Thanksgiving Punch is the perfect sparkly drink for every table this Thanksgiving season. In this recipe, you'll find the best mix of fall holiday flavors like cranberry and apple cider. The best part? It's kid-friendly too!
It's turkey day, and you have the menu planned perfectly, but you realize you don't have a special drink. This festive drink idea came about when we wanted to have a fun and easy drink that was also kid-friendly so everyone could enjoy it. Thanksgiving Punch is a huge hit and the perfect party drink.
What do people drink at Thanksgiving dinner? We have seen many different Thanksgiving drink ideas, from simple juices to fancy punches. We drink non-alcoholic drinks, so we wanted to come up with a perfect combination of cider, cranberry cocktail, and apple cider for the best punch for Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe is a winner.
A good drink adds to a party or dinner. You'll love trying our other festive drinks like our Christmas Punch and Grinch Punch. We also have a delicious fruit punch and homemade lemonade.
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What is Thanksgiving Day Punch?
A Turkey Day drink is best with a combination of some of your favorite fall drinks. This fruit mixture complements each other for a fizzy crowd-pleaser.
- Orange Juice- A splash of citrus gives this drink a unique but amazing flavor you won't want to miss.
- Apple Cider- For the fresh fall flavor and spices, use apple cider. It's our secret ingredient instead of using traditional apple juice.
- Cranberry Cocktail- This is the base of the drink. Make sure to use a cranberry cocktail and not pure cranberry juice. Pure cranberry juice will give a very tart flavor, and you want this drink sweet.
- Ginger Ale- To get that fizzy sparkle in the drink while adding a spiced flavor. You can also use Sprite for the fizz and a less intense spice flavor.
- Garnishes- Some optional garnishes that make for a more festive-looking drink and cute presentation are orange slices, apple slices, and fresh cranberries. Be sure to wash and dry all of these fruits before serving.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Thanksgiving Punch
Learn how to make punch for Thanksgiving Day with these easy-to-follow steps. Use the photographs for additional assistance.
- Begin by slicing the apple and orange slices. This is an optional garnish.
- In a pitcher or punch bowl, add cranberry juice, then orange juice, and then apple cider.
- One cup at a time, add the Ginger Ale. You want to avoid causing the drink to fizz up and spill out.
- Garnish the top with chopped fruit and fresh cranberries for a fun holiday look.
Hint: If you add the Ginger Ale first, the reaction with the other juices will cause the drink to over-fizz and spill over when mixing.
Substitutions and Variations
Try some of our favorite substitutions and variations for different fun flavors!
- Sherbet- Once you've prepared your drink and are ready to serve it, add 4 cups of orange or raspberry sherbet. Let it sit before serving so it can begin to melt in the drink.
- With Sprite- We prefer to make this drink with Ginger Ale, but you can also use a less spiced carbonated drink like Sprite, 7Up, or Starry.
How To Serve For A Crowd
When serving Thanksgiving Punch, plan on about 1.5 cups per person to make sure everyone gets enough. This recipe makes approximately 12 cups, serving around 8 people. If you’re using a large punch bowl or hosting a bigger gathering, consider making a double or even triple batch. For easy serving, set out a ladle and cups, and keep an extra batch chilled in the fridge to refill as needed!
Learn from us
For the best punch for Thanksgiving dinner, try making this with spiced apple cider. It gives the drink a more cinnamon flavor. We feel like this really captures the holiday season. When we made it with apple juice and then traditional apple cider, it didn't have as strong of a flavor profile. Our taste testers preferred the spiced apple cider.
Can I make Thanksgiving Day Punch in advance?
Yes! You can absolutely make this punch ahead of time—just leave out the fizzy ingredients (like soda or sparkling water) until right before serving. This prevents it from going flat and ensures that perfect refreshing fizz. Store the base of the punch in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then stir in the carbonation when ready to serve.
We suggest chilling all of the drinks before combining them so you use have a nice cool drink right from the beginning. Depending on the weather, you can stick the bottled drinks outside on the porch before combining them.
Top tip
Presentation is not only fun for this Thanksgiving Day Punch, but it's also super easy. It will wow your family and friends and add a special yet simple touch to Thanksgiving dinner. Serve it in a nice punch bowl, and garnish with orange slices, apple slices, and fresh cranberries.
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Recipe
Thanksgiving Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups cranberry juice cocktail see note 1
- 2 ½ cups orange juice we recommend 100%
- 1 ½ cup apple cider can use spiced, see note 2
- 4 cups ginger ale or ginger beer, see note 3
- ice optional, for serving
- cranberries, sliced oranges or apples optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Start with all beverages chilled, if possible. Place cranberry juice cocktail, orange juice, apple cider and lemon juice together in a large pitcher. Stir to combine. Add the ginger ale and give a gentle stir or 2 to combine. Add ice and top with garnishes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe was not tested with 100% cranberry juice, which is extremely tart. It is made to be used with a classic cranberry juice cocktail.
- For a little bit of 'cinnamon spice' flavor, make this with spiced apple cider. 80% of our taste testers preferred this with regular apple cider, but also felt it was still good with the spiced.
- For a stronger ginger flavor, we love making this with ginger beer instead of ginger ale. It gives it a bit of a ginger kick and is delicious.
- For a party, plan on about 1.5 cups per person. This recipe makes about 12 cups, and serves 8 people. For a large punch bowl and a larger gathering, make a double or even triple batch.
Andrea says
A famiy tradition for sure! We love this Thanksgiving Punch, it's family friendly, easy to make and has perfect holiday flavors.