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Whip up a cheerful holiday drink packed with pineapple, cranberry, and orange juices plus a cozy homemade cinnamon syrup. Sweetness and tang play together, and a splash of bubbles makes it extra lively. You can get parts ready ahead, and it works for both tiny groups and big gatherings.
Perks of This Drink
This punch is a breeze for the holidays. All the stuff is easy to find, but the taste is special. Knock out most of it before the party so you’re not rushing. It works whether you’re serving a few folks or a whole crowd, and you can make it grownup or kid-friendly. With plenty of garnish ideas and a bold color, it looks fantastic without any tricky steps.
Gather These Things
- Cinnamon: Four sticks, whole. Brings a warm and spicy kick.
- Sprite: Two liters, ice-cold. Brings the fizz and a bit of sweetness.
- Grenadine: Quarter cup for color and a richer flavor.
- Pineapple Juice: Two cups, all juice, punches things up with some tropical sweetness.
- Cranberry Juice: Four cups of pure cranberry, not the cocktail type. Brings the tart and bright color.
- Orange Juice: Two cups, no pulp. Adds citrus and natural sugar.
- Water: One cup, filtered, to make the cinnamon syrup.
- Sugar: One cup, granulated, for making the syrup base.
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Preparation Steps
- Serve and Enjoy
- Fill glasses with ice, pour in the punch, and add your favorite garnishes if you like. Drink it right away to keep the bubbles fresh.
- Mix It Up
- At party time, pour in the Sprite and stir it just enough to mix, so it stays fizzy. Keep everything chilly, under 40°F (about 4°C).
- Stir the Base
- In your big bowl, mix together pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, the cool cinnamon syrup, and grenadine. Give it a really good stir.
- Make the Syrup
- Add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and your cinnamon sticks to a pot. Get it up to 225°F (107°C), simmer for 5 minutes, then take it off the heat. Let it cool all the way and then strain it so you just have syrup left.
Getting Ahead
Get everything ready at just the right time to stay chill on the big day. You can make the cinnamon syrup three days before—just pop it in the fridge at 40°F (4°C). The juice mix (leave out the Sprite for now) holds fine in the fridge for a day. Garnishes? Prep them about 4 hours early: slice oranges into quarter-inch rounds and stash with damp towels. Cranberries are happy in cold water till you need them. Only add the soda right before serving so it’ll stay bubbly.
Serving Big Crowds
If you’ve got more than 25 people, it’s easier if you set up separate stations. Fill a 3-gallon jug with the juice mix. Keep the Sprite on hand, plus an ice bin and all your garnishes. Figure on 8 ounces per person and use 12-ounce glasses for right-sized pours. Keep everything really cold, under 40°F (4°C) with ice rings or even frozen fruit. Refresh the ice every couple of hours to keep things safe.
Make It Boozy
Turn it into an adult drink by mixing in some booze: 1.5 ounces of your choice per 8 ounces of punch. Vodka, white rum, spiced rum, or bourbon (40%–45% ABV) all work. Cut the Sprite back by a quarter when you add alcohol so it doesn’t get too sweet. Mark the boozy batch clearly. Mix alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions separately so nobody gets mixed up.
Decorate Your Drink
Add some style and flavor with tasty garnishes. For cranberry sticks, poke 4–5 fresh berries on a 4-inch toothpick. Orange rounds should be sliced 1/4 inch thick, with a notch so they perch on the glass. Cinnamon sticks (4 inches long) are great stirrers. Want a fancy rim? Mix 1/4 cup sugar with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, dip glass rims. Keep garnishes cold (40°F/4°C) and swap them out every couple hours so they stay fresh.
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How to Store Everything
Keep things fresh by storing them on their own. Cinnamon syrup should go in a sealed jar in the fridge and use it within three days. The juice base stays good for a day in the fridge as long as it’s covered. Garnishes will be fine for about four hours if you cover and chill them. Mixed punch with Sprite? Don’t save it for longer than a couple hours. If it’s left out for four hours, just toss it for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I make it ahead?
Go ahead and combine juices plus syrup the day before. Save the sprite for right before pouring so it stays bubbly. Put the mix in the fridge—good for up to three days. Freeze juice in a ring mold if you want it icy but not watered down. Whip up extra syrup and leave it chill for weeks. Use it in any drink.
- → How do I make it grown-up?
Grab some vodka or rum—one cup per pitcher. Spiced rum gets that cinnamon flavor popping. White rum keeps things light. Bourbon is another fall favorite. Start small—add more if you want. Make a regular batch for the kids if you’re mixing both.
- → Too sweet - what helps?
Go easy with syrup—just use half and taste as you pour. Swap in diet sprite to cut back sugar. Plenty of folks ditch syrup altogether and just use the fruit juice. Lime juice gives a nice tart touch. Try unsweetened cranberry if you have it. Sweet is easy to add. Hard to take it away.
- → What makes it look fancy?
Top with orange wheels and cranberries. Tuck cinnamon sticks right in each glass. Add some rosemary sprigs if you want it green. Freeze fruit into ice cubes for a fun touch. Lemon slices look cheerful too. Coat glass rims in sugar to make ‘em sparkle—just keep the garnishes simple to drink around!
Conclusion
Want fast drinks that everyone will love? Mix up sparkling cranberry mocktails next time. Or go for hot spiced apple cider. A chilled pineapple fizz also brings that happy celebration mood every single time!