Holiday Fruit Punch

It’s delightful to entertain and serve festive drinks at holiday gatherings. Here’s a basic, timeless recipe for punch that you will cherish for years to come.

Holiday fruit punches are colorful and tasty beverages. They are cheerfully served in attractive punch bowls and spooned into pretty glasses, with a fresh sprig of Rosemary or a fancy toothpick of sugared cranberries added as garnish. Not only is holiday fruit punch easy to make, but it also brings an abundance of holiday flavors to life. As a bonus, this refreshing beverage may be made with or without alcohol to meet the needs of your guests. Another great thing about big batch punch recipes is that they can be made in large quantities, giving the host or hostess lots of time to relax and mingle with guests.

Holiday fruit punch recipe

Serves 16

In a large punch bowl or giant pitcher, mix the following ingredients:

• 2 navel oranges, thinly sliced and seeds removed and discarded
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 4 cups fresh squeezed or refrigerated orange juice
• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 4 cups Sprite soda
• 2 cups white rum or vodka (Optional)
• Ice

Garnish choices:

• Fresh Rosemary sprigs (two to float in punch bowl plus extra to garnish individual glasses) and/or
• Sugared cranberries (see recipe below) to place on toothpicks for drink garnish

To make the sugared cranberry garnish: Create a simple syrup by mixing equal parts sugar and water in a saucepot (about one cup each). Heat over medium heat for about three or four minutes, stirring to mix well. Remove from heat and gently fold in the cranberries to coat. Let the cranberries sit for a couple of minutes in the syrup, then remove them with a slotted spoon. Place the sticky cranberries on a parchment lined baking dish. Let them sit for about an hour. Then toss or roll them in more sugar to coat. Sugared cranberries may be made the day ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use. If needed, toss them in more sugar before placing them on decorative toothpicks. Serve as a fruit punch garnish.