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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.
The perfect holiday menu includes a delicious and refreshing beverage! This Christmas punch fits right in with your Thanksgiving dinner menu or Christmas brunch with its tangy cranberry and orange flavors. Add it to the menu with Thanksgiving Turkey, Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, and Homemade Stuffing!
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.
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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. It can easily be made without the rum for a family-friendly treat, or with vodka if that’s preferred.
This is not a fancy drink by any means, but it sure feels fancy sipping it from a pretty glass, garnished with fruit! Easy doesn’t even begin to cover it – just measure out a few ingredients, give them a stir and voila! Perfectly light, bright and delicious holiday punch that you definitely need a batch of at your next holiday party.
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 only making the non-alcoholic version or leaving out the booze and letting your 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.
How To Make Christmas Punch
- Place the orange slices and cranberries in the bottom of a 2-quart pitcher. Pour in the remaining ingredients and give a gentle stir. Serve immediately over ice.
- Optional garnish: thread a few cranberries on a wooden swizzle stick and place over the drink, or garnish the glass with a wedge of orange.
- To make this a cocktail, add rum or vodka.
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, the 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.
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.
- Add extra flavor by using a fruit-infused vodka like orange, peach, or cranberry.
- Champagne Punch: Replace the alcohol with champagne. Or try my recipe for Champagne Punch.
Expert Tips
- Make sure to chill. The best punch is served nice and cold. Refrigerate all of the ingredients separately until you’re ready to assemble the punch.
- Make ahead instructions: Most of this drink can be made ahead of time, but don’t add the fruit or soda more than 30 minutes ahead of time.
- Scaling the recipe: This holiday punch recipe will make approximately 10-12 servings. It can be easily scaled up for a big batch or down for a more intimate crowd. Use the sliding scale on the recipe card below to know exactly how much you’ll need.
More Classic Holiday Drinks To Love
We’ve got several classic holiday drinks that are perfect for your Christmas celebrations. Choose from boozy favorites like Classic Mimosas, Eggnog White Russian, or Rum Punch Cocktail. For non-alcoholic drinks, our favorites include Crock Pot Hot Chocolate, White Hot Chocolate, and Apple Cider Ginger Punch.
Christmas Punch Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ of an orange sliced
- ½ 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 remaining ingredients and give a gentle stir. Serve immediately over ice.
- Optional garnish: thread a few cranberries on a wooden swizzle stick and place over the drink, or garnish the glass with a wedge of orange.
Notes
- The best punch is served nice and cold. Refrigerate all of the ingredients separately until you’re ready to assemble the punch.
- Make ahead instructions: Most of this drink can be made ahead of time, but don’t add the fruit or soda more than 30 minutes ahead of time.
- Scaling the recipe: This holiday punch recipe will make approximately 10-12 servings. It can be easily scaled up or down. Use the sliding scale on the recipe card below to know exactly how much you’ll need.
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.