Spiced Punch with Fruit (Printable Version)
A vibrant punch blending fresh fruits and warming spices, perfect for festive or cozy occasions.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruits
01 - 1 orange, thinly sliced
02 - 1 lemon, thinly sliced
03 - 1 apple, cored and sliced
04 - 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained
05 - 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
→ Juice & Liquid
06 - 4 cups apple juice
07 - 2 cups orange juice
08 - 1 cup pineapple juice
09 - 2 cups water
→ Spices & Sweeteners
10 - 2 cinnamon sticks
11 - 5 whole cloves
12 - 3 star anise
13 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
14 - ¼ cup honey or maple syrup, adjustable
→ Optional for Serving
15 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds
16 - Fresh mint leaves
17 - 1 cup sparkling water or ginger ale
# Step-by-Step:
01 - In a large pot, pour apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and water.
02 - Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and ground nutmeg to the pot.
03 - Stir in honey or maple syrup according to taste.
04 - Add sliced orange, lemon, apple, pineapple chunks, and halved grapes to the pot.
05 - Heat over medium until gently simmering. Maintain simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Remove from heat. Optionally strain spices for a cleaner texture or leave them for intensified aroma.
07 - Serve warm or chill and serve over ice. Top each serving with sparkling water or ginger ale for effervescence if desired.
08 - Add pomegranate seeds and fresh mint leaves as garnish before serving, if preferred.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It fills your kitchen with an aroma so inviting that people will ask what you're making before they even taste it.
- Equally delicious served steaming hot or chilled over ice, so it works for any season or mood.
- The spices do most of the work while you just let everything simmer, making it feel fancier than the effort requires.
02 -
- Don't let the punch boil hard; a gentle simmer keeps the fruit intact and the flavors subtle rather than muddy.
- If you're making this ahead, refrigerate it overnight and the spices will intensify, so you might want to strain them out before storing.
03 -
- Slice your fruits thin enough to expose their flesh but thick enough that they don't disintegrate; you want them to infuse, not disappear.
- If you're serving this cold, chill the glasses beforehand so the punch stays cold longer without needing too much ice, which would dilute the flavor.