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Warm Kid-Friendly Spiced Wassail Punch Recipe

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A cozy, kid-friendly spiced wassail punch made with apple juice, orange juice, and warm spices. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s perfect for family gatherings and cold winter days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (1 liter) unsweetened apple juice
  • 2 cups (500 ml) orange juice (preferably not-from-concentrate)
  • 1 cup (250 ml) water
  • 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 to 8 whole cloves
  • 2 to 3 whole star anise (optional)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine the liquids: Pour the apple juice, orange juice, and water into a large pot. Stir to combine.
  2. Add the whole spices: Drop in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise (if using).
  3. Add the fruit slices (optional): Toss in a few orange slices and apple slices.
  4. Bring to a gentle simmer: Heat over medium-high until small bubbles break the surface (about 5-7 minutes). Do not boil.
  5. Reduce heat and steep: Lower the heat to low and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Taste after 10 minutes and adjust spices if needed.
  6. Taste and adjust: Add more cinnamon or remove cloves as desired. Adjust sweetness with honey or maple syrup if needed.
  7. Strain the spices: Pour the punch through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl or pot to remove spices and fruit slices.
  8. Serve warm: Pour into mugs or heatproof glasses. Garnish with fresh orange slices or cinnamon sticks if desired.
  9. Keep warm for serving: Transfer to a slow cooker set to warm for parties or gatherings.

Notes

Don’t boil the juice; a gentle simmer preserves fresh flavor. Start with 6 cloves and add more if needed. For a deeper flavor, toast cinnamon sticks and star anise in a dry pan for 30 seconds per side before adding. Strain twice when serving to kids to avoid choking hazards. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: wassail punch, spiced punch, kid-friendly punch, warm punch, holiday punch, apple juice punch, orange juice punch, cinnamon punch, clove punch

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/warm-kid-friendly-spiced-wassail-punch-recipe/