Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Celebrate the Holidays with Festive Drinks
‘Tis the season for chocolate, cream, juices and warm spices. Savor the festive moments with these holiday-inspired punches and warm drinks.
The first two are favorites of family and friends, I know you will enjoy! Feel free to cut the sugar in the recipes or use a substitute.
“Winnies” Party Punch
8 cups water
3 cups sugar
1 small package Jell-O (lime or any flavor will do)
1 (48 ounce) can pineapple juice
1 (48 ounce) orange juice
2 – 3 quarts ginger ale
Food coloring, optional
Bring water and sugar to a boil and add Jell-O. Let cool. Add pineapple juice and orange juice and stir. Pour mixture into food grade freezer containers and freeze until ready to use. When ready to use, set out about an hour to thaw, just enough to chop easily. Chop up the frozen mixture in a punch bowl and add ginger ale, stir well serves 50.
Cranberry Punch “The Recipe”
1 large bottle of cranberry juice
1 large can pineapple juice
2 Tablespoons almond extract
2/3 cup sugar, (less if you like)
2 liters ginger ale
Mix together and store in the refrigerator until ready to drink. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving Punch
1/3 cup honey
12 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
8 cups apple cider, divided
4 cups cranberry juice, chilled
3 cups (24 oz.) spiced rum
2 (12-oz.) bottles ginger beer, chilled
Sliced green apples, oranges, or lemons, for garnish
Rosemary sprig, for garnish
Simmer spices and honey with cider:
Combine honey, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and 2 cups of the cider in a small saucepan over medium. Cook, stirring often, until honey is Steep cider mixture: dissolved and mixture is fragrant with spices, about 7 minutes.
Remove from heat; cool and steep 15 minutes. Discard cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Combine ingredients in punch bowl:
Combine spiced cider mixture, cranberry juice, spiced rum, ginger beer, and remaining 6 cups apple cider in a large punch bowl.
Garnish and serve:
Garnish with sliced citrus and apples. Serve over ice.
Simple Holiday Punch
4 cups Hawaiian punch
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups ginger ale
Fresh orange slices and cranberries for garnish
Mix all ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Serve over ice.
Garnish with fresh orange slices, fresh cranberries or even maraschino cherries if desired.
Grinch Punch
(The Grinch is everywhere these days, so why not punch?)
1 half gallon lime sherbet
1, 2 liter Sprite
1 gallon Green Hawaiian fruit punch
Red sanding sugar, optional
In a large punch bowl, spoon in the lime sherbet. Pour half of the Sprite and half of the Hawaiian punch over the sherbet. Stir to combine.
Optional; take a glass and dip the rim of your glass into a plate of water. Then dip the rim in red sanding sugar. It looks great!
New Year’s Eve Punch
1 cup water
½ cup sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
½ cup pineapple juice
1 bottle champagne, sparkling white grape juice, seltzer water or your favorite substitute.
In a saucepan, bring water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and cloves to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon and cloves. Cool to room temperature and pour into a large pitcher.
Add cranberry juice and pineapple juice. Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. At serving time, add 1 bottle of champagne. Multiply as needed for larger groups.
Pomegranate Christmas Punch
1 orange sliced, plus more for garnish
1 cup cranberries, plus more for garnish
½ cup pomegranate seeds
2 cups cranberry juice, unsweetened
2 cups orange juice, no added sugar
1 cup of pomegranate juice
2 cups lemon-lime soft drink, such as Sprite or 7up
Ice
Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
Add the slices from 1 orange, 1 cup cranberries, and ½ cup pomegranate to a large pitcher or punch bowl. (if you are using a gallon sized dispenser, double the recipe).
Pour in 2 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup pomegranate juice and 2 cups lemon-lime soft drink.
Serve in glasses over ice and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, orange slices and cranberries.
Apple Cider Punch
6 cups apple cider
1 cup orange juice
½ cup lemon juice
1 liter ginger ale
2 apples, sliced
1 orange, sliced
10 cinnamon sticks
In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir well to mix.
If making spiked add 1 cup here and stir to combine.
Add the sliced apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher or punch bowl.
Refrigerate the mixture for at least one hour to chill and allow the flavors to meld.
When ready to serve, add the ginger ale to the mixture and stir gently.
Pour the punch over glasses filled with ice.
White Christmas Punch
For the Drink
2 cups cream of coconut
2 cups pineapple juice
3 cups white cranberry juice
4 cups ice
For the Glass Rims
3 tablespoons corn syrup
½ cup shredded coconut
Pour all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Dip rims into corn syrup, then dip into shredded coconut.
Pour drink into glasses, garnish with additional coconut and cranberries, if desired.
Warm Pear Cider
4 cups pear juice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon ginger
5 whole cloves
1 lemon, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a pot, simmer for 30 minutes, and serve warm, garnish with pear slices.
Gingerbread Latte for Two
1 ¾ cups almond milk
1 cup coffee, cool or hot
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Whipped cream for topping
In a blender, add the almond milk, coffee, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla extract, molasses, and maple syrup.
Blend vigorously until all of the spices and ingredients are combined.
Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan on the stove over medium heat.
Once the mixture is nice and hot, divide it into two mugs. Garnish with whipped cream, and extra cinnamon.
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Additional cocoa powder for serving
Whipped cream and peanut butter cups for serving
Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming hot.
Meanwhile put the remaining ingredients in a bowl, and using an immersion blender combine.
Pour the hot milk into the combined mixture and carefully blend for about 10-15 seconds until completely combined.
Serve immediately in your favorite mug with a layer of whipped cream, cocoa powder and peanut butter cups. Serves 2.
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