Spiced Apple Cider Punch
This non-alcoholic party punch tastes just like spiced cider, but refreshing and a little fizzy plus an unexpected (but incredible!) creamy note from vanilla ice cream. Feel free to leave as is for a mocktail party situation or you can spike it with rum for the adults in the room. Perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!
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
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 157kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.05g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 15mg, Potassium: 223mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 8IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 0.3mg