This Spiced Apple Cider Punch is full of mulled cinnamon apple goodness, with a touch of orange for the full spiced cider experience, plus a bonus layer of refreshing vanilla ice cream. I love this one for this time of year … It’s a great punch for Halloween celebrations, Thanksgiving, or even Christmas!
Hot spiced cider has its place for sure, but sometimes when you’re entertaining, you need a cool, refreshing situation – and this apple punch is it.
The Story Behind the Recipe
After creating a couple of fun Halloween punches for my kid’s Halloween party a couple of years ago (check out this Black Magic Halloween Punch and Alien Slime Punch [um, that one tastes better than it sounds]), I ended up with a bit of a punch hyperfixation.
Back in the day, the ubiquitous party punch formula consisted of some lemon lime soda and sherbet of some sort. And honestly, the combo is delicious! But I decided it would be fun to come up with a few more.
And so, this is my latest punch, a flavor combo inspired by mulled cider but that pulls a bit of inspiration from that nostalgic punch because it has a frosty, creamy lid thanks to vanilla ice cream.
Why You’ll Love This Spiced Apple Punch
- Easy to make ahead – Simmer the cider with the spices well ahead of time, then all you have to do is pour that with the rest of the cider into the punchbowl, add the orange juice, scoop in some ice cream, and finish with ginger ale. Done and done!
- Elevated yet approachable – It’s kind of rustic looking, for sure, but the vibes are elevated, and the flavor is even more so. Think apple cider + rootbeer float, sort of? I don’t know, the combo just works. It tastes like a caramel apple to me, almost.
Spiced Cider Punch Recipe Ingredients
- Apple cider – Get your favorite apple cider brand.
- Fresh oranges – You’ll snag a peel from one of the oranges for infusing orange flavor, plus add a bit of orange juice.
- Cloves – For that classic mulled cider taste.
- Cinnamon sticks – More flavor that pairs perfectly with apple and orange!
- Vanilla ice cream – For a rich, creamy layer + cool, refreshing vibe.
- Ginger ale – To top it all off.
Adaptation/Variation
- Add booze – Obviously if this is a punch for kids you won’t want to do this, but I find that a light or spiced rum is nice with this one.
How to Make It
- Simmer a small amount of the apple cider with the orange peel, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Strain.
- Add to the punch bowl with the rest of the cider and freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Top with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
- Pour ginger ale over the top.
- Serve with sliced apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks for garnish if desired.
Tip for Success
- Make sure your cider and ginger ale are chilled for the coldest, most refreshing punch.
I hope you consider this Spiced Apple Cider Punch for your next party or celebration! It’s like fall in a bowl … but refreshing. Rich, decadent, creamy, apple-y … just try it!
Spiced Apple Cider Punch
Ingredients
For the punch
- 1 gallon apple cider (16 cups/128 ounces, chilled)
- 1 large fresh orange peel (4-5 inches long; use a vegetable peeler on a fresh orange)
- 10 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (8 ounces / fresh squeezed from 4-5 juicy oranges or any store-bought OJ will do)
- 2 pints vanilla ice cream
- 1 litre ginger ale (4 cups/32 ounces, chilled)
For garnish
- cinnamon sticks
- fresh apple slices
- fresh orange slices
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of the apple cider to a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the orange peel, cloves, and 4 cinnamon sticks. Bring just to a simmer, then put the lid on the pan and remove from heat. Let sit for 25-30 minuets, until room temp and the spice flavors have infused into the cider.
- At this point I like to pull out my ice cream from the freezer to give it some time to soften up.
- Pour the remainder of the cider into your punch bowl. Strain the spiced cider from the saucepan into the punch bowl next. Stir in the orange juice.
- Add the vanilla ice cream in scoops.
- Pour ginger ale over the top.
- Ladle individual servings into punch glasses. Garnish with apple slices, orange slices, and/or cinnamon sticks if desired.
Nutrition Facts
More Mulled Cider Recipes
- Hot Spiced Cider (Crock Pot or Stovetop)
- Spiced Cider Sangria
- Sparkling Spiced Cider Mocktails
- Rosemary Cranberry Mulled Cider
- Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider
Hi! I’m Karen – I’m a real person with real recipes. No A.I. here! Since 2009, every recipe on Kitchen Treaty is thoroughly tested and loved before I hit “publish.” I’m a home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m a vegetarian married to a carnivore, and my goal is to coexist deliciously.
