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Yield: 8 cups
Ready In: 3 hours 10 minutes
It isn't Christmas without a festive drink if you ask my kids, and this one always gets them SO excited. It's an easy punch I let simmer in my crockpot, then garnish with seasonal fruit. I take an extra few minutes to cut out stars from a few slices of green apple, because it looks so festive.I mostly make this as a non-alcoholic version, but included a few ways to spike it in the recipe notes. Merry Christmas!
Recommended Equipment:
Ingredients
Punch:
- 4 cups apple juice (OR apple cider)
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 1 lemon (juice only)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cinnnamon stick
- a few whole cloves, a few whole star anise, pinch of ground nutmeg, pinch of ground ginger (to taste)
Garnish:
- sliced green apple, sliced oranges, cranberries (I cut apple slices into star shapes with a cookie cutter for a festive garnish)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the punch in an approx. 4 quart slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
- Add garnishes to the punch and serve hot. Keeps on the warm setting for a couple of hours before the fruit turns too soft.
Nora’s Tips
Stovetop Instructions:
Instead of using the slow cooker, you can make it on the stove. Place all ingredients for the punch in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.Ingredient Notes:
Spices: Feel free to use my Hot Apple Cider Cinnamon Spice Mix in place of the spices this recipe calls for. Juices: Feel free to mix up the juices. Add more pineapple, use orange in place of the cranberry or add more sweetness by using part grape juice. Scale up or down: Click the little blue serving yield number in the recipe to scale the recipe up or down. Great if you only have a small gathering, or if you have a huge party! Make it naughty: You can spike this with some rum, Amaretto or red wine if you’re 21+. Stir it into the finished punch, don’t cook the alcohol! You didn’t hear it from me. Ho, ho, ho 😉More recipe information
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Susan says
Delicious! I made this for our church Christmas party yesterday, everyone loved it. I’m sugar free so I substituted all the sugar with honey. So pleased I found your recipe, will have a look at the rest of your website when I get a mo. 😋
Rebecca says
Absolutely delicious and Christmasy. Everyone loved it even my two year old who loved the stars, and all said it’s “a keeper.”
Nora says
So glad to hear it, Rebecca!