I love Christmas.
I mean, there’s no other way to start than with punch in a big punch bowl.
I relish getting the right taste for the kids, the right taste for the adults. The smell of fresh fruit and a spice, that little bit that fizzes a bit bubbly, that’s really inviting.
And people just kind of relax, start talking, let their guard down.
So in this post I thought it would be nice to give you some tips and tricks on how to put together a Christmas punch and get your family begging for more.
The 12 Best Christmas punch Ideas
1. Classic Holiday Punch
There is nothing like having a punch to celebrate a feast. My favorite punch for a holiday party is cranberry juice, orange juice and a splash of ginger ale.
I like to add slices of oranges and cranberries for color and taste.
Ingredients
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup ginger ale
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Orange slices, for garnish
Fresh cranberries, for garnish
Mint leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- First, mix the cranberry juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, lemon juice and sugar in a punch bowl.
2. Stir well to dissolve all the sugar until entirely combined.
3. Put the mixture in the fridge for at least 2 hours to let the flavors mix.
4. Stir in the ginger ale and the sparkling water just before serving.
5. Garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices for a festive look. Punch
6. Pour the punch into glasses over ice, and add a sprig of mint leaves for aroma.
2. Cranberry Orange Punch
I love this simple, bright drink. The juicy citrus and tart cranberry, those spritzy, bubbly fruits make this a perfect festive tipple.
Orange juice, cranberry juice, a splash of ginger ale lend a lovely bubbly sparkle.
Ingredients
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1 liter ginger ale
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 orange, thinly sliced
Ice cubes
1 cup vodka (optional, for an alcoholic version)
Instructions
1. Mix together thoroughly the cranberry juice, orange juice and pineapple juice in a large punch bowl.
2. To garnish and for flavor, put the fresh cranberries and orange slices into the juice.
3. Pour in the ginger ale just before serving so it keeps its carbonation, then gently mix it in.
4. If desired, add vodka for an alcoholic version and stir to incorporate.
5. Chill the punch with ice cubes or an ice ring.
6. Pour the punch into glasses, putting a slice of fruit in each one.
3. Sparkling Apple Cider Punch
I love a holiday drink but especially love mixing something exciting for guests. This one is great, you can easily make it alcoholic by adding Gin or Vodka.
Ingredients
- 4 cups sparkling apple cider
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup sliced fresh apples
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup club soda or ginger ale
- Optional: cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
1. Pour Sparkling Apple Cider, Cranberry Juice ,Orange Juice, Lemon Juice into large punch bowl.
2. Stir the mixture gently until all the juices are well blended.
3. To make it even more festive, add the fresh apple slices and cranberries to your punch bowl.
4.Right before serving, stir in the club soda or ginger ale to give it a little fizz.
5. Fill glasses with ice and ladle the punch into each glass.
6. To warm up and add fragrance, finish with a stick of cinnamon per glass (optional).
4. Pomegranate Ginger Punch
For a punch that’s sweet and citrusy, go for this punch, which is a mix of tart-sweet pomegranate and gingery zest. Mine has pomegranate juice, ginger and lime, with the lift of a splash of club soda (optional).
Ingredients
2 cups pomegranate juice
2 cups ginger ale
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup simple syrup (adjust to taste)
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1 orange, sliced
Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Pour pomegranate juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and lime juice into a large punch bowl or pitcher and stir to blend.
2. Add the simple syrup. Stir again, taste, and add more sweetener if needed.
3. Right before serving, stir in the ginger ale.
4. Add these for color and extra flavor: pomegranate seeds and orange slices.
5. Fill glasses with ice cubes, then pour the punch over the ice.
6. Garnish each glass with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately.
6. Eggnog Punch
There’s nothing like a party punch to get me in the holiday spirit – and this one is very festive. Rich and creamy, punch may include vanilla ice cream, rum, bourbon and a touch of nutmeg, plus a dash of cinnamon.
Garnished with whipped cream, I consider it my most decadent (and fattening) holiday treat of all.
Ingredients
1 quart (4 cups) eggnog
1 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup bourbon
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ice cubes
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Instructions
- Put the eggnog, spiced rum and bourbon in a large punch bowl. Stir.
2. Whip the heavy cream with the superfine sugar and vanilla in a separate bowl until soft peaks form.
3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the eggnog mixture until well combined.
4. Add ice cubes to the punch bowl to chill the punch.
5. Sprinkle ground nutmeg over the top and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
6. Serve in chilled glasses, garnished with a dash of ground cinnamon if desired.
7. Cranberry Lime Punch
This is my signature beverage to bring when invited to a potluck, but it is also a great standby for any cocktail-based party during the holidays. It’s delicate, yet potent in its blend of cranberry juice and a light splash of lime juice, all with a bit of bubbly, and enhanced with a splash of ginger ale.
Ingredients
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup limeade
1 cup sparkling water or champagne
1 cup ginger ale
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh cranberries
Lime slices, for garnish
Ice cubes
Instructions
1. In a large punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice, limeade, fresh lime juice, and sparkling water/ or champagne.
2. Stir in the ginger ale gently to maintain some of the fizz.
3. Add ice cubes to the punch bowl to chill the mixture well.
4. Garnish your punch with fresh cranberries and lime slices. It’s festive.
5. Stir gently to combine all ingredients and flavors.
6. Serve immediately in glasses, enjoying the refreshing and tangy blend.
8. Peppermint Punch
I do love making a holiday-appropriate drink based on the standard mocktail. I use a splash of peppermint extract, a splash of cranberry juice, and some sparkling water to make it fizzy.
Then crushed candy canes on the rim for a delightful touch.
Ingredients
4 cups of peppermint ice cream
1 quart of ginger ale, chilled
1 cup of cranberry juice, chilled
1 quart of club soda, chilled
Peppermint sticks or crushed candy canes for garnish
Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large punch bowl, add the peppermint ice cream.
2. Pour the chilled ginger ale over the ice cream, allowing it to foam.
3. Add the cranberry juice to the mixture and gently stir to combine.
4. Slowly pour in the club soda and mix gently to maintain the carbonation.
5. Decorate the bowl with candy canes or peppermint sticks or crushed candy canes.
6. Add fresh mint leaves on top for an additional festive touch before serving.
9. Gingerbread Punch
I like the spicy, homely smells of the season, and nothing is better for getting me feeling festive than a big warm punch. Cinnamon and ginger and molasses.
Vanilla, cloves, some dark rum perhaps.
Ingredients
4 cups ginger ale
4 cups apple cider
1 cup dark rum (optional)
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Whipped cream (for garnish)
Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Mix the ginger ale, cider (or apple juice if using) and the dark rum (if using) in a large punch bowl.
2. Add the molasses, ground ginger, ground cinnamon and ground cloves; mix until the molasses is fully incorporated.
3. Chill the punch in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to combine.
4. Before serving, gently stir the punch to mix any settled spices.
5. Pour the punch into glasses, top with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.
10. Mulled Wine Punch
There’s nothing I enjoy more at a holiday gathering than a little warm wine potion. My mulled wine combines red wine, cinnamon, cloves and star anise, with just enough brandy to keep it festive.
Ingredients
1 bottle (750 ml) red wine
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup honey or sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
4 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup water
Optional: Additional citrus slices or cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large saucepan, combine the red wine, brandy, and water.
2. Put the honey (or sugar) in the saucepan, together with orange and lemon slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and nutmeg.
3. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar or honey has melted – that is, no longer crunchy, but a pale golden syrup. Don’t allow it to boil, or it risks burning off the alcohol.
4. Reduce the heat to low, then cover. Simmer for about 30 minutes to one hour to let the flavors meld.
5. Strain the mixture to remove the spices and orange slices. Pour your punch into the mugs and serve warm, with additional citrus slices or cinnamon sticks, if you like.
11. Frosted Coconut Punch
This punch is the tropics in your goblet. I enjoy drinking it chilled of course, when the lush aroma of pineapple juice mingles with the creamy richness of coconut milk, and the rum is present for that well-rounded sip.
Where lime juice is not added it seems to miss an acidic ping, and so I always think it adds to its zesty lure.
Ingredients
1 cup cream of coconut
1 cup coconut milk
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup white rum (optional)
1 liter ginger ale, chilled
1 tablespoon lime juice
Crushed ice
Mint leaves, for garnish
Shredded coconut, for garnish
Instructions
1. In a big bowl of punch, stir together the cream of coconut, coconut milk, pineapple juice, white rum, if using, and lime juice.
2. Set it in the refrigerator to chill, for at least an hour, so that the flavours have time to develop. 239 words
3. When ready to serve, add the chilled ginger ale to the punch and stir.
4. Put crushed ice into the glasses and pour the frosted coconut punch over the ice.
5. Garnish each glass with mint leaves and a sprinkle of shredded coconut.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy the festive flavors!
12. Pineapple Rum Punch
Of the many tropical cocktails I’ve tried, I like one best for the way it blends sweet and sour: pineapple juice with coconut rum, a splash of lime and a pinch of grenadine, a wonderful refreshing drink!
Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup white rum
- 1 cup coconut rum
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1 cup club soda (optional, for fizz)
- 1/4 cup grenadine syrup
- Pineapple slices, for garnish
- Maraschino cherries, for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
1. In a pitcher or punch bowl, mix the pineapple juice, white rum, coconut rum, orange juice, and lime juice together.
2. Pour the grenadine syrup and stir again until all the ingredients have been mixed.
3. If desired, add club soda for a fizzy punch. Stir gently to incorporate.
4. Fill glasses with ice and pour the punch over the ice.
5. Garnish each glass with a slice of pineapple and a maraschino cherry.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Pineapple Rum Punch.