced apples and oranges bring natural sweetness and color. It is a healthy-inspired nonalcoholic option for Thanksgiving dinner or a fall brunch or a holiday potluck or a family party.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Apple cider
- 1 cup Cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup Orange juice
- 1 cup Ginger ale
- 1 medium apple Red apple
- 1 medium orange Orange
- 1/2 cup Fresh cranberries
- 1 whole stick Cinnamon stick
- 2 cups Ice cubes
Instructions
- Wash the apple and orange thoroughly before cutting the apple into thin wedges and the orange into thin circular slices. Remove the apple core and any visible orange seeds while keeping the colorful fruit peels intact.
Arrange the sliced fruit loosely with some pieces overlapping and others resting separately. Keep the 1/2 cup of whole cranberries nearby for adding later because they will provide the final festive touch.
- Pour the 2 cups of apple cider into a large glass pitcher and follow with 1 cup of cranberry juice and 1/2 cup of orange juice. Stir until the separate juice colors blend into a rich reddish amber mixture with a smooth and uniform liquid consistency.
Add the whole cinnamon stick and submerge it partially in the juice. Refrigerate the pitcher for 30 minutes so the punch becomes cold while the cinnamon gently infuses the blended juices.
- Remove the chilled pitcher from the refrigerator and slowly pour in 1 cup of ginger ale. The punch will develop a delicate layer of sparkling bubbles as the clear soda blends into the darker juice mixture.
Add the prepared apple wedges and orange rounds along with 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries. Let the fruit float naturally throughout the pitcher while some pieces overlap and others settle at different depths. The finished punch should have visible fruit and a refreshing sparkling appearance.
- Divide the 2 cups of ice cubes among four clear serving glasses and pour the finished Thanksgiving Punch over the ice. Allow the juice to settle between the cubes while small bubbles rise naturally through the drink.
Transfer a few apple wedges and an orange slice into each glass and distribute the fresh cranberries among the servings. Serve immediately while the punch is cold and sparkling with the fruit visible through the glass.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Choose cloudy unfiltered apple cider for a richer fall flavor and use unsweetened cranberry juice if you prefer a more tart finish.
- Refrigerate the juice mixture before adding ginger ale because pouring soda into a warm drink will cause its bubbles to disappear faster.
- Slice the apple shortly before serving so it stays crisp and fresh while the orange rounds remain colorful inside the pitcher.
- Keep the ice in individual glasses instead of adding it to the pitcher because melting ice can dilute the punch during a long holiday meal.
Storage: Store leftover Thanksgiving Punch in a tightly covered glass pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator. Remove the apple slices and orange rounds before storing because the fruit can soften and lose its fresh texture after sitting in the juice for an extended period.
For the best flavor and food safety refrigerate leftover punch promptly and enjoy it within 2 days. The ginger ale will gradually lose carbonation during storage although the apple and cranberry flavors will remain pleasant.
If you prepare the drink in advance then combine the apple cider and cranberry juice and orange juice with the cinnamon stick before refrigerating. Keep the ginger ale sealed separately and store the sliced fruit in an airtight container until shortly before serving. The juice base can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead for convenient holiday entertaining.
Freezing the finished sparkling punch is not recommended because the carbonation disappears and the fresh fruit becomes soft after thawing. However you can freeze the juice mixture without ginger ale or fruit in ice cube trays and use those frozen cubes to chill future servings without introducing plain water.
Never store leftover punch with melted serving ice because it will dilute the flavor and make the drink taste weaker. Discard any punch that has remained at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minute
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American