Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail

Brighten up your holiday table with this Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail! Bursting with apple cider, fresh cranberries, and a blend of warm fall spices, this crowd-pleasing drink is as cozy as it is refreshing—perfect for guests of all ages to enjoy. Completely Vegan.

If you're looking for the perfect drink to serve with Thanksgiving dinner, let me introduce you to my easy, go-to Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail! With just a handful of simple ingredients, this punch comes together in minutes and is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

Sure, Thanksgiving is all about the food—from crispy-skinned roast turkey to Pumpkin Pie—but let’s not forget the drinks. A big pitcher of fruity, festive punch is my favorite way to get everyone in the holiday spirit, and this drink is packed with seasonal flavors so you can spend less time mixing drinks and more time enjoying the company and cooking up all the cozy classics!

For more holiday drinks try my Apple Cider Mocktail, Vegan Eggnog or this Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail!

What is A Mocktail?

So if you're sitting here thinking, what is a mocktail? Let me explain. A mocktail is like a party in a glass, minus the hangover. It's a delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic drink that's packed with all the flavor and complexity of a traditional cocktail but without any of alcohol.

Whether you're a designated driver, a health-conscious human, or just someone who wants to enjoy a delicious drink without the buzz, mocktails are the perfect solution.

Why You'll Love This Thanksgiving Mocktail

• Bursting with cozy fall flavors like apple cider, cranberries + warming spices
• Simple + quick to make, perfect for busy holiday prep
• Festive, family-friendly & alcohol-free for everyone to enjoy
• Beautifully complements rich Thanksgiving dishes, adding a bright, refreshing sip
• Make-ahead friendly, so you can relax and focus on cooking (and company!)

How to Make Thanksgiving Punch Mocktails

This mocktail is served chilled, so there's no cooking necessary. Which is a nice bonus on Thanksgiving, when every burner and oven rack can be taken by a side dish! All you need to make this Thanksgiving punch is to gather the ingredients, mix and serve!

Ingredients

Here's what goes into this spiced punch:

MOCKTAILS:

• Apple cider. You can use store-bought apple cider, or make your own!
• Maple syrup. This is a vegan-friendly liquid sweetener that adds rich, fall favors to your punch.
• Apples. I like to use one red (Gala) and one green (Granny Smith) to add tart and sweet flavors to the punch.
• Orange juice. For best flavor, use freshly squeezed from a ripe orange.
• Cranberries. You can use fresh or frozen berries.
• Spices. I can't get enough of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice this time of year.
• Ginger beer. For topping (You can also use sparkling water or seltzer if preferred)

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:

• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Sliced apples
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Pomegranate arils

SHOP MY FAVORITE DRINKWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES!

Here, I’ve curated a list of drinkware and mocktail essentials that I use to achieve my favorite drinking experiences, especially with this Thanksgiving Punch Mocktails. Everything from my fave glassware, cocktail shakers, ice cube trays, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Garnishes For This Thanksgiving Mocktail

The decorations for this festive punch are the fun part! You can make them extra festive and fun with sliced and colorful fresh toppings like:

• Fresh rosemary. Thyme would also work well!
• Ginger beer to add fizz and extra sweetness
• Sliced apples (use a mixture of red and green)
• Cranberries
• Pomegranate seeds
• Cinnamon sticks
• Star anise

Spruce Up Your Mocktail with Fancy Ice Cubes

Of course, you can always use regular ice cubes, however, if you're looking to take things up a notch with your Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail, I recommend making some fancy ice cubes ---which are SUPER EASY! See my Orange Thyme Ice Cubes or Blueberry Ice Cubes recipes! You literally stir together the ingredients, pour it in your favorite ice cube tray, set it and forget it for a minimum of 3-4 hours (or overnight) until ice cubes are formed.

How To Make Your Own Apple Cider

If you'd prefer to make your own batch of apple cider, no worries---I've got you covered! You can make your own apple cider easily in a slow cooker, which is the easiest way to do so without requiring your full undivided attention. Of course, you can slowly simmer everything over the stovetop if you don't own a slow cooker.

What Is The Best Type Of Orange Juice To Use?

For me, I prefer squeezing my own fresh orange juice to ensure I know exactly what's in it. However, there are plenty of fantastic alternatives available, so there's no harm in opting for bottled juice to skip the squeezing step. Just make sure to check that it's 100% pure orange juice.

Can I Add Alcohol?

If you’d like to serve this Thanksgiving drink as a cocktail, you can add your favorite alcohol to the mixture. The best types of alcohols (just about 1 ounce or so) that work great with this apple cider-citrus-apple-ginger flavor combo is:

• Gin
• Rum
• Champagne
• Tequila
• Whiskey
• Vodka

For a more "cocktail-feel" without the alcohol, I love using Ritual Zero Proof alcohol alternatives. 

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail Q + A's

More Fall + Festive Mocktails to Try Next!

• Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail
• Citrus and Honey Mocktail
• Honey Grapefruit Pineapple Thyme Mocktail
• Holiday Pomegranate Ginger Mocktail 
• Espresso Martini without Kahlua [Mocktail]

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail

November 10, 2021 •

By Shanika

5 from 5 votes

Brighten up your holiday table with this Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail! Bursting with apple cider, fresh cranberries, and a blend of warm fall spices, this crowd-pleasing drink is as cozy as it is refreshing—perfect for guests of all ages to enjoy. Completely Vegan.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Serves: 6 Servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

MOCKATILS:

• 4 cups Apple cider, homemade or store-bought (See Notes!)
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 Gala apple, sliced
• 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• pomegranate arils
• Ginger beer, for topping (You can also use sparkling water or seltzer if preferred)

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:

• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Sliced apples
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Pomegranate arils

Instructions

TO MAKE THE MOCKTAILS:

• In a large pitcher, put together the apple cider, orange juice, maple syrup, sliced apples, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and spices until combined.
• ASSEMBLY: For each drink, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with crushed ice. Add ½ cup of the punch and garnish with sliced apples, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and a rosemary sprig. Top with ginger beer until the glass is filled.
• Sip and Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

• SWEETENER: Instead of maple syrup, you can substitute with Agave syrup or create a simply syrup using water and organic cane sugar.
• APPLE CIDER: To make your own homemade version, follow my easy Apple Cider recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 129IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 0.5mg

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