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Caramel Apple Punch

Caramel apple punch with a golden cider base and caramel-rimmed glasses. Stir caramel into chilled apple cider for a smooth, lightly sweet flavor, then top with ginger ale just before serving for a bubbly finish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Caramel apple punch base
  • 64 ml apple cider Chilled. Use to dissolve caramel and form the punch base.
  • 1 tbsp caramel sauce Plus more for rimming glasses.
  • 2 L ginger ale Chilled. Added last for bubbles.
  • 1 cup vanilla vodka Optional.
  • 2 apples Thinly sliced for floating garnish.
  • 4 cinnamon sticks For warming spice in the punch bowl.
  • 1 ice To be added right before serving.
  • 1 coarse sugar For rimming the glasses.

Equipment

  • 1 punch bowl

Method
 

Make the caramel cider
  1. Whisk caramel sauce into 2 cups of the chilled apple cider until fully dissolved, until the mixture looks smooth and uniform.
  2. Pour the caramel cider back into the punch bowl and add the remaining chilled apple cider; stir, then add vanilla vodka if using.
Add fruit and spice
  1. Add the thinly sliced apples and cinnamon sticks to the punch bowl so the pieces float throughout.
  2. Dip the rim of each glass in caramel sauce, then press the rim into coarse sugar to coat evenly.
Finish and serve
  1. Just before serving, pour in the chilled ginger ale and add ice to the punch bowl for a sparkling, cold punch.
  2. Ladle the caramel apple punch into the rimmed glasses, making sure each glass includes floating apple slices and a cinnamon stick or two.

Notes

For the best flavor and sparkle, keep the cider, ginger ale, and ice chilled, and add the ginger ale only right before serving. Refrigerate leftover punch base (without ginger ale) for up to 2 days; when ready, add fresh ginger ale and ice. Freezing is not recommended because the ginger ale won’t re-carbonate well. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the vanilla vodka and increase the chill time of the cider for a cleaner, cider-forward drink.