Description
This festive Christmas Punch is a delightful and refreshing holiday beverage combining a warm spiced syrup with chilled tropical and fruit juices, finished with ginger ale for a sparkling touch. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it’s easy to prepare and beautifully garnished with fresh fruit and cinnamon sticks for a seasonal presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Syrup
- 2 cups water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Juice Base
- 1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice, chilled
- 4 cups cranberry-apple juice, chilled
- 1 liter ginger ale, chilled
Optional Garnishes
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Sliced apples
- Orange wedges
- Fresh mint leaves
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Make the spiced syrup: In a large saucepan, combine water, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has fully dissolved, creating a fragrant cinnamon syrup. Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool completely.
- Prepare the punch base: Once the syrup is chilled, pour it into a large punch bowl or pitcher. Add the chilled pineapple juice and cranberry-apple juice, gently stirring to combine the flavors uniformly.
- Add the ginger ale and garnish: Just before serving, pour in the chilled ginger ale to add a refreshing, fizzy element to the punch. If desired, garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries, sliced apples, orange wedges, fresh mint leaves, and cinnamon sticks for an attractive and flavorful presentation. Serve the punch over ice.
Notes
- Ensure the syrup is completely chilled before mixing with cold juices to prevent warming the drink.
- Garnishes not only enhance the appearance but add subtle flavor infusions over time.
- For a spicier punch, increase the cinnamon to 1 teaspoon or add a few whole cloves during the syrup preparation and strain before chilling.
- This punch can be made alcohol-free or paired with sparkling wine or rum for an adult version.
- Serve the punch immediately after adding ginger ale for best fizz retention.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas punch, holiday punch, festive drinks, fruit punch, non-alcoholic punch, holiday beverage, ginger ale punch
