Try German Kinderpunsch For a Delicious Non-Alcoholic Punch!
If you’re looking for a cozy and festive non-alcoholic punch, you’ll love Kinderpunsch!
Kinderpunsch, which means “kids’ punch” in English, is a German non-alcoholic punch that is made with fruit tea, apple juice, and spices.
It has a beautiful red color and a sweet and spicy flavor that will warm you up on a cold day. You can smell the cinnamon, cloves, and citrus fruits from a mile away.
Despite the name, Kinderpunsch isn’t just for kids. It’s a popular drink at German Christmas markets and is usually sold at the same stand where you buy a mug of Glühwein (German mulled wine).
It’s kind of like a non-alcoholic Glühwein, or kinder Glühwein, if you will! This German mocktail is the perfect drink for those who prefer to skip the alcohol, but still want a warm and festive beverage.
Making Kinderpunsch is a great way to enjoy the German Christmas market tradition at home, and to share it with your family and friends.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this non-alcoholic German drink:
- Water – Forms the base of the drink.
- Red fruit tea – Provides the classic red color as well as some of the fruity flavor of the punch.
- Apple juice – Gives it some sweetness.
- Cinnamon sticks – A fragrant spice to add that holiday scent. Sticks are better than ground cinnamon because they can be easily removed.
- Cloves – Another classic spice, used to give the drink a fragrant aroma.
- Lemon – Ideally an organic lemon. Alternatively, peel the lemon. Adds citrus flavor.
- Orange – Again, preferably organic. Alternatively, peel it. Adds citrus flavor.
- Sugar – For sweetness, you can add as much or as little to taste as you like.
Recipe Tips
Before you make this Kinderpunsch recipe, have a little read through these tips and tricks so that you know just what to expect!
- Kinderpunsch is typically red in color, so use a red fruit tea such as hibiscus or berry. But feel free to experiment with any other fruit tea of your choice.
- Adjust the sweetness to your taste. Start with a moderate amount and taste as you go. Instead of granulated sugar, you can also use honey or agave syrup if you prefer.
- You can also increase the sweetness of the punch by adding more apple juice. You could also try adding some grape juice as an addition or alternative to the apple juice.
- You can use either lemon or orange slices individually, but including both enhances the flavor. We recommend using organic citrus fruit and washing it really well, but you could also peel the orange and lemon first.
- When you’re heating the punch, make sure that the mixture doesn’t start boiling. You want to allow the spices and citrus flavors to mingle with the juice and tea without making the citrus bitter.
- You can also add star anise (about 2) and/or cardamom seeds (between 2-3) if you want to experiment with the flavor.
How to Make Kinderpunsch – Step-by-Step Instructions
Making Kinderpunsch is very easy – but for those who like visuals, we’ve included the recipe process photos below. This way you can follow along as you make it at home.
Of course, we’ve included the detailed recipe card with exact measurements and ingredients at the end of this post!
In a medium-sized pot, bring the water to a boil. Alternatively, you can use a kettle and pour it into a pot once the water is hot.
Add three tea bags to the hot water and let the tea steep (check the recommended time, usually 5-8 minutes).
While the tea steeps, wash the lemon and orange and cut them into even slices on a cutting board.
If you cannot find organic fruit, we recommend removing the peel and then cutting them into slices.
When the tea is ready, remove the tea bags. Then add the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon slices, orange slices, and sugar to the tea. Give everything a stir.
Cover the pot with a lid and simmer the mixture on low heat for about 15 minutes. The Kinderpunch shouldn’t boil – you just want it to be hot while the spices and flavors infuse.
After 15 minutes, taste the punch and add more sugar (alternatively, honey or agave syrup) if you wish, then strain out the cloves and sliced fruit.
Serving the punch hot. You can garnish it with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick if you want the drink to look a little fancier. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
If you have leftovers, let the Kinderpunsch cool, then store it in a jar, pitcher, or in the pot in the fridge where it will keep for a couple of days.
It’s easy to reheat in a pot on the stove over low heat or in a mug in the microwave until hot!
Related Recipes
Looking for more German holiday recipes? Try out these other classic drinks and treats!
- Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch – made with Eierlikör)
- Marzipan Potatoes
- Authentic German Stollen
- German Candied Almonds
- German Rum Balls
- Pfeffernüsse (German Spiced Cookies)
Kinderpunsch (German Non-Alcoholic Punch)
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 bags red fruit tea
- 1 cup apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 cloves
- 1 lemon, organic
- 1 orange, organic
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, more to taste
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium-sized pot on the stove or in a kettle. If using a kettle, pour the hot water into a pot once it's hot. Add the tea bags to the hot water and let them steep for the recommended time (usually 5-8 minutes).3 cups water, 3 bags red fruit tea
- While the tea is steeping, wash the organic orange and lemon and cut them into slices. In case you can't find organic lemons or oranges, you can also peel them.1 lemon, 1 orange
- When the tea is ready, remove the tea bags. Add the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon slices, orange slices, and sugar to the pot and stir well.1 cup apple juice, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 5 cloves
- Cover the pot with a lid and simmer the mixture on low heat for about 15 minutes. Don’t let the mixture boil, just keep it hot as the flavors infuse.
- Taste the Kinderpunsch and add more sugar if needed. Strain the drink to remove the cloves and fruit slices. Serve hot and garnish with some orange or lemon slices and/or cinnamon sticks if you like.
Notes
- Use a red fruit tea such as hibiscus or berry for the classic red color or experiment with a fruit tea of your choice.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste. Instead of granulated sugar, you can also use honey or agave syrup if you prefer.
- You can also increase the sweetness of the punch by adding more apple juice. You can also add some grape juice in addition to or instead of apple juice.
- You can use either lemon or orange slices individually, but including both enhances the flavor. We recommend using organic citrus fruit and washing it really well, but you could also peel the orange and lemon first.
- When you heat the punch, make sure the mixture doesn’t start to boil. You want to allow the spices and citrus flavors to mingle with the juice and tea without the citrus fruit getting bitter.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
This recipe was first published in November 2020 and updated in November 2023.
