It is freezing and wet cold here in Austin, I really needed  a warm drink, so last night I geared up and made this warm fruit punch recipe, it is divine and it works like a charm!. This Punch is traditionally from Mexico and is served, on the cold weather months November, December, January, “Ponche de Frutas” Warm Fruit Punch is a delicious warm drink made with fall and winter stone fruits like apples, pears, crabapples, hawthorns, oranges, mandarines, guavas, prunes, plums, raw sugar cane sticks, tamarind, hibiscus tea, cloves, cinnamon well everything but the kitchen zinc!

Imagine all this ingredients gather in a stock pot slowly simmering to magically work and  deliver  fantastic warm aromas and wintery flavors with one mission: warm you up!

There are no rules when making the punch, the only ingredient that is a must is the cinnamon. For the rest, you can make it with your favorite fruit combinations, but I will encourage you to use at least 2 kind of stone fruits, 1 citrus and either hibiscus or tamarind they add the acidity background note needed to balance the sweetness.

This drink is not meant to be overly sweet. In fact most of the sweetness comes mainly from the fruits so adding a small amount of sugar is just what you need to balance the flavors.

You can use brown sugar, turbinado sugar, honey, dark agave nectar, monk-fruit sweetener or piloncillo* which its my favorite option in small amounts. Piloncillo is raw-pure unrefined sugar compressed into a cone that resembles in flavor to molasses; some times you can find it with cinnamon, anise and a little vanilla added. It is used to sweeten desserts, drinks and bake goods. So a little goes along way.

Can you imagine the aromas that this concoction will bring to your kitchen? spices, apples, cinnamon, oranges, warming up the house!…**sigh**

This punch is served in mugs and with a little spoon so you can eat the fruits from the bottom as you drink along. It is great for parties and family gatherings kids love it!
For the grownups you can spike it up by adding a little splash-a-rooh of your favorite rum or vodka as you serve it.
Whether you make a large, medium or small pot, this fruit punch will definitely warm you up inside out!…

For the recipe you will need…

Ponche de Frutas – Warm Fruit Punch

Serves 4-6 adult cups or 2 Yetis

3 qt.-12 cups water
2 apples
2 pears
4 guavas
4-6 small crabapples
14-15 hawthorns (Tejocotes)
10 Prunes
½ cup hibiscus Flowers or about 4-5 tea bags
1 orange rind
3 large cinnamon sticks
3 cloves
1 or ½ Piloncillo cone (this is up to you upon how sweet you like your punch, my advice will be start with a small amount, taste and add more if needed. If you are using any other sweetener, start with a ¼ cup and work your way up.)

Liberal amounts of …Spiced Rum or Bourbon can be added into each cup, upon preference. Customizing each cup, allows the little ones to enjoy some  alcohol -free warm fruit punch

Preparation:

1. In a 4-6 qt large stock pot, add the water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, hibiscus flowers and bring to a boil.
2. Core, and cut in medium size pieces the apples and pears
Cut the ends and de-seed the guavas with a small spoon or melon baller cut into small wedges
Slice the crabapples in round slices and tap the slices to remove the seeds
With a pairing knife remove the end core of the hawthorns live them whole.
Note: I like to cut each fruit a little different so people can recognize what they are eating.

3. Add all fruits all the cut fruits, cover with a lid and bring to a slow simmer.

4. Add piloncillo until dissolve, slow simmer for about 15-20 minutes uncovered. When the fruit is fork tender your punch is ready to serve.

5. Serve piping hot on mugs with little spoons to fish out and eat the fruits, add some rum into the cups right before serving…Enjoy!

~ Warm up! ~

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