Bubbly, festive, and a total snap to stir together, this easy Christmas punch is light, refreshing, and not at all overly sweet. It takes less than fives minutes prep time and would be a lovely, useful centerpiece at any holiday party because:
It’s simple but beautiful, with the right amount of holiday sparkle.Guests will love it (and love you for making it!).Crowd control. Think of holiday punch as your party’s water cooler. Guests will flock wherever it’s placed.
I usually shy away from big batch punch recipes because they tend to be overly sweet. This will be an annual addition to my holiday repertoire.” Not this Christmas punch! If you’re planning a holiday gathering and want to know what to drink, Christmas punch is the answer . Together, this combination of the light and bright with the deep and spicy makes this Christmas punch dangerous (almost as dangerous as festive Rum Punch). It’s soooo yummy and easy to sip. Because it takes minutes to make, you can quickly (perhaps too quickly) continue refilling the bowl as the night goes on.
The Best Christmas Punch Recipe
Cranberry juice, sparkling wine, and orange slices keep the punch’s flavor light, bright, and dangerously easy to drink.
Mix this recipe up in a big pitcher, or divide it between two smaller pitchers.Try placing it in a large drink dispenser (don’t forget a cup or towel to catch any drips).
Be warned: this is one crushable holiday cocktail! (You can choose whether or not to mention this tidbit to guests.)
The Ingredients
Cranberry Juice. Make sure you use a juice that is labeled 100% cranberry juice, versus cranberry juice cocktail. The juice should be marked 100% cranberry but still has a blend of other juices for some natural sweetness (confusing I know!). This is the one I used.
Sparkling Wine. Use a very dry sparkling wine. It doesn’t matter what the wine’s country of origin is, as long as it is labeled “brut,” which is the driest, dryer even than wine labeled “extra dry” (Tip: think “brutally dry”). Champagne, cava, and Prosecco are all fair game.Apple Cider + Ginger Ale. Adds balance and dynamic flavor.Dark Rum or Brandy. Rich, spicy, and fun. I preferred this as a Christmas rum punch, but if you’d like something a little sweeter, brandy is a good option.Oranges. For a hint of citrus and beautiful color.Cranberries. Fresh cranberries are important here. I love the look of fresh cranberries floating on top too. Cranberries and oranges are the perfect holiday garnishes.And, lots of ice!
The Directions
Recipe Adaptations
Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch. Omit the alcohol from this recipe, and use sparkling white grape juice or lemon-lime soda instead of wine. Prepare as directed.Christmas Punch in Sherbet. Top each glass of this Raspberry Champagne Float with Christmas punch instead of champagne.Christmas Punch with Raspberry Vodka. Swap in an equal amount of raspberry vodka such as Tito’s for the rum or brandy in this recipe.Pomegranate Christmas Punch. Use pomegranate juice instead of cranberry juice, and swap in pomegranate seeds for the cranberries.Cranberry Orange Christmas Punch. Substitute 3/4 cup of the cranberry juice for orange juice.Tropical Christmas Punch. Add 1/2 cup pineapple juice, plus additional to taste.
More Christmas Drinks
Christmas drinks are delicious, festive, and perfect for serving at parties. This punch is one of my favorites. It could also be used for Christmas morning punch. I also love serving these other easy Christmas drinks:
Mulled WineChampagne PunchApple Cider MimosaCranberry St. Germain CocktailHot Buttered BourbonCrockpot Hot Chocolate
What to Serve with Christmas Punch
This traditional Christmas punch goes perfectly with every holiday recipe. Here are a few ideas:
Appetizers. Pesto Pinwheels, Cheese Fondue, or Crab Artichoke Toasts are much loved holiday apps.Desserts. Perfect Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Ginger Cookies, and Brown Butter Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies would all be delicious alongside a glass of Christmas punch.
Recommended Tools to Make Christmas Punch
Punch Bowl. I also love this punch bowl set from Crate & Barrel.Large Measuring Cup. I use this simple one. Ladle. A glass ladle to go along with your punch bowl.
If you are looking for drinks for your next party—or for a good excuse to throw a party, period—I hope you’ll give this easy Christmas punch recipe a try. It combines a retro holiday feel with a fresh modern taste, and I know your guests will love it as much as we do!
