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Ponche Navideño (Christmas Punch)

Warm up with this classic Ponche Mexicano recipe! It’s so easy to make. Gather a few basic ingredients and you’ll be sipping this warm drink in less than 1 hour! Recipe yields about 12 mugs of punch but multiply as desired.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 12 mugs
Calories: 150 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

The liquid base
  • 1 gallon (16 cups/4 liters) water
  • 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
  • 3 tamarindo pods peeled
  • 1 large cinnamon stick or 3 small
  • 8 ounce piloncillo or 1 cup sugar Or more according to taste
  • 4 cloves
The Fruits (amounts and fruits are according to taste)
  • 10 tejocotes or 2 apples cut in halves
  • 2 pears chopped
  • 1 to 2 apples chopped
  • 4 to 5 guavas cut into 8 pieces
  • 3 to 4 (about 5 inches long) sugarcane sticks peeled and sliced into sticks
  • 5 mandarins or (2 oranges cut into slices) peeled
  • 7 oz prunes, dried cranberries or raisins

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the water to a large stockpot and set to high heat. Add the jamaica, tamarindo pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves and piloncillo/sugar. Cover and boil for about 15 minutes.
  2. Remove the hibiscus, tamarindo pods and cloves prior to adding the fruit. This way they're not served in the drink. Discard.
  3. Add all of the fruit, cover and bring to a soft boil. Once it starts to boil uncover and cook for 15 minutes. Cooking it for this long will leave a little crunch on the fruit. If you like soft fruit, cook for an additional 10 minutes.
  4. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar according to taste.
  5. Remove from heat and cover pot. Let it steep for another 15 minutes. ½
  6. Note on guavas (guayabas) if you add any: If they're very soft, then you can place whole or cut in halves. If they're very firm, cut into 8 pieces. If you have guavas from a jar, then add at the last 5 minute as they're already cooked.

Notes

  • ½
  • Slow Cooker Option: Combine all of the ingredients in your slow cooker, cover, and cook over high heat until the fruit is soft, about 1 ½ hour to 2 hours.
  • To store any Ponche leftovers, wait until it cools off then place in a jar and cover with plastic wrap or a lid. For best flavors consume within a week. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1mug w/fruit Calories 150kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Sodium 2mg (0%) Potassium 149mg (4%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 31g (62%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12mugs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150

% Daily Value*

Serving 1mug w/fruit
Calories 150kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Potassium 149mg 3%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 31g 62%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.