And it’s a mocktail!
Maybe this is my last mocktail of the year — I’m not sure yet. What I do know is this sparkling pomegranate cider punch is incredibly good. Bright, seasonal and completely booze-free, it feels like autumn in a glass. You won’t miss the alcohol.
Without being basic.
This version is a twist on the cranberry cider punch I shared a few years ago back when I was pregnant with Max. That original punch was served at my baby shower — pretty, studded with cranberries and a total crowd-pleaser. Even after I started drinking again, I kept making it for gatherings because everyone loved it.
My only complaint about the cranberry version was the cranberry juice itself — I’m not always the biggest fan. Over the years I’ve warmed up to cranberries, but I knew right away this punch would shine with pomegranate juice instead.
All hail pomegranate season. I love apple season and I enjoy pumpkin season, but pomegranates are one of my favorite fall treats. I adore their tart flavor — pomegranate spritzers, arils on yogurt or cereal — and the jewel-toned color they add to anything. I used to spend time seeding them by hand, but these days I usually buy the packaged arils for convenience.
Besides the flavor, the color is a big reason I love pomegranates. That deep, saturated hue is perfect for autumn tablescapes — I even built my Thanksgiving palette around it. Over the coming weeks I’ll be sharing other pomegranate drinks because the color and flavor are just so lovely.
One of the best parts of this punch is the autumn simple syrup, carried over from the cranberry cider punch and left unchanged because it’s that good. This spiced syrup is versatile — use it in cocktails, sangria, a spiced margarita or a fall mojito. It’s a keeper.
For a festive finish, rim the glass with cinnamon sugar so each drink looks as sparkly as it tastes.
You can also turn this into a frozen punch — blend with ice or freeze the apple cider or pomegranate juice into ice cubes ahead of time. Either way, crushed ice is key when serving the punch to keep it cold and refreshing.
Doesn’t it just look like something you want to drink?
Pomegranate Cider Punch
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Ingredients
- 3 cups apple cider
- 3 cups sparkling pomegranate Italian soda
- 1 cup ginger ale or ginger beer for a little fizz and spice
- 1 cup seltzer plain or flavored
- 1/2 cup autumn simple syrup recipe below
- 2 to 3 apples, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
- 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks plus extra for garnish
- cinnamon sugar for the rim
autumn simple syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- a few slices of orange rind
Instructions
punch
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Gently stir the apple cider, sparkling pomegranate soda, ginger ale or ginger beer, seltzer and autumn simple syrup together. Taste and adjust — if your ginger beer is very spicy, add more syrup or cider; if it’s milder, you may want less syrup.
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To rim glasses, mix about 1/3 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon on a plate. Rub a wedge of orange or lime around the glass rim, then dip in the cinnamon sugar. Add crushed ice to each glass.
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Serve the punch over crushed ice and garnish with apple slices, extra pomegranate arils and cinnamon sticks.
autumn simple syrup
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Combine brown sugar, water, freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, star anise and orange rind in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Store refrigerated for a few days; you can leave the spices and rind in while chilling and remove them before serving if preferred.
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