Sparkling Cranberry Orange Punch with Ginger Ale

Cranberry Orange Punch

This cold, nonalcoholic punch combines orange juice, white cranberry juice cocktail, and ginger ale in a golden-orange, lightly bubbly drink. Thin orange rounds, whole cranberries, and rosemary float in the bowl and garnish each glass. Chill the liquids beforehand, then add the ginger ale just before serving to keep the punch fizzy.

Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Punch

• 4 cups pulp-free orange juice, chilled
• 3 cups white cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 3 cups ginger ale, chilled
• 2 medium oranges, thinly sliced into rounds
• 1 cup fresh whole cranberries (about 100g)
• 4 to 6 small fresh rosemary sprigs
• Ice cubes for individual glasses, optional

Makes about 10 cups, or 12 servings of roughly 6 to 7 fluid ounces each. Preparation takes about 10 minutes once the liquids are chilled. Use a clear punch bowl that holds at least 3 quarts; a larger bowl leaves more room for the fruit and ladle.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Punch

1. Prepare the garnishes: Rinse the cranberries and rosemary. Slice the oranges into thin rounds.
2. Combine the juices: Pour the chilled orange juice and white cranberry juice cocktail into the punch bowl. Stir until evenly combined, then taste the juice base before adding the ginger ale.
3. Add the ginger ale: Just before serving, pour in the chilled ginger ale. Stir gently once or twice so the punch stays lightly bubbly.
4. Float the garnishes: Add the orange rounds, whole cranberries, and small, uncrushed rosemary sprigs. Reserve some of each for the glasses.
5. Serve: Add ice to individual glasses if desired, then ladle in the punch. Garnish each glass with an orange round, a few cranberries, and a small rosemary sprig. Serve promptly.

Why Use White Cranberry Juice Cocktail?

White cranberry juice cocktail adds cranberry flavor while keeping the punch golden-orange. It is sweetened, as is the ginger ale, so the punch needs no added sugar. The whole cranberries provide a bright red garnish rather than most of the cranberry flavor.

Regular red cranberry juice cocktail will make a noticeably redder punch. Unsweetened cranberry juice can make it much tarter; taste and adjust if using it rather than treating it as an equal swap.

Make It Ahead Without Losing Fizz

Combine the orange juice and white cranberry juice cocktail ahead of time, then cover and refrigerate the base. Keep the ginger ale sealed and chilled separately. Add it along with the fruit and rosemary shortly before serving. Leaving the rosemary in the bowl for a prolonged period can make its flavor more pronounced.

Serving and Storing the Punch

Put ice in individual glasses rather than the shared bowl to avoid diluting the whole batch. For a savory appetizer alongside the punch, serve Turkey and Cranberry Pinwheels.

Refrigerate leftover assembled punch promptly. It will lose fizz as it sits, and the garnishes may look less fresh. This cold sparkling punch is not meant to be reheated.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving (1/12 of the recipe, including fruit garnishes): 110 calories, 1g protein, 0g fat, and 28g carbohydrates. Approximate values per 100g: 45 calories, less than 1g protein, less than 1g fat, and 12g carbohydrates. Values vary by juice and ginger ale brand and by how much garnish is eaten.