Welcome to your new favorite holiday beverage! If you are searching for a drink that is both stunning and simple, you have found it. This Sparkling Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Punch is a true showstopper.

It is bubbly, festive, and packed with the amazing flavors of the season. Plus, it is one of the best Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks you can make, ensuring everyone at your table feels included in the celebration. Let’s get mixing!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

First off, the flavor is absolutely incredible. The tartness of fresh cranberries is balanced perfectly with the sweetness of a homemade simple syrup. Add in the bright citrus notes from fresh tangerine, and you have a match made in heaven.

The visual appeal is another huge win. Imagine a pitcher filled with this gorgeous, ruby red punch. The floating cranberries and sprigs of fresh rosemary make it look like a holiday decoration you can drink. It truly elevates your table setting.

This recipe is also wonderfully simple. Do not let the homemade syrup intimidate you. It comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop and can be made days in advance. It is a fantastic recipe for beginners.

One of the best parts is that this is a fantastic Thanksgiving Punch Non Alcoholic recipe. It is so important to have delicious and thoughtful options for guests who do not drink alcohol. This punch feels special, not like an afterthought.

It is also perfect for serving a large group. This recipe is easily scaled up to make a big batch, which makes it one of the best Thanksgiving Drinks For A Crowd. You can mix up a large pitcher or a punch bowl so guests can serve themselves.

Ingredients

For The Cranberry Simple Syrup

• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• Splash of alcohol free vanilla extract

For The Cranberry Tangerine Fizzy

• 1 tangerine quartered
• 2 to 3 tablespoons cranberry simple syrup or to taste
• Ice
• Seltzer (plain or a compatible flavor like Cranberry Lime)
• Fresh cranberries & fresh rosemary for garnish

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Create The Cranberry Simple Syrup

First, let’s make that delicious syrup. In a small saucepan, combine your fresh cranberries, water, and granulated sugar. If you are using it, add a little splash of alcohol free vanilla extract now.

Give everything a quick stir to help the sugar start to dissolve. Place the saucepan on your stovetop over medium high heat. You will want to bring the mixture to a boil.

A quick tip here, keep a close eye on it. Sugar syrups can boil over very quickly if you turn your back for a second. Stay nearby and watch for those bubbles to start forming.

Once it reaches a boil, immediately reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer gently. You will soon hear little popping sounds as the cranberries begin to burst. This is exactly what you want.

Continue to cook until the cranberries have all burst and look softened and a little wrinkly. The liquid will have turned a beautiful deep red color. This process releases all their tart juice into the syrup.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool down completely. Letting the cranberries steep in the syrup as it cools adds even more flavor and color. Be patient, as this can take about an hour.

Step 2: Strain The Syrup

Once the syrup has reached room temperature, it is time to strain out the solids. Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or a large liquid measuring cup. Pour the syrup mixture through the sieve.

You will be left with the cooked cranberry solids in the sieve. Use the back of a spoon or a small spatula to press down firmly on these cranberries. This will extract every last drop of the flavorful liquid.

You can discard the leftover cranberry solids, or you could save them. They make a tasty topping for yogurt, oatmeal, or even vanilla ice cream. Nothing goes to waste!

Now you have a gorgeous, smooth cranberry simple syrup. Pour it into a glass jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid. This recipe makes about two cups of syrup, plenty for making many drinks.

Step 3: Assemble The Drink

It is time to build your beautiful Sparkling Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Punch. Grab an eight ounce glass to start. Add your quartered tangerine pieces directly into the glass.

Next, pour two to three tablespoons of your homemade cranberry simple syrup over the tangerines. You can adjust this amount based on how sweet you like your drinks. Start with two and you can always add more.

Now for the fun part, muddling. Use a muddler or the back of a sturdy wooden spoon to press down on the tangerine slices. Muddle them until they release their juices and become very fragrant. This infuses the drink with citrus oil.

Fill the glass with ice, right over the muddled tangerine and syrup mixture. The ice will help keep everything perfectly chilled and refreshing. A good amount of ice is key to a great fizzy drink.

Finally, top everything off with your choice of seltzer. Plain seltzer works great, but a flavored one like cranberry lime can add an extra layer of complexity. Pour it slowly to preserve the bubbles.

Step 4: Garnish And Serve

Give the drink a quick, gentle stir with a spoon or a straw to combine all the elements. You just want to mix it slightly without losing all the carbonation. A single swirl should be enough.

For the final festive touch, garnish your drink. A few fresh cranberries and a small sprig of fresh rosemary look absolutely stunning. The green from the rosemary against the red punch is just beautiful. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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How To Store Leftovers

Storing the components of this drink is very easy. The cranberry simple syrup is the main part you will want to store. Keep it in an airtight container, like a glass jar with a lid, in the refrigerator.

The syrup will stay fresh and delicious for up to two weeks. This is great because you can make it well in advance of your Thanksgiving gathering, saving you time on the big day.

I would not recommend storing a fully mixed drink with the seltzer already added. The carbonation will go flat pretty quickly. It is always best to assemble this Thanksgiving punch just before serving to keep it nice and fizzy.

If you made a large batch in a punch bowl, you can store any leftover punch in a pitcher in the fridge. Just know that it will not be sparkling the next day. It will still taste great though, more like a festive juice.

Tips

Want to get ahead of your holiday prep? Make the cranberry simple syrup up to a week before your event. This cuts down on day of stress and lets the flavors meld together even more.

Feel free to experiment with the citrus. While tangerine is lovely, this recipe also works beautifully with regular oranges, clementines, or even blood oranges for a dramatic color.

To make a big batch for a party, you can muddle the fruit and syrup at the bottom of a large pitcher or punch bowl. When guests arrive, just add the ice and top it all off with seltzer.

For an extra layer of warmth and spice, consider adding a cinnamon stick or a few whole cloves to your simple syrup as it simmers. Just be sure to strain them out with the cranberries.

No muddler? No problem. The back of a wooden spoon works just fine. You can also use a fork to gently press and twist the fruit to release its juices before adding the syrup.

For an elegant presentation, try freezing some fresh cranberries and small rosemary sprigs into ice cubes. It is a simple trick that makes your Non Alcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks look professionally made.

Conclusion

And there you have it! A simple, elegant, and incredibly delicious Sparkling Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Punch. This recipe is your ticket to being the holiday host with the most memorable beverage.

It is the perfect solution when you need impressive Thanksgiving Drinks For A Crowd without a lot of fuss. Because it is a Thanksgiving Punch Non Alcoholic option, it is a welcoming choice for all your guests, from kids to adults.

So go ahead and give this recipe a try. I promise it will become a staple at your holiday celebrations for years to come. Cheers to a happy and flavorful Thanksgiving!

FAQ

Can I Make This Punch Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can prepare parts of it in advance. The cranberry simple syrup can be made and stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. I recommend assembling the final punch just before serving to keep it bubbly.

Can I Use Frozen Cranberries?

Absolutely. If you cannot find fresh cranberries, frozen ones work perfectly well for the simple syrup. There is no need to thaw them first, just add them directly to the saucepan and proceed with the recipe as written.

What Can I Use Instead Of Seltzer?

If you do not have seltzer, you can use sparkling water, club soda, or even a lemon lime soda for a sweeter punch. Ginger ale would also be a delicious, spicy alternative that pairs well with the cranberry and orange flavors.

How Do I Make This For A Large Group?

To serve this as a Thanksgiving punch for a crowd, simply scale up the ingredients. You can make a large batch of the syrup. In a punch bowl, muddle several tangerines, add the syrup, then a large block of ice, and top with a few liters of seltzer when ready to serve.