Spiced Winter Punch | The Perfect Cocktail for the Holidays

I love the winter season! Cozying up with family and friends around delicious food and cocktails, and enjoying each other’s company.

From apple cider and hot toddies to festive bubbly drinks and holiday liqueurs, a seasonal cocktail is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! That is exactly where this Spiced Winter Punch fits in.

Filled with warming flavours of cinnamon and star anise, this punch has everything you’d want in a winter cocktail including prosecco and cranberry juice. Plus, the glasses are rimmed with a combination of brown sugar and cinnamon for that perfect start to a winter cocktail.

You can enjoy this recipe as a Christmas punch to accompany your Christmas morning brunch, or maybe you whip up a batch of this winter punch to bring in the new year with some tasty appetizers! Grab your punch bowl and a ladle, and let’s get to work!

And what better way kick-off the holiday season than to share this Spiced Winter Punch with my food blogging friends! Come on over and cheers with us as we share a variety of cocktails that will suit all of your holiday entertaining needs.

This is a special post with a group of fellow Food Bloggers of Canada members bringing you the Winter Edition of Connecting over Cocktails! Each season a group of us create a seasonal cocktail and not only will I share my recipe with you, I’ll bring you links to all of the wonderful cocktail posts – just scroll to the bottom to see what other inspired cocktails have been created!

Spiced Winter Punch

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8

Filled with warming flavours of cinnamon and star anise, this winter punch has everything you’d want in a holiday cocktail,

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Ingredients

Punch:

• 1 bottle of prosecco
• 1 1/2 cups ginger-ale
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup spiced rum
• spiced pomegranate simple syrup recipe below
• 1 orange sliced thin
• 1 cup cranberries
• cinnamon sticks for garnish
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• honey

Pomegranate Spiced Simple Syrup:

• zest half orange
• 1 whole star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

1. First make the pomegranate spiced simple syrup; in a small pot combine orange zest, star anise, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, water and sugar.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the heat down so the mixture simmers for 10 minutes.
3. While your pomegranate mixture is cooking add your other ingredients in a pitcher: prosecco, ginger-ale, cranberry juice and spiced rum and stir to combine.
4. When your pomegranate spiced simple syrup is done, take off of the oven and strain out the spices and orange zest. Set the mixture in the fridge to cool for a few minutes.
5. Once your pomegranate spiced simple syrup has cooled for a few minutes in the fridge, add to your punch mixture in your pitcher. Then, add in the orange slices, cranberries and a few (2-3) extra cinnamon sticks.
6. Next, add the brown sugar and cinnamon rim to your glasses by mixing brown sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Then, trace the rim of your glasses with honey (helps the sugar rim to stay longer) and then turn your glass upside down, dipping the glass in the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture firmly.
7. Then you are ready to serve! Pour your punch into your glasses, making sure some of the orange and cranberries end up in the glass and garnish with an extra cinnamon stick.

Recipe Notes

You can make your pomegranate simple syrup ahead of time and chill until using. Feel free to add a sprig of rosemary for a festive holiday touch! You can also add a few ice cubes if you prefer your drink extra cold. 

I love to enjoy cocktails with family and friends during the holidays. S0, here’s a variety of cocktail recipes from my food blogging friends, something for everyone’s taste this holiday season!

Cheers to Connecting Over Cocktails…

Justine from JustineCelina.com’s Classic Winter Citrus Red Sangria

Bernice from Dish ‘n’ in the Kitchen’s Dirty Chai Eggnog

Amanda from Peppers & Pennies Canadian Hot Chocolate

Samantha from My Kitchen Love’s Easy Bourbon Eggnog

Charlene from Chew Street’s Orange Ginger Punch

I hope you enjoy all of these amazing recipes ready for the winter season!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess