The Thanksgiving Punch recipe is a delicious and flavorful cocktail that brings the warm and cozy vibes of the fall season to your Thanksgiving celebrations.
What is a Thanksgiving Punch?
It is a festive and tasty drink typically served during Thanksgiving gatherings. It’s a large-batch cocktail designed to serve a crowd, making it a convenient option for entertaining.
Thanksgiving punch often features seasonal flavors and ingredients that complement the fall season, such as apple cider, fresh cranberries, spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise or nutmeg, rosemary sprigs, apple slices, and citrus fruits like orange or lemon.
These punches are usually served cold, sometimes with soda water, ginger ale, or a splash of bourbon to enhance the overall flavor. Thanksgiving punches are a popular choice for celebrating and enjoying the holiday spirit while providing a refreshing and enjoyable drink for guests.
Ingredients For a Thanksgiving Punch
Let’s dive into the recipe for this delicious Thanksgiving punch!
- Apple Cider- It is a caramel-colored liquid with a complex sweet and sour flavor. It is a little more spicy than apple juice. It is a versatile delight because it can be consumed alone as a drink or used as the main ingredient for a cocktail punch!
- Peach schnapps- The flavor is intensely fruity and peachy, making it ideal for pairing with bourbon and apple cider flavors.
- Orange juice – The citrus touch of fresh orange juice gives us balance and body to our delicious punch!
- Sparkling water- The bubbly touch of this ingredient gives us a very pleasant finish in the mouth in addition to reducing the strength of the flavors of the spices in this recipe, making it easy to taste!
- Bourbon- The complex flavors of whiskey provide a great fusion with the other flavors and aromas of our recipe that you will simply love! If you don’t like whiskey Vodka is optional.
- Maple syrup- To balance the vinegary and spicy flavor of our festive punch, we will add this sweetener to maintain the balance of flavors. Using simple syrup is optional.
- Cinnamon sticks- Cinnamon is an ingredient that gives us peace or a sneeze when we smell it, but we can’t miss combining it with apples and cranberries!
- Rosemary sprigs- The aromatic nature of this herb makes an excellent combination to activate our sensory senses in both the mouth and nose.
- Garnish- There are many combinations that we can create to decorate our punch, on this occasion I used Fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and apple slices, feel free to experiment with ingredients you have on hand.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
How to Make a Thanksgiving Punch?
Thanksgiving punch is a popular choice for celebrating and enjoying the holiday spirit while providing a refreshing and enjoyable drink with fall flavors for your guests.
Instructions:
Step 1 In a large punch bowl or large pitcher, combine orange juice and maple syrup in a large punch bowl, whisk together cups apple cider, and lemon juice until well combined. The combination of these juices provides a delicious explosion of flavors and a touch of sweetness.
Step 2 Add the cinnamon sticks to the punch bowl and stir to infuse its warm and aromatic flavors into the punch. Cinnamon brings a cozy feeling reminiscent of the fall season.
Step 3 Chill the Punch, place the punch bowl in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend and the punch to cool completely. This step ensures that the punch is refreshing when served.
Step 4 Pour in the sparkling water, lemon-lime soda, or ginger beer optional for a fizzy, invigorating kick. It adds a delicious fizz to the punch, bringing a little extra sparkle to your Thanksgiving gathering.
Step 5 Garnish and Serve. To give your Thanksgiving punch a festive and appetizing look, garnish it with fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, and apple slices or orange slices optional. The vibrant colors of the garnish will enhance the visual appeal of the punch.
Step 6 Serve over ice. Just before serving, add ice cubes to the individual glasses or place a large block of ice in the punch bowl to keep it cold. This ensures that the punch remains refreshing while your guests enjoy their portions.
Variation of a Thanksgiving Punch
There are a variety of variations you can explore when it comes to Thanksgiving punches.
Here are some other fall cocktail recipes to consider: Pumpkin Spice Martini, Gingerbread Latte, and Pear gin Cocktail.
Here are some serving suggestions and variations:
Cranberry Orange Punch: Mix cranberry juice or pomegranate juice, orange juice, club soda, and a splash of ginger ale. Add fresh cranberries, vanilla, and orange slices for a festive touch.
Spiced Pear Punch: Combine pear nectar, ginger ale, a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and pear slices.
Pumpkin Spice Punch: Mix pumpkin puree, apple cider, ginger ale, a pinch of cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg. Garnish with cinnamon sticks or a pinch of pumpkin spice.
Remember, you can always adjust the ingredients and proportions according to your personal preferences. Plus, feel free to experiment and add your creative touches to create a Thanksgiving punch that suits your tastes.
When to Serve a Thanksgiving Punch?
Thanksgiving punch can be served during Thanksgiving celebrations. It can be an excellent option for a drink before dinner, to welcome guests, or as a refreshing drink during the meal. You can also serve it as a festive option for those who don’t prefer alcohol or as a non-alcoholic alternative for the whole family to enjoy. Ultimately, the schedule is flexible and depends on your preferences and the flow of your Thanksgiving dinner.
Suggestion to serve with a Thanksgiving Punch
There are countless dishes from starters, main courses, or even desserts that make the perfect pairing with this punch! Here are some recipes that are easy to prepare and that your family and guests will love!
Orange Pineapple Glazed Ham — When you’re looking for a holiday ham or family celebration ham recipe, look no further than this one! This pineapple ham is so juicy and moist thanks to a dry spice rub made with brown sugar and citrus and then the most delectable pineapple glaze!
Christmas Cheese Ball Whreat — A delectable cheese ball mixture rolled in festive and colorful toppings and arranged into a wreath! A show-stopping presentation of wonderful cheese bites for your holiday parties and entertaining tables!
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin — Tender and juicy boneless pork tenderloin is slow-cooked with hearty vegetables for a complete and EASY meal!
Notes:
Remember to keep the punch bowl cold throughout the event. You can place the container over a larger container filled with ice to maintain the temperature.
Consider making a non-alcoholic (mocktail) version for kids or non-alcoholic guests by omitting the spirits and serving the punch separately.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving punch and have a wonderful celebration!
Did You Make This Recipe?
Snap a picture and mention: @mixop.cocktails
Thanksgiving Punch Cocktail
The Thanksgiving Punch is a delicious and flavorful cocktail that brings the warm and cozy vibes of the fall season to your Thanksgiving celebrations.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup sparkling water or lemon soda
- ½ cup maple syrup or simple syrup
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 4 rosemary sprigs
- Fresh cranberries and apple slices (for garnish)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a large punch bowl or large pitcher, combine orange juice and maple syrup in a large punch bowl, whisk together cups of apple cider, and lemon juice until well combined. The combination of these juices provides a delicious explosion of flavors and a touch of sweetness.
- Add the cinnamon sticks to the punch bowl to infuse its warm and aromatic flavors into the punch. Cinnamon brings a cozy feeling reminiscent of the fall season.
- Chill the Punch, and place the punch bowl in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend and the punch to cool completely. This step ensures that the punch is refreshing when served.
- Pour in the sparkling water, lemon-lime soda, or ginger beer optional for a fizzy, invigorating kick. It adds a delicious fizz to the punch, bringing a little extra sparkle to your Thanksgiving gathering.
- Garnish and Serve. To give your Thanksgiving punch a festive and appetizing look, garnish it with fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, and apple slices. The vibrant colors of the garnish will enhance the visual appeal of the punch.
- Serve over ice. Just before serving, add ice cubes to the individual glasses or place a large block of ice in the punch bowl to keep it cold. This ensures that the punch remains refreshing while your guests enjoy their portions.
Notes
Remember to keep the punch bowl cold throughout the event. You can place the container over a larger container filled with ice to maintain the temperature.
Consider making a non-alcoholic version for kids or non-alcoholic guests by omitting the spirits and serving the punch separately.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving punch and have a wonderful celebration!
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
10Amount Per Serving Calories 208Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 15mgCarbohydrates 53gFiber 2gSugar 45gProtein 1g
Nutrition information isn´t always accurate!
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