Fizzy Ginger-Cranberry Punch

Is there a better time than the holidays for enjoying the company of your friends and family? I don’t think so. To me, Thanksgiving is not only about giving thanks, it’s also a time to celebrate, eat, drink and be merry! My favorite way to put my guests in a merry-making mood is serving them a pretty, welcoming, thirst-quenching drink upon arrival.

This gem of a recipe combines some of my favorite flavors of the holidays in an (almost too) easy-to-drink libation. The zingy spice of the ginger is counterbalanced by tart cranberry juice, a bit of orange juice and tempered with lots of soda-water fizz and a bit of bitters. The herbal hit of gin is welcome in this concoction, though I could see bourbon or vodka bringing another dimension to the mix. You can even leave the alcohol out completely and you’ll have a unique, warming homemade soda! The best part of this punch is that it can be prepped ahead, so

To begin, make the ginger simple syrup. Just three ingredients, water, sugar and lots of fresh ginger, is all you need. 

Next, let’s buzz up a bright, zesty sugar for rimming our glasses. Set aside on a plate or shallow dish.

Then, in a carafe, pitcher or punch bowl, combine the punch ingredients. Make-ahead tip: Combine everything except the ginger beer and soda water and store in the fridge. You’ll want to stir the bubbly ingredients in just before serving so you don’t lose all the fizzy goodness!

When your guests arrive, serve them up a glass of punch over ice, garnishing glasses with a slice of orange or strip of zest. Bottoms up!