This crockpot hot cranberry punch is slightly sweet but balanced well with the anise and cinnamon sticks, filling your room with its warmly spiced aroma.
6Tablespoonsfrozen orange juice concentrateor 2 cups orange juice
8cupsapple juiceor apple cider
8cupscranberry juice
1/2cupgranulated sugar
1/2cuplight brown sugar
2cinnamon sticks
1-2star anise
1orangecut into slices, rind on
1cupcranberriesfresh or frozen
Garnish
orange slices, cranberries, star anise, and cinnamon sticks
Instructions
Add orange juice concentrate, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon sticks and star anise to the bottom of a slow cooker.
Add the apple juice and cranberry juice to the crock. Add orange slices and cranberries and cover with the lid.
Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugars dissolve and disperse throughout the punch. Serve hot.
Notes
If the fruit and spices sit in the punch for a long time while it is being served (like throughout a dinner party or potluck, etc.) the punch will become overly spiced and the orange rind may add bitterness to the punch. I would recommend removing the fruit and spices used for steeping after the 2 hour cook time. Add fresh fruit and spices for serving.
Wash oranges prior to adding to the punch and use organic fruit to ensure unwanted pesticides aren’t soaking in your punch.
Store juice (strained from any fruits/spices) in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.