Kinderpunsch (German Christmas Punch)

This Kinderpunsch recipe is a hot Christmas punch made with fruit juices, tea and warm spices. Kinder Punch is a holiday tradition in Germany, and is the perfect addition to any winter gathering.

You can’t go wrong with warm drink recipes for a Christmas party. I like to offer choices such as slow cooker apple cider, slow cooker hot chocolate and this delicious German Kinderpunsch.

I first experienced Kinderpunsch a year ago at a Christmas market in New York. It was unlike any drink I had ever tried before, so I decided to learn to make it at home. Kinder Punch is a unique and unexpected offering for a Christmas party, and it’s sure to be a huge hit. It does not contain alcohol which means it’s great for all ages!

Kinderpunsch Ingredients

• Apple Cider: This drink works with both apple cider and apple juice. If you use apple juice, choose an unfiltered juice as it tends to be more flavorful.
• Orange Juice: Look for a high quality refrigerated orange juice for the best results.
• Cherry Juice: I use 100% cherry juice. You can use regular cherry juice or tart cherry juice. If you go with tart cherry juice, you may need to add more sugar.
• Water: The water dilutes the juices a bit, and also serves as base for the tea bags that go in after the punch simmers.
• Sugar: This punch does require some sugar, as the cherry juice is not very sweet and the tea is also unsweetened. I typically use 1/2 cup, but you could also do 1/4 cup for a less sweet drink.
• Spices: Add some whole spices like cinnamon, star anise and cloves for extra flavor complexity. The spices also make the drink smell like Christmas!
• Tea: There are a few different tea options that work well in this punch. You can go with a hibiscus tea, a berry tea, or many brands sell a hibiscus berry blend which is what I use.
• Garnishes: You can add some garnishes to the drink for a prettier presentation. My favorite options include cranberries, oranges and whole star anise.

How Do You Make Kinderpunsch?

Place the fruit juices, water, sugar and spices in a large pot on the stove. Let the punch simmer until it is very warm. You do not need to bring it to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat, and add the tea bags. Let the fruit tea steep for 10 minutes. Serve the punch immediately. You can add garnishes such as orange slices, more of the whole spices and fresh cranberries, but this is optional.

Tips For The Perfect Drink

• If you’re serving a crowd and need to keep the punch warm, you can let it sit on the stove on the lowest heat setting, or transfer it to a crock pot and use the keep warm option. You can also put it in a thermos for travel purposes.
• You can also make Kinder Punch in a slow cooker. Place the juices, water, sugar and spices in a 4 quart crock pot, and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Remove the tea bags after 10 minutes, then serve.
• Leftover punch will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. I typically store it in a pitcher, then reheat individual mugs in the microwave.

Flavor Variations

This drink is delicious as-is, but it is possible to make a few ingredient substitutions to suit your tastes.

• Juice: Some other juice options to use in this drink include grape juice, cranberry juice cocktail or pomegranate juice.
• Sweetener: Try using honey instead of granulated sugar.
• Spices: You can use other spices such as cardamom pods or nutmeg.

You simply can’t go wrong with this punch. It has all the flavors of Christmas, and is sure to be popular with both kids and adults. If you’re looking for other kid friendly drinks, don’t miss my Grinch punch recipe!

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