Apple Cider Punch is festive, and SO easy make for holiday gatherings! Made with apple cider, juice, ginger ale, and a splash of fresh lemon.
Apple cider is an obsession. It's better than pumpkin spice. There. I said it. We love apple cider in baked apple cider cinnamon donuts and caramel apple cookies, it just makes sense to have punch too.
This easy holiday punch recipe is chefs kiss delicious. AND SO PRETTY. This recipe makes just under 1.5 gallons of punch and can be doubled or halved easily, so it's perfect for holiday gatherings! This is a favorite non alcoholic holiday drink that everyone can enjoy.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Taste: It's fruity, a little bubbly from the ginger ale, and the fresh lemon gives it just the right amount of tartness.
- Ease: Beginner level. No cooking required, just mix all the ingredients in a pitcher and garnish.
- Time: 5 minutes is all you need to mix sparkling apple punch together.
🛒 Key Ingredients
- Apple Cider & juice - I use both to cut down on cost (cider is expensive where we live) and to get the flavor I want when doubling the recipe for a large party pitcher.
- Citrus - both lemon and orange juice concentrate. This punch NEEDS a little bit of tartness, it's just too sweet otherwise. The orange complements it nicely!
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✏️ Substitutions & Variations
- Ginger beer instead of ginger ale is less sweet and delicious.
- Add orange juice in place of apple juice for a more tart punch.
- You can add cranberry juice or sparkling cranberry soda for a cranberry apple punch! Yum.
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Step 1. Mix juices In a large punch bowl or 2 gallon drink dispenser (or at least 1.5 gallon) combine apple cider, juice, and fresh lemon juice. I like to add a splash of vanilla extract for extra deliciousness.
- Step 2. Add ginger ale just before serving so it doesn't go flat!
TIP: Start with cold ingredients before starting so less ice needs to be added. More ice means it gets watered down, which means less flavor.
- Step 3. Slice an apple and lemon into thin cross sections and add to punch. Slice 5-10 cranberries and add as many whole ones if you so desire, along with 2-3 cinnamon sticks. Add 4 cups of ice to serve.
Serving Tip: coat the rims of each glass with colored sugar sprinkles to make them extra fun and festive!
📝 Troubleshooting
- Too sweet: add lemon or sparkling water to balance.
- Punch lost fizz: add chilled carbonation right before serving, avoid opening soda early.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This recipe is a cold apple cider punch.
Make large frozen ice ring with fruit/spices or freeze juice into ice cubes or spheres to use!
Yes! Make the punch 1-2 days ahead and refrigerate. Add soda/ginger ale and ice when serving to keep fizz.
🍏 More Delicious Apple Recipes
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Apple Cider Punch
Equipment
- Drink Dispenser or large punch bowl
Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple cider
- ½ gallon apple juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (1-2 lemons)
- ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 liter ginger ale
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (optional, for garnish)
- 1 granny smith apple sliced into thin sections (optional, for garnish)
- 2 cinnamon sticks (optional, for garnish)
- 1 lemon, sliced (optional, for garnish)
- 4 cups ice, to serve
Instructions
- In a large punch bowl or 1.5 gallon drink dispenser, combine apple cider, apple juice, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Add ginger ale, garnish ingredients, and ice right before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sara!
Registered Nurse by day, food blogger by weekend. Perfect dip tester & snack quester. I love short walks on the beach and long naps. Sharing my love for food, one bite at a time.
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