Holiday Punch (Christmas Punch Recipe With or Without Alcohol)

This holiday punch recipe is the perfect cocktail to share at your next holiday party. It has the perfect balance of sweet orange juice, tart cranberry juice, vodka, and refreshing zest from the sparkling apple cider and ginger ale. When combined, this delicious holiday punch recipe makes an unbeatable, refreshing drink for the holidays. And if kids are enjoying it too, simply leave out the alcohol and swap it with juice. The best part about this recipe? You can make this Christmas punch in just 1 minute!

Why You'll Love This Holiday Punch Recipe

When it comes to holiday parties, the party is only as fun as the drinks that are served. This holiday punch is the perfect alcoholic drink to serve that will get everyone in the holiday spirit! And if you don't want the alcohol, you can swap it with juice so kids and adults can enjoy this punch. 

What I love about this recipe is that this holiday punch has the perfect balance of flavors. The combination of fresh orange juice and cranberry juice makes for a refreshingly sweet and tart flavor. When you add in sparkling apple cider, ginger ale, and vodka, you get a zesty cocktail with the perfect amount of alcohol. To finish it off, the floating orange slices and fresh cranberries make for a perfect presentation, too!

What's even better about this Christmas punch recipe is that it takes minutes to make, and you'll end up with enough punch for the entire party! Even if it disappears quickly, you can make another round in no time at all.

By the way, if you're in need of another cocktail, to balance out the refreshing fruitiness of this one, I highly recommend checking out either this chocolate mudslide recipe or this espresso martini recipe. Both are quick and easy to make and will offer your guests plenty of options.

Ingredients You'll Need

As I mentioned before, this Christmas punch recipe is a breeze to make, and it only requires a few simple ingredients. In fact, if you have a bar, then you probably have everything you need at home already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this holiday punch recipe:

• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 ½ cup orange juice
• 1 bottle sparkling apple cider
• 1 can ginger ale
• 1 cup Vodka (or pineapple juice for a kid-friendly version)
• 1 cup orange slices
• ½ cup frozen cranberries to serve

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

I love making this holiday punch exactly as written because the flavors balance each other perfectly, but the beauty of a good Christmas punch is how flexible it is. You can easily swap ingredients based on what you have on hand or what flavor profile you prefer.

• Switch up the soda: If you don’t have ginger ale—or prefer something milder—you can replace it with lemon-lime soda, club soda, or even sparkling water for a less sweet version. Ginger ale gives the punch a nice zesty kick, but any bubbly soda will keep that festive effervescence.
• Swap out apple cider: For the sparkling apple cider, feel free to use sparkling white grape juice, sparkling cranberry juice, or even non-alcoholic sparkling wine. If you want to boost the alcohol content a bit (this is the holidays, after all!), you can swap the cider for champagne or prosecco for a more grown-up, bubbly punch.
• Pick any alcohol you want: Vodka is my go-to because it keeps the flavor clean and crisp, but this recipe is extremely forgiving. White rum, dark rum, tequila, or even gin work beautifully here. I’ve made this punch with tequila several times when I ran out of vodka, and it always gets rave reviews.
• Make it alcohol-free and kid-friendly: If you want a lighter, less boozy holiday punch—or you’re serving kids—just reduce or omit the vodka and replace it with more juice. Pineapple juice, lemonade, or extra cranberry juice all fit perfectly into the flavor profile. You can also swap the sparkling apple cider for regular apple juice to soften the bubbles for a kid-friendly version.

No matter how you customize it, this punch always feels festive, refreshing, and perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, or any holiday gathering.

How To Make Holiday Punch

Honestly, the best part about this holiday punch is how fast it is to make. You literally just add the ingredients to your punch bowl, give it a good stir, and serve. It's really that simple! Anyway, let's not waste any more time and get mixing!

Step 1: Combine The Ingredients

First things first, grab your favorite punch bowl, a visually appealing large bowl, or a large pitcher.

Then add all your liquid ingredients: orange juice, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, sparkling apple juice, ginger ale, and vodka.

Now give this a good stir with your ladle or whatever you're using to serve the punch to combine everything. Finally, add the orange slices and cranberries on top.

Step 2: Serve The Punch 

Next, set serving glasses around the punch bowl along with an ice bucket and serve immediately. Oh, and if you're making this holiday punch ahead of time, you can just chill it in the fridge until you're ready to serve it.

By the way, this recipe for holiday punch will make enough for twelve glasses worth, so if you think you'll need more, just double, triple, or quadruple the number of ingredients.

Enjoy!

Expert Tips for The Best Holiday Punch

• Chill Ingredients in Advance: To keep your punch refreshing without overloading it with ice (and diluting the flavor), refrigerate all your ingredients—juices, soda, and alcohol—before mixing. This way, the punch starts off cold and stays that way longer.
• Make an Ice Ring: Freeze fruit slices, cranberries, or sprigs of rosemary in a bundt pan filled with water or juice to create a stunning ice ring. Not only will it keep your punch cold, but it also adds a festive and elegant touch to the presentation.
• Balance the Sweetness: If you find your punch is too sweet, add a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice, lime juice, or even sparkling water to mellow it out. Taste as you go to achieve the perfect balance.
• Offer a Non-Alcoholic Option: If you're serving guests who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, keep the alcohol on the side and let everyone customize their glass. Or, make a separate alcohol-free batch so everyone can enjoy it. I always make one with alcohol and one without; my nieces love the non-alcoholic holiday punch!
• Garnish Like a Pro: Don’t skimp on the garnishes! Sliced oranges, lemons, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and sprigs of fresh herbs like mint or rosemary not only elevate the punch’s flavor but also make it visually stunning.
• Use a Punch Ladle: a good punch ladle ensures every glass gets a mix of liquid and garnishes. Plus, it minimizes mess and keeps your punch station tidy.
• Experiment with Flavors: Feel free to adapt the recipe to suit your tastes or your guests' preferences. Try swapping ginger ale for sparkling apple cider, or add a hint of warmth with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Holdiay Punch FAQS

Can I make this holiday punch ahead of time?

Yes—holiday punch is great for prep. Mix the juices, vodka, and fruit slices up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Wait to add the sparkling apple cider and ginger ale until just before serving so the punch stays bubbly and fresh. If you add the carbonation too early, the fizz will flatten in the fridge.

How do I keep holiday punch cold without watering it down?

Instead of adding ice cubes—which dilute the flavor—you can use frozen cranberries, frozen orange slices, or even make juice ice cubes (freeze cranberry or orange juice into large cubes). These keep the punch cold while adding flavor instead of watering it down.

Can I make this punch non-alcoholic for kids?

Absolutely. Simply leave out the vodka and swap in an extra cup of pineapple juice, lemonade, or more sparkling cider. It becomes a festive Christmas mocktail that kids and adults can enjoy. You can even make two versions: one with vodka for the adults and one without for the kids.

What alcohol works best in holiday punch?

Vodka is the cleanest and most neutral option, but white rum, dark rum, tequila, or even sparkling wine all work beautifully. Rum will make the punch sweeter, tequila adds a citrusy bite, and champagne/prosecco gives it a celebratory feel.

How long does holiday punch last?

If stored in the fridge without carbonation added, holiday punch lasts 2–3 days. Once the ginger ale or sparkling cider is added, it’s best enjoyed within 12–18 hours, since the bubbles will fade. If alcohol is added, it may stay fresh slightly longer due to preservation.

Can I serve holiday punch warm?

Yes—warm punch is amazing in the winter. Leave out the ginger ale and cider at first, heat the juice mixture gently on the stovetop, then add the cider just before serving. Do not boil the punch, especially if it contains alcohol.

My Final Thoughts

Well, that's how to make holiday punch! This easy Christmas punch recipe is made with such simple ingredients, and yet the results are outstanding. I don't know if it's the balance of flavors, the perfect amount of booze, or the giant punch bowl's appearance taking center stage, but it's a must-try holiday drink.

It'll really make your next Christmas celebration that much better, and I hope you like it as much as I/we do.

Anyway, as always, if you give this recipe a try, then be sure to leave a comment and let me know how it went. Merry Christmas!

More Holiday Recipes

If you're looking for some sweet treats to make to serve along with the punch, we have a ton on the blog that you have to check out next! 

Here are some more easy holiday recipes:

• Christmas crack
• Fantasy fudge
• No bake Christmas cookies
• Peppermint brownies
• Christmas desserts

Also, for more tasty recipes - just like this holiday punch - don't forget to follow us along on  Tiktok, YouTube, and Instagram. We post new ones on them every single day!