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This easy Christmas Punch recipe pairs cranberry juice, pineapple, and ginger ale for a festive crowd-pleaser. Spike it with rum or serve non alcoholic: both versions are absolutely delicious!
When it comes to signature drinks, serving a punch is truly the easiest way to step up your party. So for the holidays, try this Christmas Punch! The flavor is fruity and delicious, with a little sparkle from ginger ale.
It tastes incredible on its own, so I like to serve it straight up and let guests spike their individual glasses with rum if they want. That way nobody feels left out! Garnish it up with sliced citrus, rosemary branches, and cranberries, and it makes a festive centerpiece for any party!
Ingredient Breakdown
This Christmas Punch recipe is easy with minimal ingredients, perfect for no-fuss holiday entertaining! When it comes to punch, I’ve actually found that it’s not a “dump anything in” situation. After some careful testing and tweaking, I found the perfect combination of juices, carbonated bubbles, and optional alcohol. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cranberry 100% juice blend: This blend of juices is available at most grocery stores, and typically blends grape, apple, and pear juice with cranberry juice. Make sure to look for “100% juice” or “no sugar added” on the label.
- Pineapple juice: Pineapple adds just the right tropical flair; it’s great for using in punch recipes.
- Ginger ale: Ginger ale adds just the right carbonation! It’s sweeter than ginger beer, which would also work but has in a spicier ginger flavor.
- Rum: This makes it into a Christmas rum punch! But it’s just as good without as a non alcoholic punch.
To Spike or Not to Spike?
You can add the alcohol right to the Christmas punch, of course! But if you’re entertaining with kids, it’s nice to allow drinkers to spike the drink afterwards. This offers most flexibility: you can serve both an alcoholic and non alcoholic punch at the same time!
- Add the alcohol to the punch bowl. If you’re serving all adults who want an alcoholic punch, add it right in.
- Spike the drink afterwards. A better way to make an alcoholic Christmas punch is to spike the drink after you ladle it out of the punch bowl. This makes it work for both kids and adults! The best ratio is 2 ounces rum (¼ cup) to 8 ounces (1 cup) punch.
- Serve it as a non alcoholic punch. It’s just as delicious and mocktail recipes are all the rage these days.
Best Alcohol for Christmas Punch
Here are a few of my favorite options and how they changes the flavor:
- Rum: Aged rum, aka añejo rum, has notes of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. White rum has a straightforward flavor with a signature fruity finish. Dark rum would make the color very dark, it also works and adds notes of cinnamon and spices.
- Bourbon: Bourbon is also ideal for a Christmas punch! It adds spicy notes with hints of vanilla and caramel.
- Champagne or Prosecco: Or, go for a bubbly punch! Add champagne or Prosecco right before serving (see Holiday Punch).
Making Your Punch Bowl Beautiful
The garnishes transform this from “just a drink” into a festive holiday centerpiece. The more the better when it comes to making it pretty. My go-to garnish combinations are:
- Sliced citrus: orange, lemon or lime
- Pineapple rings
- Whole spices: star anise, cinnamon sticks, or cloves
- Rosemary sprigs
- Fresh or frozen cranberries or raspberries
For extra drama, you can freeze cranberries and small rosemary sprigs in ice cube trays with water, then add a handful to the punch bowl. (Just don’t add too much or it will dilute the flavor.)
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This Christmas punch takes just a few minutes to throw together. But if you want to prep some items in advance, here’s what to do:
- Make ahead: The day before, chill all liquids in the refrigerator. Slice the citrus and prepare garnishes and store refrigerated. Around 30 minutes before guests arrive, combine the cranberry and pineapple juice in a punch bowl. Right before serving, add the ginger ale and garnishes (to preserve carbonation).
- Leftover punch: Transfer to a pitcher or large jar with a tight lid. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, though the ginger ale will lose its fizz.
- Batch size: This recipe easily doubles or triples for large gatherings. One tip: add the ginger ale in small increments to maintain carbonation.
Serving Suggestions
This punch pairs well with any type of holiday spread, especially with the flexibility to be alcoholic or non alcoholic.
- Brunch parties: Serve the non alcoholic punch alongside a spread of pastries and egg dishes. The fruity, bright flavors cut through rich breakfast foods beautifully.
- Christmas appetizer hour or dinner: The cranberry-pineapple combination pairs well Christmas dinner, or a Christmas appetizer spread like this festive Christmas tree pull apart bread!
- Cookie exchanges: The tart-sweet balance is a better fit with cookies than hot chocolate (in my opinion).
- New Year’s Eve: Skip the champagne bar and set up a punch station with other New Year’s Eve drinks.
Also try my Holiday Punch with champagne, the Poinsettia for a simpler option, or browse through 45 festive holiday drinks for more inspiration.
Dietary Notes
This Christmas punch recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can mix the juices before, but wait to add ginger ale until right before serving. The carbonation dissipates quickly once opened, so adding it last minute makes sure your punch stays bubbly throughout the party.
In a pinch, mix pure cranberry juice with apple juice using a 1:2 ratio (one part cranberry to two parts apple).
Absolutely! Bourbon adds warm, spicy notes that work wonderfully. Brandy would also work nicely. For a lower-alcohol option, try adding champagne or prosecco instead: just add it right before serving, like the ginger ale.
Chill all ingredients beforehand so you don’t need ice. For longer parties, you can freeze some of the cranberry-pineapple mixture in a bundt pan or ring mold, then float that “ice ring” in the punch bowl. It melts slowly and doesn’t dilute the flavor since it’s made from the same ingredients.
Yes! Skip the rum and it’s perfectly suitable for all ages. My kids actually request this “fancy juice” for their parties now.
This recipe makes about 16 cups (1 gallon) of punch, so you’ll need at least a 1-gallon punch bowl. I prefer slightly larger bowls (5-6 quarts) so there’s room for all those garnishes without overflow.
Easy Christmas Punch
This delicious Christmas Punch recipe is fruity and delicious! Make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit for non alcoholic.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 to 16 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Punch
- Cuisine: Drink
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 64 ounces cranberry 100% juice blend, chilled
- 32 ounces pineapple juice, chilled
- 32 ounces ginger ale, chilled
- 1 750 ml bottle aged rum (optional)*
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon
- For the garnish: 5 star anise, fresh or frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Add the cranberry juice blend, pineapple juice, and ginger ale to a large punch bowl. Add the rum, if using. Garnish with orange and lemon slices, and if desired, cranberries, star anise and rosemary sprigs.
Notes
*Or, make it both alcoholic and non alcoholic! Spike the drink after you ladle it out of the punch bowl: add 2 ounces rum to 8 ounces (1 cup) punch.
Can I use champagne instead of rum and how would you add it ? Top off the glass or pour directly in to bowl? Also, omit the ginger ale if using champagne ?
We like it in the bowl just before serving. Here’s a whole recipe for you: https://www.acouplecooks.com/champagne-punch/#tasty-recipes-115157-jump-target
Can I use 100% cranberry juice instead of the cranberry juice blend?
You can, but may need to add a bit of sugar if it’s not sweet enough.
Can this be maid in advance? If yes. How far in advance?
Hi! The flavor is best if made just before serving.
I would love to buy your cookbook. Is there another way to get it without going through Amazon?
Every recipe of yours that I have tried has been hugely successful!
Thanks,
Sue
Hi! The cookbook is available from any book retailer — check with your local bookstore. If it’s not stocked they can order it. Thank you for checking!
hi- any rum suggestions? i love the color, if i use a dark rum will it ruin it? i’m assuming you used light rum? thanks!
Any should work. We like an aged rum but not too dark.
Let us know if you have any questions!