Ponche Navideño
Christmas Fruit Punch
A slow-simmered holiday punch loaded with tejocotes, guavas, apples, and prunes in a spiced piloncillo broth, with rum or brandy added only to individual adult cups.
Ponche Navideño
✦ Antes de Empezar
Before you cook
Can I make ponche navideño without alcohol?
Yes — the rum or brandy is entirely optional and added only to individual adult cups after the punch is off the heat, so the pot itself is easy to keep family-friendly.
Ingredientes· 10View
The Punch base
- 12 cupsWater
- 12 ozMexican Piloncillo Conesgrated
- 3 sticks + 4 clovesMexican Cinnamon Sticks & Cloves
The Fruits
- 1/2 lbTejocotes (Mexican Hawthorn)sliced (sub crabapples or apricots if unavailable)
- 4Fresh Guavassliced
- 2 apples + 1 pearRed Apples & Pearsdiced
- 3Fresh Sugar Cane Sticks (Caña de Azúcar)peeled and sliced into strips
- 1/4 cupDried Hibiscus Flowers (Jamaica)adds color & tartness
- 3Dried Tamarind Podsshelled
- 1/2 cup raisins + 6 prunesRaisins & Prunes (Prunas)
Instrucciones
6 pasosPrepara los tejocotes
Prepare the tejocotes
If using fresh tejocotes, boil them separately for 5 minutes, then cool, peel, and remove the blossom ends.
Hierve el almíbar
Simmer the syrup
Bring the water, piloncillo, cinnamon, and cloves to a boil, then simmer until the piloncillo dissolves.
Agrega tejocote y caña
Add tejocote and cane
Add the tejocotes and sugarcane and cook for 15 minutes.
Agrega la fruta
Add the fruit
Add the apples, guavas, prunes, hibiscus, and orange. Simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until the fruit is tender but still identifiable.
Ajusta y sirve
Adjust and serve
Taste and adjust sweetness or water as needed, then serve hot with fruit in every cup.
Agrega licor (opcional)
Add liquor (optional)
Add alcohol only to individual adult servings, after the punch is off the heat.