Tangerine Lemonade with Clove-Infused Simple Syrup and Fresh Cranberries

Tangerine Lemonade with Clove-Infused Simple Syrup and Fresh Cranberries is full of festive flavor and easy to mix up!

Special thanks to my friends at Megan Media and Tropicana for partnering with me for this blog post. I am happy for the opportunity to share brands that I believe in with my readers, and I hope you enjoy my recipe. As always, opinions stated are my own.

Every social gathering I remember as a child involved my mom’s punch, especially around the holidays. I’m not sure of the exact recipe, but I remember it had two kinds of soda (ginger ale and lemon lime, I think), some kind of fruit juice, rainbow sherbet, and a frozen ring of orange slices and maraschino cherries. It was really, really good and other than her Hello Dollies Cookie Bars, probably the recipe she made that people requested most often.

I love keeping traditions like that alive, and also using them as inspiration for healthier takes on those nostalgic favorites. For me, a good party still requires punch! Which is where this festive drink made with Tropicana® Tangerine Lemonade comes in. This lemonade makes a great base for just about any kind of mixed drink you want to whip up, and I love that it has no artificial flavors or sweeteners. Of course, you could go the cocktail route when you’re mixing this up for a social gathering, but I wanted to keep this version kiddo-friendly.

I added fall flavor and a hint of grown-up flair here in the form of warm spice by infusing simple syrup (which is just an equal mixture of sugar and water that has been heated to dissolve the sugar) with cloves. They’re the perfect spice for this punch-like drink because not only do they pair so well with tangerine, but they add a very festive aroma a little bit of je ne sais quoi.

I balanced the sweet, aromatic simple syrup with a touch of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and added fresh-sliced clementines and fresh cranberries to make it pretty. This fun, festive drink would be perfect to serve at a holiday party.

Cheers to fresh, healthier twists on classic favorites!