Thanksgiving Cider Punch
Thanksgiving Cider Punch is a warm, spiced beverage perfect for holiday gatherings. Featuring a delightful blend of fresh apple cider, warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and ginger, balanced with natural sweetness and citrus brightness, this easy-to-make punch embodies cozy seasonal flavors and can be customized to suit any crowd or taste preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan (if maple syrup used)
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh apple cider
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 star anise pods
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Gather Your Ingredients: Collect all ingredients, ensuring your apple cider is fresh and spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves are ready to use for a warm infusion.
- Combine and Simmer: Pour the apple cider into a large pot or slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and sliced ginger. Heat gently and allow the spices to infuse for 20 to 30 minutes, avoiding boiling to maintain smooth flavor.
- Sweeten and Add Citrus: Stir in your preferred sweetener, either brown sugar or maple syrup, until fully dissolved. Add the orange slices to bring a bright citrus note and balance the spices.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the punch, adding more sweetener if needed or letting it simmer longer for a stronger spice profile. Before serving, remove the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods to keep the drink smooth.
- Serve Warm: Serve the punch in mugs or heatproof glasses. Garnish with fresh orange slices or cinnamon sticks for a festive appearance and aroma.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality apple cider, preferably unfiltered, for the best flavor foundation.
- Simmer spices slowly on low heat to prevent bitterness and fully extract flavors.
- Adjust sweetness last, to account for the natural sugars in your cider.
- Keep the punch warm during your event using a slow cooker or thermos without overheating.
- Strain out whole spices before serving to avoid unexpected bites.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Thanksgiving, cider punch, warm drink, spiced cider, holiday beverage, apple cider punch, non-alcoholic punch
Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/thanksgiving-cider-punch/