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Festive Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Punch for a Crowd

festive sparkling cranberry ginger punch - featured image
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This bright, zingy punch combines tart cranberry juice with warm ginger and delicate fizz, creating a crowd-pleasing non-alcoholic beverage that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. It’s quick to assemble, scales beautifully, and has a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (950 ml) cranberry juice, 100% juice unsweetened variety preferred
  • 3 cups (710 ml) ginger ale, good quality like Canada Dry or Fever-Tree
  • 2 cups (475 ml) sparkling water, plain or lemon-flavored
  • 2-inch piece (5 cm) fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup (100 g) fresh cranberries, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 large orange, sliced into thin rounds
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 ml) honey or maple syrup, adjust to taste
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 3 whole star anise pods
  • 2 to 3 cups (about 300 to 450 g) ice, large cubes or a block if possible

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ginger infusion: In a small saucepan, combine the sliced fresh ginger, 1 cup (240 ml) of the cranberry juice, and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Let it bubble softly for 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Let it steep for another 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger slices and cinnamon stick, and let the infused juice cool completely.
  2. Chill everything: Place the cranberry juice, ginger ale, and sparkling water in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. Also chill your punch bowl or pitcher.
  3. Prepare the garnishes: Wash the fresh cranberries and pat them dry. Slice the orange into thin rounds, about 1/4-inch thick (6 mm). Set aside a small bowl of extra cranberries for floating on top.
  4. Build the base: Pour the cooled ginger-infused cranberry juice (or plain cranberry juice if you skipped the infusion) into your chilled punch bowl. Add the remaining 3 cups (710 ml) of plain cranberry juice. Stir in the honey or maple syrup until completely dissolved. Taste and adjust honey if needed.
  5. Add the spices and fruit: Drop in the remaining cinnamon stick, star anise pods, orange slices, and fresh cranberries. Give everything a gentle stir.
  6. Add the bubbles: Slowly pour in the ginger ale and sparkling water down the side of the bowl to preserve carbonation. Stir gently once or twice.
  7. Add ice and serve: Gently add the ice cubes or ice block. Ladle into cups, making sure each serving gets a few cranberries and an orange slice. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a stronger ginger flavor, don’t skip the ginger infusion step. Use large ice cubes or an ice block to prevent dilution. Add carbonated ingredients right before serving to keep the punch fizzy. For a spiked version, add 1 to 1.5 cups of vodka, white rum, or bourbon to the base before adding bubbles.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry punch, ginger punch, holiday punch, non-alcoholic punch, party punch, sparkling punch, cranberry ginger punch

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/festive-sparkling-cranberry-ginger-punch-for-a-crowd/