Cherry kids' punch with star anise, cinnamon and vanilla

Cherry kids' punch made with sour cherry juice and apple juice, star anise, cinnamon, vanilla and a little honey, served with lemon slices. A vegetarian alcohol-free winter drink made from juice, for 6.

At a glance

• Serves 6
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 12 min
• Total time: 17 min
• Calories: 94 kcal per serving
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Carbs: 22 g

Ingredients

• 500ml sour cherry juice
• 500ml apple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 250ml water
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 unwaxed lemon
• 2 star anise
• 1 vanilla pod

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · chopping board · knife

1. Pour the sour cherry juice, apple juice and water into a pan. Slit the vanilla pod lengthways and add it with the cinnamon stick and star anise.
2. Heat the punch and leave to infuse over a low heat for 10 min without letting it boil.
3. Remove the spices and stir in the honey until it has dissolved.
4. Wash the lemon in hot water, slice it and serve the punch in heatproof glasses with a slice in each.

Good to know

Sour cherry juice makes the punch deep red and pleasantly tart, almost like alcohol-free mulled wine. One spoonful of honey is enough; the apple juice does the rest. You can dry the vanilla pod afterwards and use it again.

Swaps

Sour cherry juice → redcurrant juice or red grape juice. Honey → maple syrup (vegan). Vanilla pod → 1 tsp vanilla extract. Lemon → orange.

Cooking tips

Use unsweetened not-from-concentrate juice, not cherry nectar. Stir in the honey only at the end.

Storage

Once cooled, it keeps for 3 days in the fridge; only warm it up, don't boil it.

Allergens

Vegetarian, gluten-free, no milk, egg, nuts or caffeine. Because of the honey, not for babies under 1 year old. Suitable in pregnancy.

Dairy-free recipes