Cranberry Orange Holiday Punch

Ingredients

• 710 ml (3 cups)cranberry juice
• 475 ml (2 cups)apple cider
• 80 ml (1/3 cup), thawedorange juice concentrate
• 475 ml (2 cups), chilledlemon-lime soda or ginger ale
• 240 ml (1 cup)crushed ice
• 240 ml (1 cup)cranberries
• 1, thinly slicedapple
• 7orange wedges
• 7cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the juices

   Combine the cranberry juice, apple cider and thawed orange juice concentrate. Keep the mixture in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

2. 2

   Prepare the garnishes

   Thread one orange wedge onto each cinnamon stick.

3. 3

   Serve by glass

   For each glass, add a few cranberries and apple slices, then a little ice and about 180 ml (3/4 cup) of the juice mixture. Top up with about 60 ml (1/4 cup) club soda and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

4. 4

   Make a punch bowl

   Put the punch concentrate, ice cubes, cranberries and apple slices in a punch bowl. Slowly pour in the lemon-lime soda.

What is cranberry orange holiday punch?

American holiday punch is a party drink made to be shared, often combining fruit juices with a sparkling mixer. This non-alcoholic version brings together tart cranberry, sweet apple and concentrated orange for a festive, fruit-forward base.

Chilling the juice mixture ahead makes serving simple, while adding soda at the last moment keeps the punch lively. Cranberries, apple slices and cinnamon sticks give it a seasonal look and aroma.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 236 calories, 2g protein, 59g carbs, 1g fat.

Most of the carbohydrate comes from the fruit juices, concentrate and fizzy soda, while the fruit adds a little more. The provided nutrition lists 1 g fat and 2 g protein per serving. Pair a glass with a savoury snack or a protein-rich dish if you want a more filling spread.

Build the juice base

Cranberry juice: this provides the punch’s tart, deep-coloured foundation. Apple cider rounds it out with a softer, sweeter fruit flavour.

Orange concentrate: thaw it before mixing so it blends evenly into the other juices. The concentrated orange flavour helps the base taste bright without needing fresh juice.

Keep the fizz fresh

Chill the mixed juices in advance, but hold back the soda until serving. Stir it in gently so the punch stays sparkling rather than going flat.

For individual glasses, the method calls for club soda; the ingredient list specifies lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. Either way, add the fizzy drink just before serving.

Use fruit and cinnamon well

Thin apple slices are easy to scoop and distribute through a glass or punch bowl. A few cranberries in each serving add colour and a tart bite.

Threading an orange wedge onto a cinnamon stick makes a simple garnish. The stick can also lend a gentle spice aroma as the drink is enjoyed.

Choose a serving style

Individual glasses make it easy to portion the juice mixture and top each drink with soda. Add the fruit and ice first, then pour in the chilled base and finish with the fizzy mixer.

For a punch bowl, combine the concentrate, ice and fruit before slowly adding the soda. Make this version close to serving time so the ice does not dilute the punch too much.

What to serve alongside

The sweet-tart flavour works well beside savoury party snacks, cheese and crackers, or a holiday meal. It is also a colourful non-alcoholic option for guests who want a festive drink.

Recipe notes & tips

• Chill the juice mixture thoroughly before guests arrive.
• Slice the apple shortly before serving to keep the pieces looking fresh.
• Use chilled soda and pour it in slowly to preserve its bubbles.
• Add ice to individual glasses rather than the whole batch if you want to limit dilution.
• Thread the orange wedges onto the cinnamon sticks before setting out the glasses.

Variations

• Use ginger ale: swap it for the lemon-lime soda for a warmer, spiced sweetness.
• Make it by the glass: follow the individual-serving method to keep the fizz fresh.
• Prepare a bowl: combine the juice base with fruit and ice, then add soda just before serving.
• Add extra citrus: serve with additional orange slices for a more vivid garnish.
• Adjust the sparkle: add the soda gradually and stop when the punch tastes as fizzy as you like.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Adding soda too early: it loses its sparkle, so pour it in just before serving.
• Using warm ingredients: the punch can taste less refreshing, so chill the juice base and soda first.
• Pouring soda forcefully: this can knock out the bubbles, so add it slowly.
• Adding ice to the bowl too far ahead: it can dilute the drink, so add it close to serving time.
• Cutting thick apple slices: they are harder to scoop, so slice the apple thinly.

How to store

Keep the juice mixture covered in the fridge and add the soda, ice and fresh fruit when serving. Once assembled, refrigerate leftovers and drink them within a day; the fizz will fade and the ice may dilute the punch.

Frequently asked questions