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Caramel Apple Punch

Caramel apple punch made with chilled apple cider whisked with caramel for a smooth, golden base, then topped with ginger ale right before serving. Features thin apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and caramel-rimmed glasses for a sweet, sparkling drink.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Caramel apple punch base
  • 0.5 gallon apple cider Chilled
  • 0.5 cup caramel sauce Plus more for rimming glasses
  • 2 L ginger ale Chilled
  • 1 cup vanilla vodka Optional
Garnish and serving
  • 2 apples Thinly sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 ice
  • 1 coarse sugar For rimming glasses

Method
 

Make the caramel cider
  1. Whisk the caramel sauce into 2 cups of the chilled apple cider until fully dissolved, leaving no caramel streaks. Keep mixing until the color looks uniform and glossy.
Build the punch bowl
  1. Pour the caramel cider and the remaining chilled apple cider into a punch bowl, then add vanilla vodka if using. Stir gently so the alcohol, if added, disperses evenly.
  2. Add the thinly sliced apples and the cinnamon sticks to the punch bowl. Distribute them across the surface so they show up in each ladle.
Rim and serve
  1. Dip the glass rims into caramel, then into coarse sugar to coat the edge. Place the glasses upright to set the rim before filling.
  2. Just before serving, pour in the ginger ale and add ice. Stir lightly once so the fizz and chill distribute through the bowl.
  3. Ladle the punch into the rimmed glasses. Aim for each serving to include apple slices and a bit of cinnamon.

Notes

Pro tip: rim the glasses right before serving so the sugar stays crisp instead of softening. Keep the caramel cider base (before adding ginger ale) covered in the fridge up to 2 days; add ginger ale and ice only at serving time. Freezing isn’t recommended because ginger ale will lose its sparkle. For a dairy-free option, use a dairy-free caramel sauce if your caramel contains dairy.