This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Get into the spirit of the season with this Thanksgiving Cider Punch. Warming apple cider, vodka, apple butter, and bitters, mixed with whole cinnamon sticks, ginger beer, and bubbly champagne. Mix everything together to create the perfect Thanksgiving punch recipe that’s both festive and delicious. Rim your glasses in sweet cinnamon sugar to create a magical fall apple cider punch cocktail that all your guests will love this Thanksgiving!
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
Well, it’s about time I shared a punch recipe, right? The overall goal for this year’s holiday recipes is simplicity and ease. You probably got that idea yesterday when viewing my 2022 Thanksgiving dinner menu. Everything on our menu this year is easy to throw together and can easily be made ahead of time too!
I know all too well that when you’re entertaining a large crowd you need to take the work out of serving up your yummy cocktails. Meaning, cocktails that serve everyone!
Enter holiday cocktails you can make in a batch!
For some reason, I haven’t shared many punch recipes. I’m not sure why, they’re great! I love making them for the added bonus that while they chill in the fridge, they’ll develop an even more intense and delicious flavor.
We can all love that!
Here are the details
You’ll need apple cider. I like to use spiced apple cider with no sugar added. Then vodka, apple butter, bitters, and cinnamon sticks.
Mix this all together in a large punch bowl or drink dispenser, then chill the mix until you plan to serve. This can be made 3 to 4 days ahead.
Just before serving, pour over a bottle of champagne and a couple of bottles of ginger beer or ginger ale, then serve!
A fancier approach
To go the extra mile, make a cinnamon sugar rim! Just coarse sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
For photos, I left the ginger beer out of my punch bowl. I then poured the champagne punch mix over ice cubes and topped each pretty-rimmed glass off with ginger beer. Last but not least, I added a fresh apple slice and cinnamon stick too! Fresh cranberries would be a nice touch as well.
So easy, festive, and very pretty!
This cocktail is perfect for any and all of your upcoming parties. But it’s also great to enjoy with a small group of family or friends. I love that it’s not loaded with added sugars like most punch recipes. Plus, it is SO EASY to make.
For friends who don’t drink, you’ve still got them covered, simply make the non-alcoholic Thanksgiving punch variation!
I hope you all enjoy this very fun drink and that it brings plenty of cheer 🥂🍾 to your holiday season!
Looking for other easy punch recipes?? Here are my favorites:
Sparkling Christmas Party Punch
Holiday Cheermeister Bourbon Punch
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned Pitcher
Lastly, if you make this Thanksgiving Cider Punch, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Thanksgiving Cider Punch
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 bottle (750 ml) champagne
- 2 bottles ginger beer
- 2 apples, sliced
Cinnamon sugar Rim
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- pomegranate or orange juice, for the rim
- star anise, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, combine the cider, vodka, apple butter, and bitters. Stir until combined. Add the cinnamon sticks and 1-2 star anise (if you like). Chill until ready to serve. 2. Just before serving, add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the champagne and ginger beer. Add ice to cocktail glasses and pour over the punch. Serve with apple slices. 3. To make the cinnamon rim, on a small plate, mix the coarse sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Dip the rim of the glass into a thin layer of juice. Then dip the glass into the sugar mix.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Thanksgiving Cider Mocktail Punch
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- 2 cups sparkling white grape juice
- 4-5 bottles ginger beer
- 2 apples, sliced
Cinnamon Rim
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- pomegranate or orange juice, for the rim
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, combine the cider, vinegar, apple butter, and bitters. Stir until combined. Add the cinnamon sticks and 1-2 star anise (if you like). Chill until ready to serve. 2. Just before serving, Add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the grape juice and ginger beer. Stir in the apples. Add ice to cocktail glasses and pour over the punch. Serve with apple slices. 3. To make the cinnamon rim, on a small plate, mix the coarse sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Dip the rim of the glass into a thin layer of juice. Then dip the glass into the sugar mix.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Hey Tieghan. I’m making this for Thanksgiving this year, mostly for myself since most of the crowd prefer wine and beer. The trouble is, I really don’t like any fermented beverage, be it beer, these fruity alcoholic beer-like drinks, wine.. and eek, even champagne. I toast with the same as the kids.. sparkling white grape juice, lol.
Anyhow, I will omit the champagne here but understand that that it brings a sorta bitter tartness. Shall I increase the bitters, or maybe just up the tartness with unsweetened concentrated cider? How might you balance the punch in the absence 9f champagne or anything like it?
Hey Melissa,
You can go ahead and follow the mock-tail recipe as listed above, that will work well for you:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Can I substitute regular bitters for the orange bitters? Or would it be better to leave it out all together?
Hi Jennie,
Regular bitters will be great to use! I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xTieghan
Any substitute for apple butter? I went to four different stores, and I couldn’t find any.
Hey Andi,
I like to make my apple butter:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
Pumpkin butter would also work for you:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Can you use pumpkin butter instead of apple butter?
Hey Alysha,
Sure, pumpkin butter will also be delicious! I hope it turns out well for you! Cheers! xx
Hi! A few friends who don’t love ginger beer. Can I reduce the amount or is there a substitute I can use for this?
Hey Arcy,
Yes, you could reduce the ginger beer or use some sparkling water. I hope you love this recipe! Cheers! xT
Can I use prosecco? Or does it need to be a brut?
Hey Sydney,
Sure, Prosecco would be great to use! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Tiegan, thank you for including this mocktail recipe for us non drinkers. It looks delicious and I’m going to make it for Thanksgiving. I will sere the vodka on the side for those who wish to have it.
Happy to share Sherry!! I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xT
If I omit the apple butter, will it significantly change the taste?
Hey there,
I wouldn’t skip the apple butter, it does add great flavor here! You could also do pumpkin butter:) I hope this helps! Cheers! xx
Is there a good alternative to Vodka?
Hey Christina,
You could do gin! If not, you might like this margarita:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/pumpkin-patch-margarita/
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
By 2 bottles, do you mean 2 cans of ginger beer? Also do you have a particular champagne and vodka you use?
Hi Cree,
Two bottles or cans of ginger beer:) I like Tito’s and Veuve for vodka and champagne. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Tastes great! Thanks for the recipe.
Hey Rebekah,
Awesome!! 🍂 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for trying it out! xx
This looks so good! Is there anything that could be subbed in place of orange bitters, or would it taste ok without? Also how many ounces of ginger beer?
Hey Rachel,
You could skip the orange bitters and I used 12 ounce bottles of ginger beer. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
Recipe calls for two bottles of ginger beer. What size bottles did you use for the punch? Also, have a favorite ginger beer?
Hey Amy,
I used 12 ounce bottles and I really like Bundaberg ginger beer. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! Cheers! xx
Thank you for adding mocktail tweaks!
Happy to share!!
To do something like this without alcohol, what do you reccommend?
Hey Sandy, if you scroll further down the page, there is a Mocktail version.
This sounds amazing, can’t wait to try it. I love ginger beer!
Thanks so much Linda!!
Hi Sandy,
Please follow the cocktail instructions listed above:) I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xx