Sparkling Christmas Punch

Name: Sparkling Christmas Punch
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 12 people
Cuisine: South African
Ingredients: 1 litre cranberry juice drink, chilled; 500 ml pineapple juice, chilled; 500 ml orange juice, chilled; 1 litre plain soda water, chilled; 1 medium orange, washed and cut into thin half-moons; 200 g strawberries, washed, hulled and halved; 4 sprigs fresh mint, rinsed; Ice cubes, for the glasses

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15 min totalPrep: 15 min Serves 12 people Drink

This Sparkling Christmas Punch recipe makes a cheerful, alcohol-free drink for a hot South African Christmas. Cranberry juice gives it a rosy colour, pineapple brings sweetness, and orange adds a familiar citrus flavour. Plain soda water keeps the finish light rather than syrupy, making it lovely alongside a braai or a cold Christmas lunch.

There is no syrup to cook and no special equipment needed: just a large jug or punch bowl, a spoon and well-chilled ingredients. Mix the juices ahead, then add the fruit and bubbles when everyone is ready for a drink. Put ice in the glasses rather than the bowl so the last helping tastes as fruity as the first.

Ingredients

Servings12

For the punch

1 litre cranberry juice drink, chilled
500 ml pineapple juice, chilled
500 ml orange juice, chilled
1 litre plain soda water, chilled

To serve

1 medium orange, washed and cut into thin half-moons
200 g strawberries, washed, hulled and halved
4 sprigs fresh mint, rinsed
Ice cubes, for the glasses

Instructions

1
Chill all the juices and the soda water thoroughly before starting. Choose a clean punch bowl or jug with at least a 4-litre capacity to leave room for the fruit and stirring.
2
Slice the orange and halve the strawberries. Gently pat the mint dry.
3
Pour the cranberry juice drink, pineapple juice and orange juice into the bowl or jug. Stir well, as pineapple juice can settle in its container.
4
Add the orange slices and strawberries. If preparing ahead, cover and refrigerate this mixture for up to 4 hours.
5
Just before serving, slowly pour in the cold soda water. Stir gently once or twice to combine without losing too much fizz.
6
Add the mint sprigs. Put ice into 12 glasses, pour in the punch and share the fruit between them. Serve immediately for the best bubbles.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 91 kcal
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Protein: 0.6 g
Fat: 0.2 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Sugar: 20 g
Fibre: 0.7 g
Sodium: 18 mg
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Estimated values based on the ingredients used.

Notes

Christmas tips

Keep the bottles in the fridge overnight. The preparation time assumes that your ingredients are already chilled.
For an outdoor Christmas lunch, stand the punch bowl in a larger container filled with ice. Keep it shaded and top up the ice as needed.
If guests are arriving at different times, divide the juice mixture between two jugs and add half the soda water to each jug only when you serve it.
The recipe makes about 3 litres of liquid, plus fruit: enough for 12 servings of roughly 250 ml before ice.

Frequently asked questions

Is this punch alcohol-free?

Yes. It uses fruit juices and plain soda water, so there is no wine or spirits in the recipe.

Can I use pure, unsweetened cranberry juice?

This recipe uses cranberry juice drink, which is usually sweetened. Pure, unsweetened cranberry juice is much sharper and is not a direct flavour swap. If using it, replace some of it with extra pineapple juice, tasting the juice mixture before adding the soda water.

How long can I keep leftover punch?

Cover and refrigerate leftovers promptly, then use within 24 hours. The soda water will lose its fizz and the fruit will soften. Discard punch that has stood at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour in heat above 32°C.

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