An easy Christmas punch with cranberry, orange and sparkling wine, warmed up by Krampus's honey and spice. Made for a party punch bowl.
A good Christmas punch needs three things: it has to be easy to batch, it has to look festive in the bowl, and it can't taste like fruit juice with a splash of something. This one hits all three with cranberry, orange, sparkling wine and a full bottle of Krampus Herbal Liqueur.
It works by the glass, but it's built for a punch bowl that serves twelve at a holiday party.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Krampus Herbal Liqueur
- 2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- 2 oz chilled prosecco
- Fresh cranberries, orange wheel and rosemary sprig
Directions
- Shake the Krampus, cranberry, orange and lemon juice briefly with ice.
- Strain into a punch cup or wine glass over fresh ice.
- Top with prosecco and garnish.
Glass: Punch cup or wine glass · Garnish: Cranberries, orange wheel, rosemary
A Punch Bowl for Twelve
Stir one 750 ml bottle of Krampus Herbal Liqueur, 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice and ½ cup lemon juice in a punch bowl. Add a large ice ring, then pour in one chilled 750 ml bottle of prosecco just before guests arrive. Float orange wheels, cranberries and rosemary on top.
Tip
Freeze cranberries and orange slices in a Bundt pan of water the night before. A big ice ring melts slowly and keeps the punch from going watery.
Variations
For a non-sparkling version, use ginger ale in place of the prosecco. For a darker, oakier punch bowl, swap one cup of the Herbal Liqueur for Barrel-Aged Krampus.
A Brief History of the Christmas Punch
Punch is one of the oldest mixed drinks in the English-speaking world. British sailors and traders with the East India Company encountered it in the early 1600s, and the name is often traced to the Hindi word for five, for its classic parts: spirit, sugar, citrus, water and spice.
By the 1700s the punch bowl was the centerpiece of any gathering in Britain and colonial America, and a festive bowl at Christmas became a tradition that never really went away.
Why Make It With Krampus
Most Christmas punch recipes use vodka, which adds alcohol but no flavor, so they lean on extra sugar and juice to taste like anything. Krampus brings raw honey, roasted hazelnut and warming spice, so the punch tastes like the holidays without mulling spices or added syrup. The honey softens the tart cranberry, and the spice keeps the sparkling wine from making it taste like a mimosa.
FAQ
How far ahead can I make Christmas punch?
Mix the Krampus and juices up to a day ahead and keep them refrigerated. Add the ice ring and the prosecco right before guests arrive so the punch stays bubbly.
How many people does one bowl of punch serve?
The punch bowl recipe makes about 100 oz, or roughly twenty-five 4 oz cups. Plan on two cups per guest for a party of twelve.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Christmas punch?
Yes. Leave out the Krampus and use sparkling cider or ginger ale in place of the prosecco. Add a cinnamon stick to the bowl for warmth.