This easy apple cider Thanksgiving punch recipe is studded with all the flavors and colors of fall. Juicy apple cider and pomegranate cranberry juice blends with splashes of bourbon and chilled sparkling Prosecco. Pinches of cinnamon and crisp red apple slices float atop this easy and delicious apple cider punch. Make this easy spiced apple cranberry punch when you crave all the delicious flavors of fall in one tasty little pour.
If you’re looking for easy holiday drinks, this one is definitely a keeper! This Thanksgiving cocktail is a festive fall-flavored holiday sipper. It is so versatile throughout the season. You can make this apple cider Thanksgiving punch recipe to kick off the fall season and enjoy as an easy and tasty autumn cocktail with friends.
A Delicious Apple Cider Thanksgiving Punch with bourbon
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Serve this simple apple cranberry big-batch drink as a Christmas punch alongside tasty appetizers and good food at a holiday cocktail party.
At Christmas, this holiday punch would look stunning served in a punch bowl nestled inside a pretty pine wreath. This apple cider punch is loaded with all your favorite fall flavors so it also makes a great Halloween party punch! It truly is quite versatile.
I personally love to float thin slices of apple on top. I’ll dust the slices with ground cinnamon and lay them in the punch for a warming pop of texture and color. It gives the punch a delicious autumn feel with extra spiced flavor.
Traditionally, my aunt always puts out fun seasonal punches like this. She’ll set them atop the buffet area with festive garlands and decorations tucked in all around the table and the bowl.
All of these these festive touches and flavors make this easy spiced apple cider Thanksgiving punch recipe the perfect compliment to your Thanksgiving dinner.
A simple Prosecco Cranberry Apple Cider Holiday Punch Recipe
Growing up I can still remember that my aunt’s signature garnish for her holiday punch recipe was a big beautiful floating ice ring. It was studded inside with fruits.
Citrus slices, orange slices, fresh cranberries, and sometimes green rosemary sprigs would all be frozen into the ring mold. It would create a stunning ice ring to chill the punch without diluting. This is an easy extra step you can take if you wanna add that extra fun touch.
Personally, I like to change it up a bit by keeping an ice bucket next to the punch bowl. I’ll fill it with fresh ice and some tongs. I’ll also place a bowl with extra fruit garnishes. Apples and cinnamon sticks are perfect should guests want to add it to their cup. Guests can grab ice and self-serve around the punch bowl as they chit chat and have a merry good time.
When I serve this fun sparkling apple cider Thanksgiving punch recipe, I’ll drop in a little piece of apple or tuck in a cinnamon stick. I also like to drop in some star anise pods as pictured above. It’s the perfect recipe to celebrate the holiday season with a tasty little cup of fun fall flavor. If you like the idea of festive punches, try this easy rum spiked cinnamon fireside warmer!
making this easy Cranberry apple cider thanksgiving Punch Recipe
This comes together sooooo easy, and it’s just so darn pretty to display (and fun to toast with and drink up)!
In a large punch bowl with a ladle, pour the apple juice and cranberry juice. I used cranberry pomegranate juice and apple cider. A pressed apple juice such as Simply Apple works well too! The taste is excellent and makes a delicious punch.
Spike your Apple Cider Thanksgiving Punch with bourbon and Prosecco
Next, pour in the bourbon and give everything a stir with the ladle. Lastly, add in a bottle of nicely chilled sparkling wine such as Prosecco. A chilled bottle of Presto Prosecco or Cupcake sparkling wine are both perfect choices for mixing into a festive cocktail like this.
Red sparkling is also a fun variety of wine that would work in here too. Something like Lambrusco or Rosa Regale would make tasty fizzy red wines that you could use in the holiday punch recipe. They naturally boast notes of festive cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry flavor.
garnish and serve Boozy Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Punch
Now give everything a gentle stir and top it off with thin sliced apple wheels. I like to slice my apples into thin lengthwise slices so it appears like big whole apples are floating in there!
Sprinkle the tops of the apple slices with pinches of ground cinnamon. Drop in star anise pods and whole cinnamon sticks if desired. I like to add a few sprigs of floating thyme on top for a pop of vibrant green…
I love to add the star anise pods (especially during the holidays and at Christmas). It looks like little stars are floating in the punch.
To serve, toss a few cubes of ice in a punch cup and ladle in the punch. Now tuck in an apple slice or cinnamon stick and serve nice and chilled. The cinnamon will sort of delicately steep some flavor into the punch as it sits. As you taste it you’ll note soft hints of spice mixed with crisp apple and fruity cranberry flavors. It’s a lot like this simple fireball apple cider recipe which is also full of autumn flavor.
The bourbon goes so well with the spices and apple flavor, but you could easily replace it with a cup of vodka, apple vodka, or vanilla vodka! if desired. Play with the flavors and taste as you go along.
If you like it more zippy and bright, add more cranberry juice than apple. I personally like the apple flavor to really come through so I tend to add more of that one. I feel like the crisp apple cider, cranberry, cinnamon, and bourbon make up that dreamy combination that delivers a delicious Thanksgiving punch taste.
Serve this spiced apple cider mixture when you want to ring in the fall season in tasty style or simply put out as a crowd-pleasing and elegant holiday cocktail on the fly.
Serve at all your festive soirees and holiday parties as a delicious drink with bold garnet red holiday color. It is super easy to make and delicious which always equals a win-win in my book!
Pour this simple Thanksgiving day punch and toast with all the flavors of fall.
Prosecco Cranberry Apple Cider Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (with Bourbon)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 1/2 cups apple cider or pressed apple juice - I used Simply Apple
- 3 cups Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Pomegranate Juice - I used Langers Cranberry Cocktail
- 1 cup Bourbon or Brandy - I used Four Roses Bourbon
- 1 bottle Sparkling Wine or Prosecco - Very chilled (chilled red sparkling such as Rosa Regale or Lambrusco works too).
- 2 whole Red Apples - One sliced into wheels and one sliced in thin halves.
- 8-10 whole Cinnamon Sticks
- 8-10 whole Star Anice Pods
- 4-5 Sprigs of Thyme - for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Pour the apple and cranberry juices together into the bowl and pour in the bourbon.
- Give everything a quick stir and pour in a completely chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Give everything another gentle stir.
- Garnish by floating thin sliced apple wheels on top along with pinches of ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks if desired. I like to toss in a few star anise pods to garnish as well.
- To serve, fill punch cups with ice and ladle in the punch. Tuck in an apple slice or a cinnamon stick and enjoy chilled.