Bring in the Holly Jolly Spirit of Christmas with this classic Christmas Punch. This festive drink is non-alcoholic and has the refreshing taste of pomegranate with a festive holiday look.
Why This Recipe is the Best
This festive Christmas Punch is a holiday tradition we look forward to every year! It’s incredibly easy to make, yet feels special enough for your fanciest gatherings. With its bright red color and blend of juices, it’s both sweet and refreshing—perfect for kids and adults alike. We love serving it on Christmas Eve in sparkling glasses topped with cranberries and pomegranate seeds to make it feel extra festive.
Whether you’re hosting brunch, a party, or Christmas dinner, this old-fashioned Christmas Punch is a crowd-pleasing favorite that looks just as beautiful as it tastes.
Try our other festive Christmas dinner traditions like Christmas Salad, Three Ingredient Ham, and our famous dinner rolls.
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Key Ingredients
Christmas Punch is made from a combination of some of our favorite fruit drinks. We strongly recommend using high-quality fruit juice to make an elegant drink.
- Cranberry juice- Be sure to use a cranberry juice cocktail instead of pure cranberry juice. You will need that added sweetener to get the best flavor.
- Pomegranate juice- Use 100% pomegranate juice. POM makes a great-tasting juice that we love adding to this mix. If you can't find pomegranate juice, use cranberry-pomegranate juice.
- Ginger Ale- This carbonated drink is the perfect flavor combination with the other juices. You can also substitute it with Sprite or sparkling water, but we highly recommend the Ginger Ale.
- Ice- Add this last or just for serving so it doesn't dilute the juice.
- Garnish- Top each glass with fresh cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and lime slices. Be sure to wash all of the fruit before adding it to the drink.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make Christmas Punch
Learn how to mix Christmas Punch with these easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
- In a punch bowl or pitcher, combine the fruit juices.
- Right before serving, add the Ginger Ale. Mix thoroughly.
- When ready to serve, garnish with cranberries and pomegranate seeds for a festive touch.
Hint: Don't add the carbonated drink until you are ready to serve. It will go flat if you mix the punch together too early.
How To Serve
Christmas Punch is a festive drink that works great for both Christmas parties and family dinners.
- For a party- Serve it in a punch bowl or drink dispenser with fun garnishes like cranberries, orange slices, or a festive ice ring.
- Christmas Dinner- Pour it into elegant glasses from a nice pitcher and add a sugared rim or a sprig of rosemary for a special touch.
When making fruit punch for a crowd, plan on about 1.5 cups per guest. This recipe makes 9 cups and serves 6 people perfectly, so for a larger gathering, simply double, triple, or quadruple the recipe!
Top tip
Christmas is a special time of year, so you want this to be a quality drink. Make sure to buy quality 100% fruit juices. Skip the cheap ingredients that don't use real fruit for a better flavor.
Pairing
Try these other Christmas recipes for a festive Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner.
Recipe
Christmas Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Punch:
- 3 cups cranberry juice cocktail see note 1 below
- 1 ½ cups 100% pomegranate juice see note 2 below
- ¼ cup lime juice fresh squeezed is our favorite!
- 4 cups ginger ale
- ice for serving, optional, see note 3
To garnish (optional):
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 lime sliced
Instructions
- Refrigerate all beverages beforehand if possible. Place cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and lime juice together in a large pitcher. Stir until well combined. Add ginger ale and stir gently. Add ice and garnish if desired.
Notes
- This recipe is not for 100% cranberry juice which is extremely tart. We recommend plain old ocean spray cranberry juice cocktail for the best results.
- We used and love the Pom brand. You may also substitute both the cranberry juice and pomegranate juice with 4 ½ cups cranberry-pomegranate juice.
- If possible, we recommend all the liquids are cold. Either refrigerate them or place them in a cold (but not freezing) garage if possible. This way you can use less ice and not dilute the drink as much.
- This recipe makes about 9 cups. For a party, generally plan on about 1.5 cups per guest. This recipe serves 6 perfectly. For a punch bowl, drink dispenser or crowd, simple double, triple or quadruple the recipe.
Nutrition
Non-alcoholic Christmas Punch
Our Christmas Punch is completely non-alcoholic, making it the perfect festive drink for the whole family to enjoy! Whether you're serving kids, non-drinkers, or just want a fun and refreshing holiday beverage, this punch is bursting with flavor—no alcohol needed.
Our other family and kid-friendly drinks include Thanksgiving Punch, Fruit Punch, and Grinch Punch.
How long does Christmas Punch last in the fridge?
Christmas Punch can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but for the best flavor, it's best enjoyed fresh. If you're making it ahead of time, don't add the carbonated ginger ale until just before serving—otherwise, it will go flat while sitting in the fridge.
For the freshest and fizziest punch, store the juice mixture separately and stir in the ginger ale right before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
Try some of our favorite substitutions and variations for different fun flavors!
- Creamy Holiday Punch-Stir in a splash of coconut milk or top each glass with a scoop of orange or raspberry sherbet for a creamy, dessert-like treat. We recommend adding 4 cups of sherbet.
- With Pineapple-Add pineapple juice for a tangy flavor, you can even substitute it completely for pomegranate juice.
- Spiced Winter Punch-Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves for a warm and cozy holiday flavor.
- With ice cream- Add 4 cups vanilla ice cream just before serving.
- Cranberry orange- Instead of using pomegranate juice, substitute it with orange juice.
- With Sprite- Replace the ginger ale with sprite for another sparkling twist.
- Midnight Frost- This is a festive twist on Christmas Punch, often featuring a cool blue or icy white color, created using ingredients like blue raspberry lemonade, white cranberry juice, or a splash of coconut.
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