Name: Thanksgiving Punch
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Punch
Ingredients: 48 ounces 100% pomegranate juice (6 cups); 2 large lemons, squeezed into juice (1/2 cup); 4 to 5 large navel oranges, squeezed into juice (2 cups); 24 ounces soda water (3 cups); 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 16 ounces bourbon, brandy or white rum, optional (2 cups)*; For the garnish: pomegranate arils (seeds), mint, star anise, orange and lemon slices

Thanksgiving Punch

by Sonja Overhiser Updated November 12, 2026 Published October 10, 2026

Total time

10 min

Serves

This Thanksgiving punch is vibrant and tastes irresistibly light and fruity! Pomegranate juice and citrus make magic in this drink that’s perfect for serving a crowd.

Here’s a punch recipe that caught us by surprise…because it’s even more delicious than it looks. This ruby red Thanksgiving Pomegranate Punch stars pomegranate Juice and fresh citrus with a hint of maple syrup. It’s our favorite pomegranate juice to use in drinks and cocktails.

Take one sip and it’s light, fruity, bubbly, and sweet tart: a true burst of refreshing flavors! Spike it or drink it non-alcoholic: either way, you won’t be able to stop sipping it (we couldn’t!).

5 Star Reader Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This was delicious! Made it for a baby shower and it was a hit with both kids and adults. Will make again and again. Thanks for sharing!” -Natalie

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Thanksgiving pomegranate punch is all about flavor and color! For entertaining recipes, you’ll want a stunning look and flavor: and this recipe delivers both. That eye-popping color of the juice is beautiful and adds a big burst of sweet tart flavor. It’s a great alternative to punch recipes that call for sodas or added sweeteners! Here’s what you’ll need:

100% pomegranate juice: Look for a bottle that’s 100% juice with no added sugar. It’s a little sweet and a little tart, it adds a unique burst of flavor to any drink recipe.
Fresh orange juice: Fresh juice is best, but you can use 100% bottled for a great tasting punch.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice really enhances the sweet tart flavor; make sure that it is fresh squeezed!
Soda water: Use club soda or sparkling water to add bubbles without extra sweetness (like ginger ale or another punch mixer).
Pure maple syrup: This rounds out the flavors and sweetens just enough.
Bourbon, brandy, or white rum (optional): More on choosing below!

How to Make Thanksgiving Punch

This is truly a dump-and-stir recipe, but here’s the outline of the process (or jump to the recipe):

Chill everything first. It’s best to refrigerate all the ingredients and serve the punch without ice so it doesn’t get watered down.
Juice the citrus. Squeeze the oranges and lemons.
Pour and stir. Add the pomegranate juice, orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup, and alcohol (if using) to a punch bowl and stir.
Add the soda water last. Pour it in right before serving to keep the bubbles.
Garnish and serve. Top the punch bowl or the drink with citrus slices and pomegranate arils.

Brandy, Bourbon, or Rum?

Another great thing about this Thanksgiving pomegranate punch? You can make it with various types of liquor, and it tastes different with each. Here are our favorites, in order of preference:

Brandy: The fruity flavor of brandy is true perfection with the sweet tart pomegranate juice! This was Alex’s idea and while I doubted it at first, it was the clear winner. It complements the lightness of the fruit flavors perfectly!
Bourbon: Bourbon adds a cozier, warmer vibe and it’s more alcohol-forward. This one is ideal for bourbon lovers.
Rum: We can’t resist a good rum punch! White rum melds into the flavors and highlights the lighter characteristics of the pomegranate punch.

Serve It Spiked and Non-Alcoholic at Once

This Thanksgiving pomegranate punch works spiked or non-alcoholic. It’s also customizable for both if you have people spike the drink after they ladle it out of the bowl. This offers the most flexibility, especially when serving kids and adults avoiding alcohol. You can essentially serve both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic punch at the same time!

Add the liquor right to the punch bowl. If everyone’s drinking, this is the way to go.
Or, spike the drink after ladling it out! The most versatile way to make Thanksgiving punch is to spike the drink after you ladle it out of the punch bowl. The best ratio is 1 ounces liquor to 6 ounces (¾ cup) punch.
Or, make it as a non-alcoholic punch! It’s just as good (really). In fact, we almost prefer it non-alcoholic: it’s so fruity and light.

Another fun Thanksgiving cocktail? Try a pitcher of Thanksgiving sangria!

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

This punch can easily be made in advance, which is helpful for Thanksgiving prep. You can mix the juices and maple syrup up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate the pitcher. Then add the soda water and garnishes right before serving.

Leftover punch keeps refrigerated for 2 to 3 days, though the bubbles deflate. You can add a bit of soda water to each glass when serving.

What to Serve With Thanksgiving Punch

This punch is the perfect welcome drink, especially because it requires 0 prep from you (except adding the drink garnishes).

I like pairing it with some of my favorite Thanksgiving appetizers like my Ultimate Cheese Board, Baked Brie, Caramel Apple Dip, or Pumpkin Hummus.

For the rest of the menu, see my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, Thanksgiving desserts, and Thanksgiving recipes. If you want more drinks, see my Thanksgiving cocktails and drinks, including warm mulled cider.