Warmed Holiday Punch

My Warmed Holiday Punch is an excellent addition to any party. Your guests will love connecting over a cozy beverage! This drink contains all the best flavors of Christmas, thanks to a fantastic blend of mulling spices.

Warmed punch sets the stage for a night of fun. The best part? You can freeze it ahead of time! This holiday hit is easy to make and full of vitamin C.

Benefits of Cranberries and Oranges

Orange and cranberry is a classic combination that creates a fantastic experience for the senses. These two components both taste and smell good! In my opinion, cranberries aren’t the same without a hint of citrus.

On a deeper level, cranberries and oranges are excellent for your health and provide many benefits.

A simple cranberry packs a huge punch! While commonly associated with holiday dinners, you can enjoy their benefits all year long. Cranberry juice has been a tasty UTI remedy for decades due to its condensed tannins. (1)

These same tannins can also lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. (2) The most impressive health benefit that cranberries tout is that they can kill and slow the growth of existing cancer cells. (3) That’s a lot of advantages in one little berry!

You should note that these benefits apply to unsweetened cranberry juice, not sugar-filled concentrates.

Orange is a bright-smelling citrus fruit that instantly lifts your spirits. Oranges can relax your mind, and they are full of vitamin C. (4) Aside from orange juice, I love diffusing orange essential oil and using it in my DIY cleaners.

Holiday Punch Garnishes

Creating a gorgeous set-up gives your guests an experience to remember! Going the extra mile doesn’t have to be time-consuming, though. A little effort goes a long way. Here are a few of my favorite ways to jazz up holiday punch.

• Use a pretty container! I love using a glass jar with an easy dispenser. This makes it simple for guests to refill their cups. Of course, you can never go wrong with a classic crystal punch bowl!
• Place a couple of orange slices in the punch bowl, or add a few fresh cranberries to wine glasses before filling. The fruit adds an infusion of flavor and looks pretty.
• Garnish your punch with mint leaves for a holiday-inspired touch!
• If you are hosting younger guests, create holiday-shaped ice cubes to cool their punch.
• Add a slice of lemon to the rim of the glass.
• Set out a bowl of cinnamon sticks for guests to stir their drinks with.

Ingredient 101

This recipe requires just three simple ingredients found at most well-stocked grocery stores. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.

Juice: Many people purchase juice because they think it’s healthy. The truth is, many juices on the shelves are loaded with sugar and other additives! We recommend using unsweetened, not from concentrate juice.

You’ll need 100% orange juice and 100% cranberry juice for this recipe. As consumers learn more about their bodies, these products are readily available, so you should be able to find them at your local store.

You can use pulp-free juice or with the pulp, depending on your personal taste. You should be warned though that the pulp can clog spouts of drink dispensers.

Mulling Spice Blend: This fragrant blend of spices takes an ordinary punch to a whole new level! Mulling spices contain a mix of cinnamon, allspice, citrus peels, nutmeg, star anise, cloves, fenugreek, and ginger. I stay away from instant spice blends that contain fillers and use the real deal.

Reusable Tea Bags: If you’re a fan of loose leaf tea, these tea bags are a must! You can fill them with whatever mixture you want, then when your beverage is done, dump the contents and reuse it.

These tea bags are durable and make it easy to create herbal concoctions. I also love giving custom tea blends as presents. Add a cute mug, and you have a wonderful, useful gift!

Make Healthy Holiday Punch

This recipe is virtually fool-proof. I love letting the kids help prepare the punch ingredients. Even a little one can pour juice into a pot before it gets placed on the stove. Bonus: You can relax while your burner does all the work!

Step One: Pour Juice Into a Pot

Pour the cranberry and apple juice into a large pot. Stir to combine.

Step Two: Add Mulling Spices and Simmer

Add the mulling spices to the pot. The best way to do this is to place the spices in a reusable tea bag and close it tightly. This method ensures that your punch stays clear of any debris! Plus, it’s a significant step towards zero-waste living.

Mama Z Pro Tip: After your holiday punch has steeped, place the used mulling spice into your compost bin.

Bring the punch to a quick boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. For best results, let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes.

If you live in a colder climate, you can keep the punch in a crock-pot on the warm setting.

To Make in Advance

It takes work to host a party! Over time, I’ve come up with some hacks that streamline party prep. One of those hacks is making things in advance. This divides the work over a few days, making party day a breeze!

I find that freezing the punch gives it the freshest flavor versus letting it sit in the fridge.

Make the holiday punch recipe as listed, then let cool to room temperature. Pour in a reusable container or glass juice container. I take it out the night before and place it in the sink to thaw. If you need it that day, you can fill the sink with hot water. Warm over low heat and place in the air pot. You can serve it with sparkling water or set out a bottle of liquid stevia if guests want a sweeter option.

Want to learn how to cook healthy macaroni and cheese, pizza, bruschetta, and more? Check out my Gluten-Free Italian Cooking Class! In our free screening, you’ll learn how to make three of my most requested dishes. The best part? They taste just as good (or better!) than the original recipes!

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