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This one is for all you pumpkin lovers out there. This colorful, bright, mouthwatering sparkling pumpkin punch combines apple cider, pumpkin, all those fall spices, cream, and vodka to liven up any party or holiday gathering. It’s a recipe for the perfect fall party.
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!
Table of contents
Spiked Pumpkin Punch
We love any excuse to have a party, especially one that involves an adult spiked punch. This punch uses those fall pantry staples of apple cider, pumpkin, and fresh orchard apples into a mouthwatering punch that will keep your guests coming back for more.
Just like food, drinks will only taste as good as their ingredients. Be sure to use a high quality vodka for this punch and fresh apple cider. We like to get apple cider and apples from our local u-pick orchard or on Saturdays at our town’s autumn farmers market.
How To Make Pumpkin Punch
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- Apple cider – apple cider is super easy to find in the fall in most grocery stores. It’s made by pressing the apples that have imperfections into a juice. Apple cider is distinct from apple juice because it is unfiltered and unpasteurized. See the tip #2 below for more info about substitutions.
- Pumpkin puree – it wouldn’t be pumpkin punch without pumpkin. I add pumpkin puree to give it an earthy, nutty, sweet, buttery flavor. I used canned pumpkin puree here, see tip #1 below for info about canned vs. fresh.
- Pumpkin pie spice – pumpkin spice is just a combination of equal parts nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, it gives this punch that pumpkin pie spicy bite. If you don’t have any premixed pumpkin spice just mix your own.
- Sprite – a bubbly, sweet kick sets this punch apart – for a less-sweet flavor, opt for a dry soda or tonic.
- Vodka – vodka is distilled from grains and potato mash and has a lightly spicy flavor that compliments the apple and pumpkin perfectly for this recipe. You want to use a high quality vodka for the best tasting pumpkin patch punch.
- Apple slices – fresh sliced apples make this punch beautiful and the apples release their crisp sweetness into the punch which gives it that fresh taste.
- Orange slices – orange slices make this punch aesthetically pleasing and bring a refreshing citrus hit that compliments the apple cider and vodka.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:
- Mix- Mix all the ingredients together in the bowl you plan to serve the punch in. Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can freeze the pre-sliced apples and oranges to keep the punch cold when serving it without watering it down.
- Enjoy – Top with apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star of anise, if desired, and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks To Perfect Pumpkin Punch:
Check out these tips and tricks and frequently asked questions you didn’t even think to ask!
Fresh vs. Canned Pumpkin. Fresh pumpkin has a different flavor (more like butternut squash) than canned pumpkin. If you want to use fresh puree you can cut a pumpkin in half, clean out the seeds, then place it on a roasting pan with the flesh down and bake it at 375 degrees until a knife inserted into the outer skin inserts easily (about an hour). Then scoop out the inside and mash it to make a puree.
Apple Juice sub for Apple Cider. You can substitute apple juice for apple cider. If you make that substitution I recommend mixing ¼ cup of applesauce into your punch. It will give it more of a distinct unfiltered apple cider flavor.
FAQ’s:
Yes, just leave out the vodka to un-spike the punch. If you want to make it a sparkling punch just add 16oz of Sprite which will give it that bubbly effect without taking away from the fall flavors.
If you have leftover punch you can store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to add leftover punch to the blender with ice cubes to make a nice iced pumpkin pie adult beverage.
What to serve with Pumpkin Punch?
We love to serve this fun and delicious fall punch with other fall favorites like Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Spice Muffins, or Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bars!
This punch is also a great drink to serve at a fall dinner with Roasted Pork Loin and Pears, some Cinnamon Sweet Potato and Apple Bake on the side, and Caramel Lava Cakes to finish!
For more of our easy pumpkin recipes, visit our recent favorites below:
Pumpkin Punch Recipe
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Pumpkin Punch Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple cider
- 16 oz sprite
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 cups vodka
- Apple slices
- Orange slices
- cinnamon sticks and star of anise, to garnish
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients but cool whip in a punch bowl.
- Top with apple slices, cinnamon sticks, star of anise, and serve over ice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
