Apple Cider Punch (Super Easy Fall Punch Recipe)
If you’re hosting a fall gathering or just craving something festive, this Apple Cider Punch is a must-make! Fresh apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice come together for a drink that tastes like autumn in a glass. Serve it warm or chilled!
Options for spiked apple cider punch and kid-friendly, non alcoholic punch given too!
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Nothing sets the mood for fall like the scent of apples and cinnamon! This Apple Cider Punch captures all those cozy autumn flavors in drink form – sweet apple, a hint of citrus, and a touch of spice.
It’s perfect for everything from a fall brunch to Thanksgiving dinner, and it makes your kitchen smell amazing while you mix it up.
Apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities, the fresh apple cider, apple cider donuts, and all the apple picking fun! Here’s an old picture of one of my sweetest apple picking memories with Blakely when she was younger!
This was snapped when we went apple picking in upstate NY with my brother and his family. The whole farm smelled like apples, it was incredible.
While I can’t teleport over to pick apples any time I want, sipping on this delicious Apple Cider Punch is just as perfect!
Easy Fall Punch
I wanted to create an easy fall punch recipe that has all my favorite fall flavors that you can serve to guests at any occasion from a fall baby shower or birthday party to Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving too.
I also wanted to make sure it used easy-to-find ingredients so you can pull it together quickly! So what’s in my Apple Cider Punch? Just 4 ingredients (for the non-alcoholic variety). It’s perfect for the kids and your family-friendly activities. My daughter loves it!
Apple Cider Punch Ingredients
Almost all grocery stores have this available in the fall, check near the refrigerated section in the produce department. Be sure to use apple cider and not apple juice.
- Apple Cider
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Ginger Ale
Garnish Your Apple Cider Punch
Not only will your garnishes make your punch pretty, but the fruit slices and cinnamon sticks also help enhance the flavor!
Spiked Apple Cider Punch
If you want to create an alcoholic variety of my apple cider punch, it’s easy too! You also have options! I suggest going with either rum or whiskey for the best flavor of a spiked a apple cider punch.
Regardless of which alcohol you choose, start out with 1 cup. You could also add some cinnamon schnapps too (about 1/4 cup).
Can you make this Apple Cider Punch in advance?
You can! Everything except the ginger ale, however, because you want it to be nice and fizzy when ready to serve. If you add the ginger ale too far ahead of time, it will lose all the bubbles.
What I do is mix the apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice together in a large pitcher or drink dispenser, toss in my sliced apples, oranges and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate up to a day in advance so it’s nice and cold! Then pour in the ginger ale when it’s party time!
You don’t have to make this punch far in advance, however, just be sure you either have enough ice to chill it quickly or refrigerate for at least an hour beforehand so it’s cold.
A note on ice! If your punch is cold enough, you don’t need ice. If not, I suggest pouring it over ice or using an ice ring in a large punch bowl.
Pro Tips for Serving Apple Cider Punch:
- Chill all ingredients before mixing so the punch stays cold longer.
- Add apple slices, cinnamon sticks, or star anise before serving for a festive touch.
- For a crowd, double the recipe and serve in a glass beverage dispenser.
More Apple Recipes to Try…
- Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria (a Pizzazzerie favorite)
- Apple Dump Cake (the perfect mix between cobbler and cake, must-try)
- Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
Apple Cider Punch
Ingredients
Apple Cider Punch
- 6 cups apple cider
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup rum - (or whiskey) *optional*
- 1 liter ginger ale - (about 4 cups)
Apple Cider Punch Garnishes
- 2 apples - sliced
- 1 orange - sliced
- 10 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Place apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Stir to combine. If making spiked apple cider punch, add your rum (or whiskey).
- Toss in sliced apples, oranges and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate to chill at least one hour.
- When ready to serve, add ginger ale and pour over glasses filled with ice.
This punch is Fall perfect! I did splash a little rum in mine and it was even better. Great recipe!
This was the perfect easy drink! So tasty!!
This was so fun to make, and the cider was terrific! I’ll be making this all Fall long.
love the glasses! where can i find them
What type of Lemon Juice? Like lemonade? TIA
Not lemonade, just pure lemon juice either straight from a lemon or bottled pure, plain lemon juice.
Used some honey Jim beam and it was so delicious
Lizzy did you try any other alcohol? I am wondering if i should just buy the honey jim beam since you mentioned it
Can this be served warm or is it better served cold?
Served this at our Grandson’s Pumpkin Farmstand and people were literally coming back to ask for the recipe! How many ounces are you counting in a “serving”?
This looks so good! What a great fall recipe to make for friends!
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make it?
Can you use a spiced rum with this recipe or is a basic rum better?
You can use either! Spiced rum would be delicious!
Suggest rum and fireball (Cinnamon whiskey) – great.
GREAT! I made it for an adult function, so went with 2 (rather than 1) cups light rum, probably could have used dark, or combination – you’d never taste it I guess AND 1 cup Fireball (cinnamon whiskey).
Yum.
How much gingerale do you add to the cup if you are adding it before you serve to a cup with ice?
I made it non-alcoholic and 3x the recipe. It was perfect! The kids even liked it!
This cider was the hit of the party! Delicious and beautiful.
good
I made this for a shower I had yesterday. I added 1 c bourbon and 1/4 c fireball. Everyone loved it!
sigma
My local store only has sparkling apple cider. Is that ok to use?
Did you end up using sparkling apple cider? If so, did you add the ginger ale too?
Where’s the non-alcoholic version of the recipe? What do you use instead of the cider?
cider is the main ingredient and nonalcoholic. Just omit the run and its the kids safe version
Hi Courtney! I would like to serve this warm. You mention in the opening that it can be served either warm or cold but nothing in the recipe guidelines or following comments mention it. Prepare the recipe the same way? Still use gingerale? I suppose retaining fizz won’t be a concern when warming. Thoughts? Thanks!
Diane, You can make and then heat up either on the stovetop or even in a slow cooker. The ginger ale won’t retain its fizz, but it’ll still be delicious in flavor.
This punch was so tasty and the perfect drink for a fall gathering! I used Ginger Ale 0 so it would be a few less calories. We did it minus the rum but I bet that would be delicious! Will make again for sure!
Delicious and easy to make, everyone loved it!