Cranberry Holiday Punch Recipe

by | Nov 15, 2025 | Cocktail Recipes, Holiday Cocktails, Mocktails, Seasonal Cocktails

Cranberry Holiday Punch in a clear punch bowl with red punch, floating orange slices, cranberries, and rosemary sprigs, with a glass cup beside it on marble and golden Christmas lights in the background.
Get Recipe Ingredients

This cranberry holiday punch is the drink bowl everyone hovers around first. It is bright, bubbly and just tart enough, with cranberry, citrus and pineapple juices topped with ginger ale so it feels festive without being heavy. At events we bartend in December, this punch is usually the easiest upgrade from plain soda and juice and it can be served alcohol free for families or spiked with rum or vodka for the adults.

The best part is how simple it is to batch. You stir the base together in a big pitcher or drink dispenser, chill it in the fridge, then top with bubbles and fresh fruit right before guests walk in. Garnish with orange slices, cranberries and a rosemary sprig and it looks like a centerpiece on its own.

Cranberry Holiday Punch Ingredients

This recipe makes about 10 servings in a standard pitcher or small drink dispenser. It is written zero proof, with easy options to spike the whole batch or let guests spike their own glass.

For the punch base

  • 4 cups cranberry juice cocktail or 100 percent cranberry juice
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 2 cups pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup simple syrup or maple syrup, to taste

To finish and garnish

  • 3 cups chilled ginger ale or lemon lime soda
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 large orange, sliced into wheels or half moons
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
  • Ice, for serving

Optional spirits

  • 2 to 3 cups white rum or spiced rum, to spike the whole batch
  • Or set out bottles of rum, vodka or gin next to the dispenser so guests can spike individual glasses

How to Make Cranberry Holiday Punch

  1. Chill the juices and soda. At least 4 hours before serving, refrigerate the cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice and ginger ale so everything starts cold. Cold ingredients keep the ice from watering down your punch.
  2. Build the punch base. In a large pitcher, punch bowl or drink dispenser, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and lime juice. Stir in 1/4 cup simple syrup or maple syrup, then taste and add more if you prefer a sweeter punch.
  3. Add fruit and optional spirits. Add the fresh cranberries, orange slices and lime slices to the punch base. If you are spiking the whole batch, pour in the rum and stir gently to combine.
  4. Top with bubbles just before serving. Right before guests arrive, pour the chilled ginger ale or lemon lime soda into the punch. Give it a gentle stir so you do not lose too many bubbles.
  5. Garnish and serve. Add a few rosemary sprigs to the punch bowl for aroma. Fill glasses with ice, ladle in the punch, then garnish each glass with extra cranberries and citrus. For a build your own bar, keep rum or vodka on the side so adults can add a splash to their glass.

Bartender notes

  • Mix the juice base and fruit in advance and chill for a few hours. Add the ginger ale and ice right before serving so it stays fizzy.
  • For a lighter option, use half ginger ale and half sparkling water.
  • For a stronger punch, use spiced rum and reduce the simple syrup slightly since spiced rum is naturally sweeter.

Cranberry Holiday Punch Variations

  • Spiced rum Christmas punch. Use spiced rum instead of white rum, add a few cinnamon sticks and star anise to the punch bowl and reduce the simple syrup to keep it balanced.
  • Vodka cranberry holiday punch. Swap the rum for vodka for a cleaner, more classic cranberry profile. This feels similar to a big batch vodka cranberry but dressed up for Christmas.
  • Non alcoholic cranberry holiday punch. Leave out the spirits completely and add an extra cup of ginger ale or sparkling water. Offer rum or vodka on the side for guests who want to spike their glass.
  • Citrus forward cranberry punch. Add extra orange juice and a splash of grapefruit juice and garnish with more citrus wheels. This pairs nicely with brunch and lighter appetizers.
  • Frozen cranberry punch. Freeze some of the cranberry juice in a silicone mold or ring pan and add it to the punch bowl as a giant ice block so it chills the punch without watering it down.

Serving Suggestions

We like to serve this cranberry holiday punch at winter open houses and office parties where guests are in and out for a few hours. Set the punch bowl or dispenser in the center of a garnish station with bowls of cranberries, citrus wheels and rosemary so guests can decorate their drink. On the bar behind, keep a small selection of spirits so people can choose if they want their punch boozy or zero proof.

This punch pairs well with salty snacks like spiced nuts, charcuterie boards, baked brie with cranberry and puff pastry bites. For more Christmas drink ideas, visit our Christmas cocktails guide.

Make Ahead and Storage

  • Mix the juice base and fruit up to 24 hours in advance and store covered in the refrigerator.
  • Add the ginger ale or soda and any alcohol within 15 to 30 minutes of serving so it stays bubbly.
  • Leftover punch without soda or ice will keep up to 3 days in the fridge. Once the soda and ice are added, it is best the same day.

Nutrition Information

Approximate nutrition per serving, based on 10 servings and zero proof punch. Values will change if you adjust sweetness or add spirits.

  • Serving size: 1 cup punch
  • Calories: 150
  • Carbohydrates: 37 g
  • Sugar: 32 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Sodium: 15 mg

More Cranberry and Christmas Punch Recipes

Planning a bigger holiday party and not sure how much alcohol to buy for your punch and bar setup? Use our Alcohol Shopping List Calculator to estimate bottles by guest count, then visit our bartender booking page if you would like our team to handle the mixing, pouring and cleanup.

You can also browse more drink ideas in our cocktail recipes collection and the full Christmas cocktail recipes guide.

Cranberry Holiday Punch FAQs

Which alcohol goes best with cranberry holiday punch?

Cranberry punch plays well with several spirits. White rum, spiced rum and vodka are the most common choices and they blend smoothly with cranberry and citrus. Gin can also work if your guests enjoy botanical flavors, and whiskey creates a richer, warmer drink. For the widest crowd appeal at a party, we usually offer rum and vodka as the main spike options.

Can I make cranberry holiday punch without alcohol?

Yes, this recipe is written as a zero proof base. Simply leave out the rum and serve the punch as is, then keep spirits on the side for adults who want to add a splash to their glass. That way kids, non drinkers and designated drivers all have a festive drink that looks exactly like everyone else’s.

What are the five basic ingredients of punch?

Classic punch follows a simple five part formula: something strong, something weak, something sour, something sweet and something spiced. In this cranberry holiday punch the strong is the optional rum or vodka, the weak is ginger ale, the sour is lime and citrus, the sweet is simple syrup and juices and the spice comes from garnishes like rosemary and optional cinnamon sticks.

How far in advance can I make cranberry holiday punch?

You can mix the juices and fruit 12 to 24 hours in advance and chill them in the fridge. Wait to add any soda and ice until right before serving so the punch stays bubbly and does not get diluted. If you are spiking the whole batch, you can add the alcohol up to a few hours ahead of time.

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

Use frozen juice instead of plain ice. Pour cranberry juice into a bundt pan or silicone mold and freeze, then float the ring in your punch bowl. It chills the drink and slowly melts into more flavor instead of watering the punch down. You can also freeze some cranberries and orange slices into the ring for extra color.