I love getting ready for Christmas. There are so many things that I enjoy doing to “prepare” for the holiday. One tradition that I have been doing for years now, is making this Cranberry Punch.
It was one of those recipes I just stumbled upon. I find it quite intriguing to look through old recipes and cookbooks. It’s interesting to see how some things change…and how some haven’t. I’ll never forget finding it in my mom’s Betty Crocker cookbook from the 1970’s. It not only had the punch recipe, but also how to make an ice ring along with it. Sometimes, I have felt that the old-fashioned punch bowl and punch ring have become a lost art. So I will keep on making them 🙂
As you can see, I used this glass pitcher this year – it’s got more of a country feel to it. I went to find my punch bowl, and found it was broken (I just use an inverted cake stand). Broken during our move…(tear). But a pitcher works well, too. 🙂
I started out making this for Joe’s birthday, as it lands just a few days before Christmas. Cranberries just go along with Christmas, and so do the red and green colors. It’s fun to garnish with fruit and a sprig of mint – it’s a refreshing drink we all enjoy together with family and friends. I hope you will, too! Merry Christmas!
- 3 c. (24 oz) pineapple juice, chilled
- 3 c. (24 oz) cranberry juice, chilled
- 4 c. Ginger Ale
- cranberries, lemon and lime slices for garnish
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, stir pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and Ginger Ale together. Add ice (or ice ring) and garnish with fruit. Serve to your favorite people. Merry Christmas!
Good morning, Molly,
Once again I find delight in your holiday blog. Today’s recipe for the festive punch bowl reminds me of growing up in Avoca and my parents inviting the men’s choir from the Presbyterian Church to come to our home after the Christmas Eve service.
Dad sang tenor in the choir which processed down the aisle weekly singing “Holy, Holy, Holy.” At Christmas time, Mom unpacked the fluted glass punch bowl, clear glass cups and dipper, washed and dried them to a sparkle, then set them out on a stunning large glass platter decorated with fresh evergreens. Before going to the Christmas Eve service they mixed a special recipe of eggnog that stayed cool in a round Scotch plaid cooler set out on our enclosed back porch. Everyone gathered in the dining room after church and sampled an array of cookies while sipping the thick creamy specialty. My brothers and I preferred a fruit punch. It was when I was older that Mom shared the secret ingredient of the eggnog: a bit of rum and bourbon! It is no wonder everyone was warmed head to toe! P.S. The little cupfuls offered to my brothers and me were unspiked.
Thank you for the refreshing fruit punch you shared when we all celebrated Joe’s birthday! A new Herrick/ Benson/Olesen tradition has begun. BTW I think it’s time to pass on the punch bowl set that has been waiting for use once again!