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Sparkling apple cranberry Thanksgiving punch recipe in glass bowl with fruit garnishes
Sophy

Easy Thanksgiving Punch Recipe

This showstopper combines the classic Thanksgiving flavors of apple and cranberry with a festive sparkle. It's become my signature holiday drink, and I promise it'll become yours too.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Course: beverage
Cuisine: American
Calories: 161
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups apple cider chilled
  • 2 cups cranberry juice chilled
  • 1 cup orange juice freshly squeezed if possible
  • 2 liters ginger ale or lemon-lime soda chilled
  • 1 apple thinly sliced
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 orange sliced into rounds
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish optional

Method
 

  1. Combine the juices. In a large punch bowl, pour in the chilled apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Stir gently to blend the flavors together.
  2. Add the fizz. Just before serving, slowly pour in the chilled ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. This keeps your punch beautifully bubbly instead of flat.
  3. Make it beautiful. Drop in the apple slices, fresh cranberries, orange rounds, and cinnamon sticks. They’ll float gorgeously on top and infuse even more flavor as the punch sits.
  4. Garnish and serve. Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary for an aromatic touch. Ladle into cups over ice if desired, making sure each serving gets some of that gorgeous fruit.

Video

10 minutes

Notes

  • Chill all your ingredients for at least 2 hours before mixing. This way, you won’t need tons of ice that waters down your punch.
  • Add the carbonated soda right before guests arrive to maintain maximum fizz.
  • For an elegant touch, freeze cranberries or small orange slices in ice cube trays to keep punch cold without dilution.
  • This recipe serves about 12-15 people. Scale up as needed for larger gatherings.