When it comes to entertaining for the holidays, I’m all about the Christmas punch. While I love a Winter Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail, it’s a pain to play bartender while hosting a party. There are things to do! People to mingle with! Making punch means the work is done at the start of the get-together and everyone can serve themselves. Easy. This Christmas punch recipe is a delightfully festive beverage that brings good tidings and cheer to any holiday gathering. You can make it with alcohol or without, and the deep red colour has cozy Christmas vibes in spades!
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Punch Recipe
Festive and fun. Christmas punch is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and add some fun to your party! Easy to make. This punch recipe takes minutes to put together, so it doesn’t take away any time from entertaining your guests. Customisable. Make it with or without alcohol, gussy it up with garnishes, or switch up the juices to put a different spin on it.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Juice – Cranberry juice, apple cider, and orange juice form the base of this Christmas punch. Lime – The juice from one lime adds a bit of bright tartness. Ginger ale – Or Prosecco, if you prefer. Rum – This is optional; if you use it, I recommend a spiced rum. Garnishes – Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and/or rosemary. Ice cubes – For serving.
How to Make Christmas Punch
Mix the juices. Stir together the juices in a punch bowl. Make it fizzy. Add the ginger ale or Prosecco. Spike it. Stir in the rum. Finish and serve. Add the cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary. Ladle over ice to serve.
Tips for Success
Don’t assemble it too far in advance. You don’t want the punch to sit for too long or it will lose some of its freshness and fizz. Put it together just as your guests start to arrive! Add the ice to the glasses, not the punch. Ice cubes in the punch will water it down as they melt. If you want to keep the punch chilled while it’s set out for serving, you can use frozen cranberries instead of fresh. Serve in a festive punch bowl. It’s part of the experience! If you don’t have one, look for one at a resale shop or ask around to see if you can borrow one. A salad bowl and soup ladle just don’t have the same vibe.
Variations
You can swap the cranberry juice for pomegranate juice; similarly, you can use pomegranate arils instead of cranberries. Try tangerine juice instead of orange juice, or lemon-lime soda instead of ginger ale. For more gingery punch, you can use a strong ginger beer, which is typically spicier. (I definitely have to give a shout out to Jamaican ginger beer here—if you can find it near you or order it online, it’s the best!)
What to Serve With Christmas Punch
When I make Christmas punch, it’s usually to accompany a holiday appetizer spread. Serve it with recipes like Pinwheel Sandwiches, Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip, or a Vegan Charcuterie Board.
How to Store
If you have leftover Christmas punch, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. It’ll last about a day before it starts to go flat, although you can still enjoy it for another day or two, even if it’s not fizzy anymore.
More Festive Holiday Recipes
Gingersnap Molasses Cookies Vegan Turkey Chai Sugar Cookies Vegan Cranberry Meatballs Vegan Eggnog (Creamy & Heartwarming)
Enjoy friends! If you make this Christmas punch recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
