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This refreshing Christmas punch recipe is a big-batch cocktail guaranteed to get your holiday party started! With the option to make it alcoholic or not, this festive quencher is a drink my whole family loves.
When a crowd is too big to mix individual blood orange margaritas for everyone, I turn to batch drinks like mulled wine and eggnog. And for something light and refreshing (and kid-friendly!), nothing beats this EASY non-alcoholic Christmas punch recipe. Like my Christmas mimosas, this recipe takes a classic party drink and gives it a holiday twist. It’s a little sweet, a little tart, fizzy, and delicious.
Reasons You’ll Love This Easy Christmas Punch Recipe
- Light and zesty. My Christmas punch has a delicious blend of fruit juices, ginger ale fizz, and bobbing cranberries for a festive garnish. It looks as good as it tastes!
- 5 minutes to prep. Mix the ingredients, and your punch is ready to serve. I also include tips and suggestions for prepping this recipe ahead.
- Boozy, or not. This holiday party punch is family-friendly as-is. Make an adult-approved version by stirring in your favorite spirit.
Ingredients Needed
Historically, punch recipes consisted of alcohol, citrus, sugar, water, and spices. This Christmas punch builds on those original five ingredients, with the option to make it alcohol-free. Scroll to the recipe card below the post for the complete recipe, including ingredient measurements.
- Fruit Juice – When it comes to punch, just about any juice goes. I like freshly squeezed orange juice, cranberry juice, apple juice, and seasonal pomegranate juice. You can use any mix of your favorite juices.
- Ginger Ale – For a hint of fizz. Feel free to swap ginger ale with lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7Up. For a less-sweet version, use club soda.
- Lemon Juice – There’s quite a bit, so make sure it’s freshly squeezed. You could also use lime juice.
- Garnishes – Citrus slices (orange, lemon, or lime) and fresh or frozen cranberries. I like using frozen cranberries as they help cool down the punch!
Make Your Punch Boozy (Or Not)
If you’re making a boozy Christmas punch, add up to 1 cup of white rum. Other good options are vodka, whiskey, or triple sec. Try white or red wine and Grand Marnier for a Christmas sangria-style version. Or, replace the ginger ale with sparkling wine, like Prosecco.
Recipe Tips
- Use cold ingredients. Make sure the juices are chilled before you mix the punch. Instead of ice, I prefer frozen cranberries as they won’t water down the punch while keeping it cold.
- Sweeten it up. For a sweeter punch, stir in simple syrup to taste. You can make your own simple syrup at home by simmering equal parts water and sugar on the stovetop until slightly thickened. See my vodka lemonade recipe for a detailed step-by-step.
- If you choose to add ice, do so right before serving. Or, add ice to the glasses you’ll serve the punch in. This avoids diluting the punch.
What to Serve With Christmas Punch
Punch and finger foods are always a great pairing! Serve this fruity punch while passing around trays of stuffed mushrooms and crispy fried arancini or coconut shrimp at this year’s Christmas party. I also love these easy bacon-wrapped chicken skewers, and grape jelly meatballs are another favorite holiday appetizer. Don’t forget kolacky cookies for dessert!
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Christmas Punch Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 cups ginger ale
- ½ cup apple juice
- ½ cup pomegranate juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 fresh orange, washed and sliced
- 1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen (the frozen will chill down the punch)
- For a version with alcohol, add 1 cup of white rum, (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the juices. Combine the juices; add the cranberry juice, orange juice, ginger ale, soda, apple juice, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Add garnishes. Add sliced oranges and cranberries.
- Serve. Stir gently and serve in glasses.
Equipment
Notes
- Chill all of your ingredients before use. Instead of ice, use frozen cranberries. This way, you will not dilute your punch, and it will still stay cold.
- You can also add some lime slices for the freshness.
- If you want, you can use lemon-lime soda instead of ginger ale.
- To make this adult-approved, you can use white rum, whiskey, or vodka.
- To make the punch sweeter, you can add some simple syrup.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make the Best Christmas Party Punch
Make this bright, juicy party punch in three quick steps. You can make it in a punch bowl, as pictured, or in a large pitcher, but consider serving it alongside bowls of orange slices and cranberries so everyone can garnish their own drink.
- Mix the juices. First, add your fruit juices, including the lemon juice, to a large bowl or pitcher. Add the ginger ale.
- Add garnishes. Next, drop in your citrus slices and cranberries.
- Serve. Ladle or pour your punch into glasses. For a festive touch, add a rosemary sprig and a sugared cranberry skewer to each glass. Cheers!
Make-Ahead and Storage
- Mix the punch in advance. You can mix up the juices as directed and store the punch in the fridge overnight. Leave out carbonated ingredients, like soda, and any garnishes until you’re ready to serve. When it’s time to serve, top up the punch with fizz and add the citrus slices and cranberries.
- Store leftovers. Keep any leftover Christmas punch refrigerated for up to 2 days. The punch will lose its fizz with time, so consider adding extra ginger ale or soda before serving.
