Holiday Punch (Family-Friendly!)
This easy non-alcoholic holiday punch is a must for celebrations all season long. Made with cranberry or pomegranate juice, freshly squeezed orange juice, pineapple juice, ginger ale, and a hint cinnamon and cloves.
Unlike many other drinks recipes out there, this one is more sophisticated than just dumping juices and soda together. This holiday punch starts with cranberry or pomegranate juice simmered with brown sugar, citrus, and warm spices to create a rich syrup, then mixed with fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, and ginger ale for just the right amount of brightness and fizz. It’s balanced, flavorful, and not overly sweet.
Serve this non-alcohol Christmas punch recipe at parties and gatherings big or small! It’s easy to make ahead, and you can always add alcohol if you’d like!
Table of Contents
- Why you should make THIS holiday punch recipe
- Ingredients you'll need
- How to make holiday punch, step by step
- Serving suggestions
- Make-ahead tips
- More holiday drinks
Why you should make THIS holiday punch recipe
There are so many Christmas drinks out there! Here’s why this one is special:
- BIG holiday flavor thanks to its unique berry, citrus and spiced syrup.
- Made with simple ingredients that come together easily.
- Easy to make-ahead (and actually gets better as it sits in the fridge).
- Family-friendly and non-alcoholic so it’s perfect for kids and adults, with easy options to spike if you like.
- Beautiful, festive and delicious!
Ingredients you’ll need
- Cranberry juice OR pomegranate juice: I’ve used both and either is great! 100% juice with no added sugar is recommended.
- Brown sugar
- Orange and lemon slices
- Whole cinnamon and cloves: Adds a depth of “holiday flavor”, but we’ll strain them out so it’s not overwhelming (I do not recommend ground spices).
- Freshly squeezed orange juice: Store-bought orange juice is fine in a pinch, but fresh is better!
- Pineapple juice
- Ginger ale: I like the mellow flavor of ginger ale for this recipe, but if you prefer you can use lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7-Up.
- Ice
- Garnishes: Fresh cranberries, fresh orange slices, pomegranate arils, fresh mint etc. Garnishes make a drink feel extra special, so don’t skip!
Spike this punch: If you’d like to turn this Christmas punch into a cocktail, simply add rum or vodka, or swap the ginger ale for prosecco or sparkling wine.
How to make holiday punch, step by step
- Make cranberry or pomegranate syrup base. Simmer juice with brown sugar, orange slices, lemon slices and whole cinnamon and cloves for about 10-15 minutes. Then strain into a pitcher.
- Add orange juice and pineapple juice to the pitcher.
- Chill. Since the syrup base is warm, we’ll need to chill it completely. Place your pitcher in the fridge for at least an hour (and up to several days). This rest also helps the flavors mingle.
- Add ginger ale (and alcohol if you want). When ready to serve, add ginger ale to your pitcher or combine everything in a punch bowl. (If you’re spiking your punch, you can combine it now or add it to individual servings.)
- Serve. Pour over ice, add any garnishes, and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
Serve this Christmas punch recipe in a large pitcher, drink dispenser or punch bowl. It makes about 1 gallon of punch (or 12 8-oz servings), and it doubles really easily. Add fresh cranberries and orange slices to the serving container to make it look festive, along with ice to keep it cold. You can add ice and more garnishes to individual servings too.
Make-ahead tips
Prep the berry syrup base, add orange juice and pineapple juice and store covered in the fridge for up to 1 week. Only combine with ginger ale and any garnishes when you’re ready to serve.
More holiday drinks
- Homemade Eggnog (with non-alcohol and alcohol options)
- Boozy Hot Wassail
- Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail
Holiday Punch
Ingredients
- 4 cups 100% cranberry or pomegranate juice (with no added sugar)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 orange , sliced
- 1 lemon , sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves (spice)
- 3 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup (3 oranges) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 liter ginger ale
- Ice
For garnishes
- Fresh cranberries
- Orange slices
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberry or pomegranate juice with the brown sugar, orange slices, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Set over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Strain mixture into a pitcher (removing citrus and spices). Add pineapple juice and orange juice. Chill for at least 1 hour (and up to 1 week).
- When ready to serve, combine with ginger ale, add ice and garnishes.
Notes
- Makes about 1 gallon of punch.
- Ingredient swaps: Freshly squeezed orange juice is preferred, but you can use store-bought orange juice (pulp-free). For a punchier ginger flavor, swap ginger ale for ginger beer. You can also use Sprite or 7-Up instead.
- How to spike this punch: Add about 1 oz of vodka or rum per individual serving, or 2 cups to your serving container. You can also substitute two 750ml bottles for the ginger ale.
- A note if you use pomegranate juice: It may turn your punch purple or mauve-colored! This is a chemical reaction caused by heating, mixing, and storing (and does not at all affect flavor or indicate spoilage). One of my recipe tests turned vibrant purple after about 1 day in the fridge, but your results may be different. Just a heads up!
