Pin it
Mix up a crowd-favorite holiday drink with cranberry, pineapple, and orange juice. Toss in your own cinnamon syrup and a splash of fizz for a bright, cheery sipper. This drink is full of fruity zing and sweet notes, and you get a bit of sparkle from the bubbly. Want easy hosting? You can prep parts ahead, make a little or a lot, and folks will love it for any fall get-together.
Perks of This Punch
Throwing a party just got smoother with this punch. Everything you need is super easy to grab, but the flavor is way more interesting than you'd expect. Make some stuff in advance and save yourself some headaches the day-of. Works for crowds big or small, and tweak it for the grown-ups or the kids. It looks awesome with a couple easy garnishes and you don't need to be fancy in the kitchen.
All You Need
- Cinnamon: 4 full sticks—gives the punch that warm spicy vibe
- Sugar: 1 cup granulated—needed for that homemade syrup
- Water: 1 cup filtered—base for your cinnamon syrup
- Grenadine: ¼ cup—rich color and bold flavor
- Sprite: 2 liters, chilled—sparkly and sweet, use right before drinking
- Pineapple Juice: 2 cups 100%—adds a tropical hint
- Orange Juice: 2 cups, pulp-free—brings citrusy sweetness
- Cranberry Juice: 4 cups pure, not cocktail—adds tang and classic color
Pin it
How To Whip It Up
- Getting the Cinnamon Syrup Ready
- In a pot, throw in cinnamon sticks, sugar, and water. Warm until it hits 225°F (107°C). Let it simmer five minutes, then take off heat and cool. Strain out the cinnamon bits.
- Mixing Your Base
- Grab a big punch bowl. Pour in pineapple juice, orange juice, and cranberry juice. Add the homemade syrup and grenadine. Stir it up until everything blends nicely.
- Finishing Up
- Right before you serve, pour in the cold Sprite. Stir super gently so you keep those bubbles lively. Make sure it's chilled under 40°F (4°C).
- Pour and Serve
- Serve over ice in glasses. Pop on garnishes if you want. Dive in quick for best fizz.
Make-Ahead Tips
Get ahead by timing your prep smart. Whip up cinnamon syrup up to three days early and chill it at 40°F (4°C). You can mix up the juice combo one day before—just leave out the Sprite for now. For garnish, slice oranges and chill them between damp towels four hours ahead. Cranberries can hang out in cold water until you're ready. Pour in the soda right as you’re about to serve to keep it fizzy.
Serving for a Crowd
Got more than 25 people? Set up different stations for everything. Put the juice mix in a big three-gallon drink dispenser. Keep Sprite bottles, ice, and all the garnishes in their own spots. Use 12-ounce glasses and figure on 8 ounces per person. To keep your drink cold, toss in an ice ring or use frozen fruit—swap out the ice every two hours to keep things safe and chilled under 40°F (4°C).
Making It Boozy
If you want to spike it, just add your choice of booze in the right amounts. Use 1.5 ounces of alcohol in every 8-ounce glass. Try vodka, spiced rum (35% ABV), white rum (40% ABV), or bourbon (45% ABV). Back off the Sprite by about a quarter when you pour in alcohol to even up the flavors. Keep grown-up and regular batches separate, and make sure people know which is which!
How to Garnish
Go for easy but showy garnishes. For cranberry skewers, poke 4-5 berries onto a pick. Cut orange slices into wheels, notch one side, and perch them on glasses. Cinnamon sticks (about 4 inches) make fun stirrers. Add a little sparkle by dipping glass rims in a mix of 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Keep your garnish stash cold at 40°F (4°C) and swap them out for fresh ones every two hours.
Pin it
Keep It Fresh
Stash everything by itself so it all stays good. Cinnamon syrup goes in a tight-sealing container in the fridge for up to three days. Your juice blend can hang in the fridge for a day (with a lid). Garnishes stay covered and cold, four hours max. If you’ve already mixed in the Sprite, don’t let it sit longer than two hours. Toss out any punch that’s been left out past four hours just to be safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I prepare it in advance?
Get the juices and syrup ready the night before. Don’t add soda until serving or it’ll lose its fizz. Store juice mix in the fridge for up to 3 days. Some people freeze an ice ring with juice for a nice finishing touch. Make extra syrup—it’ll stay good for weeks.
- → How to make an adult version?
Add some vodka or rum—use about a cup per batch. Spiced rum pairs great with cinnamon. For a lighter version, white rum works well. Bourbon adds a nice fall twist. Pour less at first and adjust to taste. Keep a separate kid-friendly batch if needed.
- → It’s too sugary—what can I do?
Use half the syrup at first and adjust as you go. Swap regular Sprite for the sugar-free version. You could also skip the syrup and stick with straight juices. A splash of lime juice balances things out. Unsweetened cranberry juice is good too. Always easier to add more sweetness later!
- → How do I make it look fancy?
Top with fresh cranberries and orange wheels. Drop a cinnamon stick in every glass. Rosemary sprigs add a touch of green. Freeze fruit inside ice cubes for extra flair. Even lemon slices look lovely. Sugar the glass rims if you want sparkle, but keep it simple so it’s drinkable!
Conclusion
Craving an easy drink? Cranberry soda spritzers are a hit. Want a cozy option? Try hot apple cider with cinnamon. Or whisk up a simple pineapple cooler for a tropical vibe!