Thanksgiving Punch Recipe

Close-up shot of a glass of red Thanksgiving punch, garnished with a cinnamon stick and apple slices, with punch bowl in the background

5 from 1 vote

Apple cider, cranberry juice, and ginger beer come together in this Thanksigiving punch recipe that looks as amazing as it tastes!

Prep Time10

Cook Time8

Total Time18

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4-oz servings

Calories: 191kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Equipment

Medium Sauce Pan

Ingredients

4 cups apple cider divided (2 cups chilled)
2 cups light brown sugar
6 cinnamon sticks
8 star anise
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups ice
8 cups cranberry juice chilled (100% juice)
¾ cup fresh lime juice
3 cups sparkling apple cider
4 cups ginger beer chilled
Frozen cranberries for serving
2 Honeycrisp apples cut into wedges for serving

Instructions

In a small 1.5-quart saucepan add 2 cups apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, and nutmeg and bring to a simmer until sugar has dissolved, about 7-8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in remaining let cool. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight up to 2 days.
When ready to serve, strain spiced apple syrup over ice into a punch bowl. Stir in cranberry and lime juice.
Add sparkling apple cider and ginger beer then gently stir together. Garnish with cranberries and apple wedges.
Serve over ice and enjoy!

Notes

1. Stir It Up Good: Give that punch a good stir when you pour everything together so the spiced syrup doesn't just chill at the bottom.

1. Keep It Chill: Keep your Thanksgiving holiday punch super cold right up until serving time. This helps the ice last longer and keeps the punch from getting watered down.

1. Garnish Just Before Serving: Add those pretty apple slices and cranberries right before your guests start pouring up. That way the apples stay crisp and fresh.

Low and Slow: When making that spiced syrup, be patient boo. Let it simmer nice and slow so the flavors really soak into the cider.

How to store Thanksgiving Punch

You can store your leftover Thanksgiving punch in an airtight glass pitcher in the fridge. Just make sure to cover it up tight so it doesn't soak up any fridge smells. Nobody wants punch that tastes like last night's leftovers!

How long will Thanksgiving Punch last in the fridge?

This punch will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors might mellow a bit, but a good stir will wake it back up when you're ready to serve.

Can I freeze apple
cider punch?

You can def freeze it boo! Store it in an airtight plastic pitcher (so it doesn't crack from the cold), and skip the garnishes. Add those pretty apple slices and cranberries after you thaw it. It'll stay good in the freezer for a month or so.

Nutrition