Guatemalan Christmas Ponche

Guatemalan Christmas ponche is a hot drink made with seasonal fruits like apple, peach, and prunes, cooked in a spiced syrup.

It’s a central drink of Christmas celebrations in Guatemala, enjoyed with family during the cold December nights.

Guatemalan Christmas Ponche

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• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 10 servings
• Category: Beverage
• Cuisine: Guatemalan

Print Recipe

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Ingredients

• 2 of apples, cubed
• 3 of peaches, cubed
• 1 cup of prunes
• 1 cup of raisins
• 8 cups of water
• 2 cups of sugar or panela
• 2 of cinnamon sticks
• 6 of cloves
• 1 piece of orange peel

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Instructions

1. Make the syrup, boil the water with the sugar or panela, cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel.
2. Add the fruit, add the apples, peaches, prunes, and raisins to the boiling syrup.
3. Cook, cook over low heat until the fruit is tender but keeps its shape, about 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Rest, let sit for a few minutes so the flavors blend.
5. Serve, serve hot, in a mug, with some fruit and the liquid.

Tips for getting it right

• Cutting the fruit into similar sizes ensures even cooking.
• Cooking over low heat keeps the fruit from falling apart before it’s ready.
• The ponche’s flavor improves if left to sit for a few minutes before serving.
• It’s a central drink of Guatemalan Christmas celebrations.

Traditional variations

• It’s an essential drink at Guatemalan Christmas celebrations.
• Some families add other seasonal fruits, like pear or pineapple.

How to serve

Christmas ponche is served hot, in a mug, with the cooked fruit and liquid.

It’s a central drink of Christmas celebrations in Guatemala, enjoyed as a family.

Recommended sides

• Buñuelos
• Tamales

Did you know?

Christmas ponche is one of the most anticipated drinks in Guatemala during December, alongside buñuelos and tamales.

Every family has its own combination of fruits and spices, passed down from generation to generation.