Warming Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Punch
This delicious Level 2: Mildly Thick Warming Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Punch can be served warm or cold and is a perfect mildly thick drink for a gathering. This batch makes enough punch for a few glasses, consider a double- or triple- batch and keep warm on the stove or in the slow cooker for a party!
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Few ingredients, big flavor
My grandma on my dad’s side used to make this amazing bright red applesauce that I loved. It was so flavorful and always made me feel warm, even if I was eating it straight out of the fridge.
When I learned to make the recipe myself, I discovered that it only has a few ingredients! Most of the flavor in this recipe comes from melting down hard cinnamon candies into a base of freshly sliced apples.
This recipe is so easy and brings me back to simpler times!
Usually my grandma would have left chunks of apple, but in this recipe I’ve blended it down into a drink instead, which happens to be naturally mildly thick!
Level 2: Mildly Thick
Level 2: Mildly Thick is appropriate for individuals who need drinks to flow more slowly, or may have slightly reduced tongue control. These foods flow quickly off a spoon but require mild effort to drink through a standard straw. Foods are tested using the Flow Test at this level.
The IDDSI Flow Test is a standardized test for determining the level of a liquid sample. You must have a 10ml syringe for this test, and not all syringes are created equal. Hold a ruler up to your syringe and the distance from the very bottom line to the 10ml mark must measure 61.5 mm. We recommend watching IDDSI’s Youtube video of the Flow Test as well as this comparison between Levels 1-3 before you cook as well as during the testing of your final modified portion.
Always test your food before serving to ensure that it meets all the IDDSI testing guidelines.
Level 2: Mildly Thick Warming Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Punch
For the cinnamon flavor in this recipe, I used Brach’s Cinnamon Imperials candies. If you have access to a different hard cinnamon candy, that would probably work equally well.
After slicing your raw apples thinly, add them into a saucepan with all the other ingredients.
Cook the apples down until soft, I cooked mine until I could easily break them apart with my spoon. For me, this took about 20 minutes, but it may take more or less time depending on the variety of apple you’ve chosen.
Add the contents of the saucepan to a blender, and blend until smooth.
Always watch out and be careful when blending hot liquids in the blender, as it can build up pressure! I remove the middle insert from my blender lid, and cover the hole loosely with a towel to allow the blender to vent while still catching any spurts coming out the top.
Level 2: Mildly Thick Warming Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Punch FAQs
What kinds of apples can I use in this recipe?
You can use any sweet apple you can find! I use Fuji apples because they’re usually on sale at my grocery store, but you can also use Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or any other apple you’d like! A sturdier apple like Granny Smith might require some extra cook time, but you can adjust as necessary.
I’m allergic to artificial cinnamon/red food dye, can I still make this recipe?
I would say probably not. Always check the ingredients on the candy you purchase to make sure you are not sensitive to any ingredients.
Can I make this into a cocktail?
Absolutely! My boyfriend added 1 oz of whiskey to an 8 oz glass and the Flow Test still categorized the drink as Level 2: Mildly Thick. He really enjoyed the taste, and it could be a fun alcoholic punch for a party!
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Level 2: Mildly Thick Warming Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples Fuji or other sweet apples, about 900 grams or 4 large apples
- 1 cup water 230 grams
- 4 tablespoons white sugar 56 grams
- ½ cup cinnamon red hot candies 160 grams
- ⅛ teaspoon salt 2 grams
Instructions
- Peel and slice apples thinly, about ¼ inch thick.
- Combine apples and all ingredients in a saucepan or dutch oven (apples will shrink as they cook).
- Cook apples down until soft over medium, about 20 minutes.
- Take the saucepan off the heat and let cool slightly.
- Add the contents of the saucepan to a blender and blend until smooth. Watch out and make sure the blender is vented as hot items can be dangerous to blend. (I take the center portion of the lid off my blender and cover the top loosely with a towel while I blend.)
- Test the blended results to ensure they meet Level 2: Mildly Thick requirements with the flow test.
- If you’re serving this punch cold, refrigerate until chilled. You can make this recipe ahead a day or two and it will be just as good!
- If you’re serving this punch warm, you can warm again on the stove or in the microwave if it cooled during blending/testing. You can keep this warm in the slow cooker or on the stove for a party, plus it smells amazing!
Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it went below!
This sounds like a delicious and comforting drink, perfect for a chilly evening or a festive occasion. The combination of apple and cinnamon is a classic one, and the addition of warming thicc spices adds another layer of flavor complexity. The fact that it can be served warm or cold makes it versatile, and the mildly thick consistency is ideal for sipping. A double or triple batch would certainly be useful for a party, and the option to keep it warm in a slow cooker is a great way to make sure it stays at the perfect temperature.