Celebrate a Happy Hanukkah with Warm Apple Cider Punch!
This warming, spicy apple cider punch is a great drink for kids to enjoy during your Hanukkah celebration. Festive, warm and fizzy, it is the perfect kids drink for holiday parties, and a great way to wish your friends and family a happy Hanukkah.
Punch was originally an Indian drink made with lemon juice, water, tea, sugar, and alcohol, which sounds like a boozy Arnold Palmer to me. That actually sounds kind of good. If anyone has Arnold Palmer’s contact info, put me in touch. I think we can sell this.
Nowadays punch mostly means red fruit-flavored beverage, except for at parties, where punch gets back to its roots of being a beverage with a bunch of stuff in it served out of a big bowl or kettle, which is awesome. This punch is served warm, which makes it perfect for the season. The apple cider and cinnamon give it a cozy feeling, the ginger beer provides a little sparkle, and the lemon juice keeps it bright. This recipe is non-alcoholic, but if the kids are in bed, it will stand up nicely to a little bourbon or rye.
Warm Apple Cider Punch
serves 12
5 cups apple cider
2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 bottles ginger beer
1/2 cup honey
pinch of cinnamon
apple slices
lemon wedges and apple slices for garnish
Combine the ingredients in a large soup pot. Gently warm the punch until the honey has dissolved. Ladle into tempered glasses or mugs and serve with a few apple slices and a lemon wedge.
Sounds very refreshing and I bet it makes your house smell great! Where would I get ginger beer?
Hi Becky, So glad you like the recipe. I prefer ginger beer to ale because it has more ginger. Reed’s brand (real) ginger beer or ale is widely available in most higher-end grocery stores. If you can’t find regular old ginger ale will do (though that ginger flavor is generally artificial).