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Best Maple Bourbon Friendsgiving Punch Recipe

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A warm, smoky, and sweet punch with a citrus kick, perfect for Friendsgiving and holiday gatherings. This crowd-pleasing recipe comes together in under 15 minutes and features a quick maple simple syrup for seamless sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (480 ml) bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Bulleit)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) pure maple syrup (Grade A dark amber)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh lemon juice (from 3–4 lemons)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) fresh orange juice (from 3–4 oranges)
  • 3 cups (720 ml) unfiltered apple cider
  • 2 cups (480 ml) club soda or ginger beer
  • 3–4 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 cup (about 120 g) fresh cranberries
  • 1–2 oranges, sliced into thin rounds
  • 3–4 fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

  1. Make the Maple Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of pure maple syrup with 1/2 cup of water. Add 3 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is fully dissolved and the cinnamon has infused the mixture—about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
  2. Juice Your Citrus: While the syrup cools, juice 3-4 lemons to get 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice. Then juice 3-4 oranges to get 1 cup of fresh orange juice. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve to catch any seeds or pulp if desired.
  3. Combine the Base: In your punch bowl or large pitcher, combine the cooled maple simple syrup (remove the cinnamon sticks and set them aside for garnish), the fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, and 3 cups of apple cider. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
  4. Add the Bourbon: Pour in 2 cups of bourbon and stir again.
  5. Chill Thoroughly: Cover the punch bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
  6. Add the Fizz: Just before serving, pour in 2 cups of club soda or ginger beer. Stir gently to combine.
  7. Prepare the Ice Ring (optional): Fill a bundt pan halfway with water, add fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary sprigs, then freeze until solid. Add more water to fill the pan and freeze again. Unmold the ice ring and float it in the punch bowl.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Float the reserved cinnamon sticks, fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary sprigs on top of the punch. Ladle into glasses filled with ice if desired.

Notes

For a non-alcoholic version, swap bourbon for strong chai tea concentrate. For a spicy kick, add sliced jalapeños to the simple syrup. The punch tastes even better on day two. Add club soda just before serving to keep the fizz.

Nutrition

Keywords: maple bourbon punch, Friendsgiving punch, bourbon punch, holiday punch, maple syrup punch, apple cider punch

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/best-maple-bourbon-friendsgiving-punch-recipe/