Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch
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You'll love making this festive Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch for the holiday season! It's loaded with apple cider, ginger ale, ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks, then garnished with fruit slices and fresh cranberries for the perfect fall drink. Make ahead and serve hot or cold!
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Recipe at a Glance
- Non-alcoholic punch recipe - the whole family can enjoy!
- Simple ingredients - featuring the warm and cozy flavors of fall
- Versatile beverage - serve it hot or cold
- Serves a crowd - makes a large batch for holidays and parties
- Make ahead - mix it together and store in the fridge for the big day
Why This Punch Works
The fall flavors in this festive holiday punch recipe are why it's such a popular beverage to serve over ice with Thanksgiving dinner, or simmer on the stove after a big meal. My favorite part? It's alcohol-free, making it perfect for guests of all ages. ❤️
This mocktail punch is easy to make and comes together in 15 minutes! You can mix it ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve out of a dutch oven or decorative punch bowl. Best of all, the fall flavors are irresistible!
This is one of my favorite fall punch recipes because it's so simple and refreshing. It's one of those festive drinks you can customize any way you like for holiday parties and make ahead for big events. Or, just enjoy it throughout the fall season when you're craving chicken pot pie and apple pie cinnamon rolls.
Even though it's a non-alcoholic option, it's easy to turn this beverage into a sparkling punch with a bottle of champagne. If desired, you can also add rum to make a flavorful spiced rum punch at your holiday cocktail party for adults only. Or, try this easy crockpot wassail that's perfect for chilly fall evenings.
Key Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this non-alcoholic punch for Thanksgiving. See recipe card for quantities and more info.
- apple cider - be sure to purchase unfiltered apple cider and not apple juice for depth of flavor
- ginger ale - can substitute club soda for a less sweet version
- pear slices - red pears make a beautiful presentation
- orange slices - slice in circles, or cut into a half moon shape
- apple slices - use honeycrisp or gala apples for the best flavor
- ground cinnamon - adds an extra bit of spice to the punch
- cinnamon sticks - a nice garnish for individual mugs or glasses
- fresh cranberries - can use frozen cranberries if desired
- star anise - optional decorative spice found at the grocery store
How to Make Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch
Cold Method
The first way to enjoy this delicious drink is by serving it cold over ice. You can chill it in a punch bowl or use another decorative container like a dutch oven (shown in photos) or a large drink dispenser.
1 - Simply pour apple cider and ginger ale into a punch bowl and stir well. Add a dash of cinnamon and mix with liquid ingredients.
2 - Wash and slice a naval orange, crisp apples and red pears. Place fruit slices on the top of the punch and add fresh cranberries to garnish. Scatter a few star anise and cinnamon sticks into the container to make a beautiful display in just 15 minutes!
Hot Method
1 - Add apple cider and ginger ale to a dutch oven on the stovetop. Bring the heat to medium. Stir in ground cinnamon, star anise, cinnamon sticks and cranberries.
2 - Add fruit slices and lower heat until cider begins to simmer. Let simmer for at least an hour until cranberries pop open. Serve in festive mugs with a cinnamon stick garnish.
Spiked Method
If desired, you can create a boozy Thanksgiving punch by adding a dash of spiced rum to a full punch bowl and stir before serving. This can be added to either the hot or cold recipes.
If you'd like a sparkling beverage, add a bottle of champagne instead of ginger ale to the cold recipe. Rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar before serving for a festive touch.
Recipe FAQ
There's a big difference between the two. Apple cider has a large amount of sediment or pulp which is found at the bottom of the bottle. It's pressed and unfiltered so it has incredible apple flavor. Apple juice is mostly water with very little apple flavor at all. For those reasons, cider is the better choice for this recipe.
Most larger grocery stores carry apple cider in the refrigerated juice section during the fall months. It's easier to find at your local Farmer's Market or road side stand if they have a refrigerated cooler.
You can make this punch up to 3 days before you plan to serve it to guests. Make sure you mix all of the ingredients together except the ginger ale. Keep it out and use it at the last minute to add lots of fizz to your drink!
Variations
- Use pineapple juice and cranberry juice instead of apple cider. Or, try adding pomegranate juice to the current recipe. Keep in mind this will change the color and flavor of the punch.
- Add ginger beer, club soda, Sprite or Italian sodas instead of ginger ale.
- Try other citrus slices such as blood orange, lemon, key lime or ruby red grapefruit.
Debi's Tips
- Keep it simple. Too many types of fruit juice distract from the simplicity of this recipe.
- Use real apple cider that is pressed and unfiltered.
- Taste the apple cider before adding ground cinnamon to the ingredients. You may not need to add cinnamon if the apple cider is strong.
Storage Guide
Thanksgiving punch is the perfect recipe to keep on hand throughout the fall season. It's a great alternative to lemonade or iced sweet tea. Store leftovers (including fruit) in an airtight gallon jug in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
This autumn harvest punch can also be frozen in clean plastic jugs for up to 3 months in the freezer. Make sure you remove any fruit before freezing. When it's time to serve, remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator for at least 3 days.
Serve cold over ice, or reheat in a dutch oven on the stovetop for best results. You will need to add more ginger ale to make it fizzy after it's been frozen.
What to Serve with Thanksgiving Punch
These tasty recipes are the perfect compliment to a beautiful and easy fall punch. Appetizers are guaranteed to add a festive centerpiece to your holiday party and Thanksgiving meal!
Thanks for visiting Quiche My Grits! ❤️ I love making recipes for you! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!
Recipe Card
Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- dutch oven (can use a punch bowl, glass pitchers or glass container)
Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple cider
- 2 liters ginger ale
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large apple
- 1 large orange
- 1 medium pear
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 6 to 12 cinnamon sticks (garnish for punch and glasses)
- 6 star anise (optional decorative spice)
Instructions
COLD METHOD
- Chill apple cider and ginger ale overnight in the refrigerator.
- Pour apple cider and ginger ale into a punch bowl (or desired container) and stir well. Add a dash of cinnamon and mix with liquid ingredients.½ gallon apple cider, 2 liters ginger ale, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Wash and slice an orange, apple and pear. Place fruit slices on the top of the punch and add fresh cranberries to garnish.1 large apple, 1 large orange, 1 medium pear, 2 cups fresh cranberries
- Scatter a few star anise and cinnamon sticks into the container to make a beautiful display.6 to 12 cinnamon sticks, 6 star anise
HOT METHOD
- Add apple cider and ginger ale to a dutch oven on the stovetop. Bring the heat to medium.
- Stir in ground cinnamon, star anise, cinnamon sticks and cranberries.
- Add fruit slices and lower heat until cider begins to simmer. Let simmer for at least an hour until cranberries pop open.
- Serve in festive mugs with a cinnamon stick garnish.
SPIKED WITH ALCOHOL
- Add your desired amount of spiced rum to a full punch bowl and stir before serving. This can be added to either the hot or cold recipes.
- For a sparkling beverage, add a bottle of champagne instead of gingerale to the cold recipe.
- Rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar before serving for a festive touch.
Notes
- Chill apple cider and ginger ale overnight before making the cold version of punch.
- Double the recipe if using a large punch bowl.
- Store leftovers in an airtight gallon jug in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Punch can also be frozen in clean plastic jugs for up to 3 months in the freezer. Make sure you remove any fruit before freezing.
- When it's time to serve, remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator for at least 3 days.
- Be sure to use unfiltered apple cider instead of apple juice for best results.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
This looks both delicious and beautiful. I'm helping with the family holiday party this year and can't wait to try this out!!
Thanks Tracy! Let me know what your family thinks!
Great recipe! Delicious!
Thanks Abby! So glad you loved my Thanksgiving punch recipe!
I served this delicious beverage warm with Christmas brunch and it was well-received by all! Planning on making it again this year!
Thank you Connie! This non alcoholic Thanksgiving punch is a favorite at the holidays since everyone can enjoy the fun.
This is the perfect non-alcoholic punch to serve at Thanksgiving or really any holiday party! It's a real crowd pleaser!
Thank you Vicky! So glad you enjoyed my Thanksgiving punch over the holidays!
I love having a beverage like this for everyone to enjoy around the holidays. I usually just do cider, excited to try this one.
A non-alcoholic punch for my whole family! This looks absolutely amazing and I am adding it to my menu for the season.
Can't wait to hear how you like this punch. It makes Thanksgiving more festive I think!
Thank you for creating a punch for Thanksgiving that's alcohol free! I have lots of grandkids and this will be perfect for them.