Red Hot Punch

Warm up your gatherings with the cozy, spiced flavors of Red Hot Punch—a festive drink that’s perfect for holiday celebrations or chilly evenings. This crowd-pleasing recipe combines the tartness of cranberry juice, the citrusy sweetness of orange juice, and the rich depth of apple cider, elevated by the warming spices of cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and fresh ginger. Simmered to perfection, this aromatic punch is lightly sweetened with brown sugar and finished with optional rum or brandy for an adult twist. Simple to prepare in just 30 minutes, it can be served straight from the stove or slow cooker, making it a stress-free centerpiece for your fall or winter party. Serve it warm in mugs with an orange slice or cinnamon stick garnish for an irresistible holiday presentation. Perfect for those searching for mulled punch recipes or spiced holiday drinks, this Red Hot Punch is bound to be a seasonal favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• 2 cups apple cider
• 2 cups water
• 0.25 cups brown sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5 whole cloves
• 2 star anise
• 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
• 1 fresh orange, sliced
• 1 cups optional: rum or brandy

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot or slow cooker, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, apple cider, and water.

Step 2

Add the brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, sliced ginger, and orange slices to the pot.

Step 3

Heat the mixture over medium heat until it begins to steam but does not boil — about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Reduce the heat to low and let the punch simmer gently for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.

Step 5

If desired, add the rum or brandy to the pot for an adult version of the punch. Stir well to combine.

Step 6

Strain the punch through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the spices, orange slices, and ginger. Discard the solids.

Step 7

Serve the punch warm in mugs or heat-safe glasses. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a slice of orange, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2770.8 grams (2770.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1550

Total Fat 8.90g	11%
Saturated Fat 0.70g	3%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 132mg	6%
Total Carbohydrate 232.30g	84%
Dietary Fiber 12.70g	45%
Total Sugars 157.30g
Protein 7.30g	15%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 421mg	32%
Iron 8mg	44%
Potassium 2509mg	53%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 7.7%

Protein: 2.8%

Carbs: 89.5%