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Festive Christmas Punch
5 from 3 votes

Festive Christmas Punch

If you're hosting a Christmas party, you need this easy Christmas punch recipe! Perfect for any holiday party, this big batch holiday drink is refreshing and delicious. A non-alcoholic Christmas punch that can easily become boozy by adding 2 cups of vodka or rum. Ice cubes, orange slices, and fresh cranberries look stunning in the pitcher or punch bowl!

Prep Time
30 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Drinks, Cocktails

Ingredients

For the Simple Syrup:
  • 1 cup (227ml) water
  • 3/4 cup (149g) granulated sugar
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 2 cinnamon stick
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons clove whole
  • 2 inch ginger fresh, strips
  • 2 inch orange peel strips
  • 1 prig rosemary fresh
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Christmas Punch:
  • 4 cups (908ml) orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 cups (454ml) cranberry juice unsweetened 100%
  • 2 cups (454ml) apple cider non-alcoholic, cold
  • 3 cups (681ml) ginger beer non-alcoholic, such as fever tree
  • Garnish Ideas frozen or fresh cranberries, orange slices, fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

For the Simple Syrup:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine the water, sugar, spices, ginger, orange pee, and rosemary in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high-heat. 
  2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 3 to 4 minutes. 
  3. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for another 10 minutes. 
  4. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside and cool for 30 minutes, then strain the simple syrup through a fine-mesh strainer and into a heatproof bowl.
  5. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, or until cool to the touch. Use the entire quantity of simple syrup in the punch recipe below. 
For the Christmas Punch:
  1. In a large punch bowl (at least 12 cup capacity) combine the simple syrup, orange juice, cranberry juice, and apple cider. Mix well to combine. 
  2. Right before serving, pour in the ginger beer, stir gently, and top with a cup and a half of frozen cranberries and whole orange slices. 
  3. Serve with ice, and garnish with cranberries (either in the cup or on skewers), orange slices, and rosemary sprigs, if desired.