Christmas punch recipes non alcoholic and big enough for a crowd start here: cranberry juice, pineapple juice and a tablespoon of almond extract. Three litres of ginger ale go in last. An easy party drink for Christmas morning, a school party or a big family crowd, mixed in five minutes.
The ginger ale goes in last and gets one stir, not three. Every extra turn of the spoon costs bubbles, and flat punch is only juice with ice in it.
The source method lists ginger ale twice, once in step one and again in step two, without splitting the amount. All three litres go in at the end here, so the punch loses its fizz once instead of twice.
Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch
Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes300
kcalCranberry and pineapple juice sharpened with almond extract, topped with ginger ale and finished with whole cranberries and lime. No alcohol, no cooking, five minutes to mix.
Ingredients
6 cups cranberry juice or pomegranate cranberry juice
3 cups pineapple juice
1 tablespoon almond extract
3 liters ginger ale
1 bag (12 oz) fresh cranberries, optional
2 fresh limes, sliced, optional
Ice
Directions
- Mix the juices: Pour the cranberry juice, pineapple juice and almond extract into a large drink dispenser and stir to combine.
- Add the ginger ale: Pour in all 3 liters of ginger ale and give it one quick stir, no more than that.
- Garnish: Add the fresh cranberries, lime slices and ice.
- Serve: Serve within a few hours, before the bubbles go flat.
FAQs
How many people does this punch really serve?
The card says fourteen, but the liquid comes to about 174 ounces, which is twelve ounces a head. Punch cups hold five or six ounces, so in practice this pours closer to thirty. Plan on one batch for a party of twenty five.
What does the almond extract actually do?
It is the reason this tastes like a holiday punch and not like juice from a carton. A tablespoon across five liters reads as warmth and depth rather than almond, and it ties the cranberry and pineapple together. Leave it out and the drink falls flat long before the bubbles do.
Can I mix it ahead of time?
Mix the cranberry juice, pineapple juice and almond extract a day early and keep that base cold in the fridge. The ginger ale is the only part that cannot wait, so pour it in as the first guests arrive. Chilling the base also means you need less ice, which keeps the punch strong.
How is this different from the sparkling wine version?
This one leans on pineapple juice and almond extract for depth, where the wine version gets it from brut bubbles and dark rum. It also pours more, because ginger ale is cheaper than champagne by the liter. If you want the grown up one, here is the christmas punch with wine.
What should I put out next to it?
Something you can hold in one hand while holding a cup in the other, so nothing that needs a plate. Salty beats sweet here, since the punch is already sharp and sugary. A tray of christmas tortilla pinwheels sits well beside the bowl.
