Kinderpunsch Mocktail Recipe
A steaming mug of spiced fruit juice — the alcohol-free answer to mulled wine, warm with cinnamon, cloves and orange.
- Category: Mocktail
- Glass: Irish coffee mug
- ABV: 0%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~4 min
- Alcohol-free: ✓
Ingredients
- Apple juice150 ml (5.1 oz)
- Fresh orange juice60 ml (2 oz)
- Black currant juice30 ml (1 oz)
- Fresh lemon juice10 ml (0.3 oz)
- Cinnamon stick1 piece
- Whole cloves3 piece
- Star anise1 piece
How to Make It
- Combine the juices in a saucepan with the cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
- Heat gently until it steams, but never let it boil.
- Let the spices infuse over low heat for about ten minutes.
- Strain into a warmed mug and garnish with an orange slice.
Garnish
An orange slice and a cinnamon stick.
What it tastes like
Fruit notes come forward and there is a spiced warmth to it.
The technique
Built in the glass. Ice goes into the serving glass, the ingredients go on top, and you stir once if at all. Anything carbonated goes in LAST and never gets stirred; every turn of the spoon costs you bubbles. Fill the glass to the rim with ice: less ice melts faster, not slower.
Glass and ice
A handled, thick-walled Irish coffee mug. Built for hot drinks: the handle protects your hand and the thick glass holds the heat. Warming it with hot water first noticeably changes the first sip.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Apple juice
- Cloudy apple juice is fruitier and more acidic than clear; made with clear juice the drink stays flatter, and a squeeze of lemon closes the gap.
- Fresh orange juice
- Fresh orange juice. Carton juice is sugar-adjusted, so it sweetens the drink and drops its acidity; when you squeeze your own, pull back a little on the syrup.
- Fresh lemon juice
- Freshly squeezed lemon; one lemon gives 30-40 ml. It can swap with lime, but lemon is softer and less aromatic, so use a touch more.
- Cinnamon stick
- A cinnamon stick is aroma, not decoration: it steeps in a hot drink, and in a cold one it is rubbed along the rim to leave its scent.
The Story
A fixture of German Christmas markets, Kinderpunsch is the alcohol-free counterpart to Glühwein, brewed so that children can share the same warm, spiced ritual.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Kinderpunsch mixed?
- It is built in the glass and served in an Irish coffee mug.
- Does a Kinderpunsch contain alcohol?
- No. It is safe to serve to children, to anyone pregnant, and to whoever is driving.
- Is a Kinderpunsch hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
The main ingredient here is also a dream symbol: Apple in a dream
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.