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This refreshing and easy Christmas punch recipe is just what your holiday needs this year! A tangy blend of fruit juices, bubbly ginger ale, and rum, this boozy Christmas cocktail can also be made non-alcoholic for a family-friendly drink.
This Christmas punch fits right in with your Thanksgiving dinner menu or Christmas brunch with its tangy cranberry and orange flavors. It’s also pretty great as part of the appetizer course while guests are mingling and enjoying holiday snacks like Baked Brie with Jam and Cranberry Jalapeno Dip.
Before You Get Started
A few quick tips to make sure your punch turns out perfectly:
- Chill everything first. The best punch is served ice cold. Refrigerate all of your ingredients separately until you’re ready to assemble.
- Save the fizz for last. Add the ginger ale (and fruit) no more than 30 minutes before serving. This keeps your punch bubbly and fresh.
- Stock up on ice. I usually pick up a large bag from the grocery store rather than rely on my refrigerator’s ice maker. You’ll go through more than you think!
- Keep alcohol on the side for mixed crowds. If you’re serving both adults and kids, leave the rum out of the pitcher and let guests add it to their own glasses.
What Is Christmas Punch?
I am a little obsessed with this easy Christmas punch. So much so, that I might just start making it weekly instead of just waiting until the holidays. It tastes that good!
It’s got a fabulous blend of sweet and tart flavors with cranberry and orange juices, sparkly ginger ale, and a splash of rum. You can easily make it without the rum for a family-friendly treat, or swap in vodka if you prefer.
This is not a fancy drink by any means, but it sure feels fancy sipping it from a pretty glass garnished with fruit! Just measure out a few ingredients, give them a stir, and you’ve got a perfectly light, bright, and delicious holiday punch for your next party.
recipe walk-through
Ingredients For Christmas Punch
Our punch can be made with or without alcohol. If you want to spike it with some extra holiday spirit, add a cup of either rum or vodka. These are generally the best alcohol options for punch. A fruit-flavored schnapps would also be a good option.
I love a recipe that can be made super quick and with just a few ingredients. This holiday punch is no exception! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cranberry Juice – You want 100% cranberry juice, not the cocktail variety (too sweet) and not “no sugar added” (too tart). The 100% juice from Ocean Spray is my personal recommendation.
- Orange Juice – Definitely something without pulp and 100% juice, not a cocktail or punch. I am a diehard Minute Maid OJ fan, through and through. Pineapple juice would also be delicious.
- Ginger Ale – I prefer ginger ale because it’s not super sweet and has a warmth of flavor. You could also use your favorite lemon-lime soda.
- Rum or Vodka – The alcohol is optional. If your party is for adults only, you could go ahead and add it to the drink. Otherwise, I suggest either making the non-alcoholic version or leaving out the booze and letting guests add it to their individual drinks.
- Fresh Fruit – Fresh cranberries and oranges add flavor, color, and a bit of sparkle to your drink, especially when used as a garnish. Sometimes I’ll add pomegranates to the mix too because they are so pretty.
Most traditional punches follow a simple formula: a base of fruit juice (or juices), something fizzy like soda or sparkling water, and optional spirits. This recipe sticks to that classic approach, which means you can easily customize it based on what you have on hand or what your crowd prefers.
How To Make Christmas Punch
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
This punch comes together in just a few minutes. Here’s how to make it:
Add the Fruit
Place the orange slices and cranberries in the bottom of a 2-quart pitcher. The fruit adds color, flavor, and makes your punch look extra festive.
Pour in the Juices
Add the cranberry juice and orange juice.
Make Ahead: These can be combined ahead of time and chilled in the fridge if you’re prepping early.
Add the Fizz
Pour in the ginger ale and give everything a gentle stir. Be careful not to stir too vigorously or you’ll lose some of that nice carbonation.
TIP: Only add the ginger ale when you’re ready to serve. If you’re making this ahead, wait until 30 minutes before serving to add the soda and fresh fruit.
Add Alcohol (Optional)
For an adults-only version, stir in one cup of rum or vodka. White rum or plain vodka work best for keeping the color bright, but a dark rum adds a nice depth of flavor if you don’t mind a slightly different look.
Serve Over Ice
Pour the punch into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wedge or thread a few cranberries onto a wooden swizzle stick for a festive touch.
How To Serve Punch
Serve your punch in a punch bowl for a large crowd at a Christmas party, or in pitchers for easy pouring. Thread some cranberries and fresh orange slices onto wooden swizzle sticks or simply garnish the glasses with an orange wedge, then pour in the punch.
No Punch Bowl? Try these options:
- Try using a large plastic or glass drink dispenser with a spigot for serving your drinks. Make sure to include a cup or towel to catch spills.
- Or, mix up your drink in a large bowl, then carefully pour into smaller pitchers.
Can You Make Punch The Night Before?
Most mixed drinks can be made in advance, with a caveat – Any fruit, liquor or carbonated mix-ins should be added no more than 30 minutes before serving.
So go ahead and mix up the fruit juices and let them sit in the fridge overnight. Just save the ginger ale, fresh fruit, and alcohol for right before your guests arrive.
Recipe Variations
- Non-Alcoholic Christmas Morning Punch: Simply omit the alcohol from this recipe. You can replace it with sparkling apple cider or grape juice if you like, or add more soda.
- Christmas Sherbet Punch: Add several scoops of sherbet to your large punch bowl, or to each glass, for an extra creamy sweet treat.
- Pomegranate Punch: Swap the cranberry juice for pomegranate juice and swap the fresh cranberries for pomegranate seeds.
- Fruit-Infused Vodka Punch: Add extra flavor by using a fruit-infused vodka like orange, peach, or cranberry.
- Champagne Punch: Replace the rum or vodka with champagne for a bubbly twist. Or try my recipe for Champagne Punch.
- Lighter Version: For a lower-sugar option, use a diet or zero-sugar ginger ale and reduce the amount of cranberry juice slightly. You can also add a splash of sparkling water to lighten it up without losing the fizz.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Christmas punch last in the fridge?
If you’ve already added the ginger ale, the punch is best enjoyed within a few hours while it’s still fizzy. The juice base (without soda or fruit) can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Can I freeze leftover Christmas punch?
Freezing isn’t recommended since the carbonation will go flat and the texture of the fruit will change. If you have leftover juice base without the soda, you can refrigerate it and add fresh ginger ale when you’re ready to serve again.
What’s the best alcohol for punch?
White rum and plain vodka are the most popular choices because they blend smoothly without overpowering the fruit flavors. Fruit-flavored vodkas (like orange or cranberry) are also great for adding a little extra flavor.
More Holiday Drinks To Try
Looking for more festive drink ideas? Here are some of our favorite holiday beverages:
Non-Alcoholic Options
Boozy Favorites
Christmas Punch Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 Orange sliced
- 1/2 cup Cranberries
- 2 cups Cold cranberry juice
- 2 cups Cold orange juice
- 2 cups Ginger Ale or Sprite/Sierra Mist
- 1 cup Rum or Vodka
- Ice
- Optional garnish – Orange wedges and cranberry skewers
Instructions
- Place the orange slices and cranberries in the bottom of a 2-quart pitcher.
- Pour in the cranberry juice and orange juice.
- Add the ginger ale and stir gently to combine.
- For a boozy version, stir in rum or vodka.
- Serve immediately over ice. Garnish with orange wedges or cranberry skewers if desired.
Notes
- Best alcohol options: White rum or vodka blend smoothly and keep the color bright. Dark rum works too but will slightly change the color.
- Chill everything first: Refrigerate all ingredients separately until you’re ready to assemble for the coldest, most refreshing punch.
- Make-ahead tip: Mix the fruit juices and refrigerate up to 24 hours in advance. Add the ginger ale, fresh fruit, and alcohol no more than 30 minutes before serving.
- Keep it bubbly: Stir gently to preserve carbonation. Add ginger ale right before serving for the best fizz.
- Scaling up: This recipe is easy to double or triple for large parties. Use the sliding scale on the recipe card to adjust quantities.
- Lighter version: Use diet or zero-sugar ginger ale and add a splash of sparkling water for a lower-sugar option.
- Storage: Punch with ginger ale is best enjoyed within a few hours. Leftover juice base (without soda) keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
This is a great punch. We make it for our neighborhood holiday events eachvyear.
That’s awesome Williams! Thanks for sharing.
Hi! Do you think vanilla vodka would be conflicting flavors?
I hesitate to say yes because I haven’t tried vanilla vodka. But I think it would be good.
Hi is this cranberry juice cocktail with sugar added or no sugar added straight cranberry juice? Thank you looks delicious
Hi Emily, I talk about this in the post, but it’s regular cranberry juice, not juice cocktail.
Curious which rum you prefer?
I’m not too fancy, I usually use Captain Morgan’s.
Happy New Year’s Eve
I read that you used rum captain Morgan’s
So I grabbed the original one. Will that work or so I need the white?
Excited to make it.
The original will work, but will give the finished drink a darker color. I typically use white.
thank you, am looking for Thanksgiving cocktails, this is nice since the cranberry cuts the sweetness, and it’s fun! So, much appreciated!
You are so welcome Sabrina! Thanks for stopping by.