Christmas Punch with Pomegranate, Cranberry, and Orange Recipe
A refreshing and festive Christmas Punch that combines vibrant flavors of pomegranate, cranberry, orange, and warming spices like cinnamon and ginger. This punch features decorative ice cubes infused with fresh fruit and mint, perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Festive Ice Cubes
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- 2 to 3 sprigs fresh mint (leaves only)
- 1 orange (cut into bite-sized pieces)
Simple Syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 to 4 coins of fresh ginger (1/4 -inch slices)
Punch Mixture
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 2 cups unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 1 orange (thinly sliced)
- Ice (as needed)
- Club Soda (as needed)
Instructions
- Prepare Festive Ice Cubes: Fill two ice cube trays with water, then evenly distribute the pomegranate arils, fresh mint leaves, and bite-sized orange pieces among the trays. Freeze until the ice cubes are completely solid, creating decorative and flavorful ice cubes for the punch.
- Make Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, and fresh ginger slices. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Once simmering, maintain the heat for about 5 minutes to infuse the flavors. Remove from heat, cover, and let the syrup infuse for at least 30 minutes. After infusion, strain the syrup through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove cinnamon and ginger pieces. Chill the syrup in the refrigerator until completely cool.
- Assemble the Punch: In a large punch bowl, combine the chilled simple syrup with orange juice, unsweetened cranberry juice, and unsweetened pomegranate juice. Add thinly sliced orange rounds for additional flavor and visual appeal. Gently mix the ingredients together.
- Add Festive Ice Cubes: Add the prepared festive ice cubes to the punch bowl to keep the punch cold and visually festive without diluting the flavors quickly.
- Serve the Punch: Set out additional ice cubes and chilled club soda separately. Serve the punch individually over ice with an optional splash of club soda for a fizzy finish, allowing guests to customize their drinks.
Notes
- For a stronger ginger flavor, increase fresh ginger slices slightly in the syrup.
- The festive ice cubes not only add flavor but also keep the punch cold longer without watering it down.
- Use unsweetened juices to control the overall sweetness of the punch, balancing with the simple syrup.
- Can be made a day ahead; keep the punch chilled and add ice cubes and club soda just before serving.
- For an alcoholic version, add a splash of rum or vodka according to taste.
