Description
This Caramel Apple Punch is a sweet, tangy, and festive fall party drink that combines fresh apple cider, rich caramel sauce, and sparkling ginger ale. It’s easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for gatherings, with options for both kid-friendly and spiked adult versions.
Ingredients
- 32 oz apple cider (fresh, unfiltered preferred)
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (thick and creamy)
- 24 oz ginger ale
- 2 medium apples, thinly sliced (for garnish)
- 4–6 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (fresh preferred)
- Optional: 1 cup spiced rum or bourbon
- Optional: 10 whole cloves
- Optional: 1–2 star anise
Instructions
- Wash and thinly slice 2 medium apples. Toss slices with a teaspoon of lemon juice to prevent browning. Set aside for garnish.
- Pour apple cider into a large punch bowl. Add caramel sauce and whisk vigorously until fully blended and silky.
- Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust caramel or lemon to your liking.
- Drop in cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise (if using). Let infuse for at least 20 minutes. Remove cloves before serving.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Just before serving, pour in ginger ale and stir gently.
- For the adult version, add spiced rum or bourbon and stir.
- Float apple slices and extra cinnamon sticks on top. Drizzle more caramel over apples if desired.
- Ladle into glasses, ensuring each gets apple slices and cinnamon stick for garnish.
Notes
Chill ingredients beforehand for best results. Infuse spices for at least 20 minutes for deeper flavor. Add ginger ale just before serving to preserve fizz. For a warm version, heat the cider-caramel base and skip ginger ale. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as needed. All ingredients are naturally gluten-free; check caramel sauce for dairy if serving vegans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour (chilling and spice infusion)
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 20
- Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: caramel apple punch, fall party drink, apple cider punch, autumn punch, non-alcoholic punch, spiked punch, easy party drink, kid-friendly punch, holiday punch