Our Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch is a delicious festive holiday punch for a crowd.
This punch is made with ginger ale, apple cider, cranberry juice, and homemade spiced syrup.
Elevate this punch by making a gorgeous ice mold with rosemary, oranges, lemons, and cranberries for a holiday festive touch.
Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch
The holiday hosting is in full swing, and if you need a punch that can serve a crowd, we got you!
When it comes to hosting, one thing we recommend to make it easier on the host is to limit yourself to 1-2 types of drinks to serve your guests.
You always want to remember that every guest may not want a cocktail for whatever reason (which is their business). It’s always a good thing to have a non-alcoholic drink option.
What’s great about our Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch is that it’s made for everyone to enjoy. In this post, we share how you can turn this punch into a boozy punch.
What You Will Need:
Ginger Ale (for the mold). Freezing ginger ale instead of plain water adds flavor as it melts into the punch, enhancing the overall taste without diluting the drink.
Fresh Rosemary, slices of oranges, lemons, and fresh cranberries. The fresh rosemary, sliced oranges, and sliced lemons add herbal notes, citrus aroma, and a zesty tartness that enhances the punch’s flavor profile. Cranberries provide a festive pop of color and a subtle tartness, creating a visually appealing and flavorful ice mold.
Spiced Syrup recipe. The spiced syrup combines light brown sugar and water to create a sweet, rich base with subtle molasses notes. Infused with orange peels, allspice, cardamom, and cinnamon, it delivers a balanced blend of citrus, warmth, and aromatic spice for a festive flavor profile.
Ginger Ale adds a bubbly, slightly sweet, spiced base that combines the punch’s flavors.
Apple Cider has a rich, fruity, slightly spiced flavor that pairs well with the syrup and ginger ale.
Cranberry Juice adds a tangy, tart component that balances the punch’s sweetness and enhances its festive red color.
We’re breaking down the steps needed to make this delicious holiday punch.
This punch will serve 7-9 people. If you need to serve more, double the recipe using the measurement tool on the recipe card below.
Make holiday festive ice ring
Ingredients:
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 2-3 oranges, sliced
- 2-3 lemons, sliced
- ½ cup of fresh cranberries
- Enough ginger ale to fill a bundt cake pan (about 4-5 cups)
Equipment:
Nordic Ware Pro Cast Original Bundt Pan
Directions:
- Add 3-4 sprigs of rosemary, 2-3 sliced oranges, 2-3 sliced lemons, and ½ cup of cranberries in a bundt cake pan.
- Pour ginger ale until the bundt pan is full (about 4-5 cups).
- Freeze overnight until solid.
How To Make Spiced Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 strips of orange peel
- 4 allspice berries
- 5 cardamom pods
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
- In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of light brown sugar, 1 cup of water, 3 strips of orange peel, 4 allspice berries, 5 cardamom pods, and 2-3 cinnamon sticks.
- Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Let the mixture simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain the syrup into a container and store it in the fridge until ready to use (up to 2 weeks).
Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup spiced syrup
- Fresh rosemary, orange slices, and fresh cranberries for garnish
Directions:
- Remove the festive ice mold from the freezer and place it in a wide-mouth punch bowl.
- Pour in 2 cups of ginger ale, 2 cups of apple cider, and 2 cups of cranberry juice.
- Add 1 cup of spiced syrup and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, additional orange slices, and a handful of cranberries.
Can I Make This Ginger Ale Punch into a Boozy Holiday Punch?
If you want a boozy holiday punch, add 1-2 cups of your favorite vodka or bourbon.
Since we’re adding spiced syrup, consider using spiced rum for a really good spiked version of this recipe.
Can I Make This recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the festive mold and spiced syrup recipes beforehand.
However, we prefer to make the ice mold at least 1-2 days before serving the punch.
You can make the spiced syrup up to a week in advance.
Making it a few days before serving will allow the flavors to marinate, adding more flavor to this ginger ale punch.
What if I don’t want to make spiced syrup?
You can purchase a simple brown sugar syrup recipe like this one.
However, keep in mind the flavor profile will slightly change based on what we provide in our spiced syrup recipe.
Additional tips to consider:
Serve in a clear punch bowl to showcase the festive ice mold. Garnish with extra rosemary, cranberries, and orange slices for a beautiful holiday display.
Add a splash of pomegranate juice for deeper color and tartness or a hint of fresh ginger for extra spice.
To make this lower in sugar, use diet ginger ale or reduce the amount of spiced syrup.
Can I store the leftover punch?
If you happen to have punch left over, you can store this ginger ale punch in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
I suggest storing it in a closed container like a large mason jar.
Now that you have the recipe, serve our ginger ale punch at your upcoming holiday party or dinner.
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