Serve this fruity apple cider Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail, full of warming fall spices, fresh apples and cranberries at your holiday gathering for a family-friendly drink that brings the cheer.
Sure, Thanksgiving is all about the food. From a crispy-skinned roast turkey to Vegan Maple Pumpkin Pie, there is a lot to eat and enjoy this holiday. But let's not forget about the drinks. Serving a big pitcher of fruity punch is my favorite way to make everyone feel festive. This mocktail has tons of seasonal flavor and is super fast and easy to make, so you can focus on what's in your oven and who's in your kitchen.
How to Make Thanksgiving Punch Mocktails
This mocktail is served chilled, so there's no cooking necessary. Which is a nice bonus on Thanksgiving, when every burner and oven rack can be taken by a side dish!
All you need to make this Thanksgiving punch is to gather the ingredients, mix and serve!
Ingredients
Here's what goes into this spiced punch:
Apple cider. You can use store-bought apple cider, or make your own!
Maple syrup. This is a vegan-friendly liquid sweetener that adds rich, fall favors to your punch.
Apples. I like to use one red (Gala) and one green (Granny Smith) to add tart and sweet flavors to the punch.
Orange juice. for best flavor, use freshly squeezed from a ripe orange.
Cranberries. You can use fresh or frozen berries.
Spices. I can't get enough of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice this time of year.
Pomegranate arils. These add beautiful jewel-like coo and pops of brightness to your drink.
Topping Suggestions
The decorations for this punch are the fun part! You can make them extra festive and fun with sliced and colorful fresh toppings like:
Fresh rosemary
Ginger beer to add fizz and extra sweetness
sliced apples (use a mixture of red and green)
Cranberries
Pomegranate seeds
Sweetener Options
This punch is nice and sweet, so kids will love it. If you don't want to use or don't have maple syrup, you can also use agave or honey. If you find that the apple cider is sweet enough on its own, then feel free to omit the sweetner altogether!
Homemade Apple Cider
Did you know you can make your own apple cider? Use this recipe.
In a large pitcher, put together the apple cider, orange juice, maple syrup, sliced apples, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and spices until combined.
Make the mocktails: For each drink, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with crushed ice. Add ½ cup of the punch and garnish with sliced apples, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and a rosemary sprig. Top with ginger beer until the glass is filled.
Sip and Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
SWEETENER: Instead of maple syrup, you can substitute with Agave syrup.APPLE CIDER: To make your own homemade version, follow my easy Apple Cider recipe.
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