Holiday & Seasonal · Christmas & Winter

Christmas Punch Recipe5 Festive Punches for a Crowd (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)

Five Christmas punch recipes that serve a crowd: cranberry orange, eggnog, spiced pear, hot wassail and pomegranate, each with a non-alcoholic version.

October 4, 20264 min read5 drinks ⇄ 5 twins ↓

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A good Christmas punch is built on cranberry or pomegranate juice, a little citrus and something sparkling or warmly spiced, served over a frozen ring so it never turns watery. Mix everything except the bubbles ahead of time, then add the fizz just before guests arrive.

These five Christmas punch recipes serve 8 as written and scale to a crowd. Each has an alcoholic version and a non-alcoholic twin, so you can serve one beautiful bowl to everyone. For the bigger picture, see our guide to Christmas drinks.

How Much Punch Do You Need?

Plan on about two 4-oz cups per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that. A standard punch bowl holds about 128 oz (1 gallon), which is 32 cups.

Guests	Punch to make	Punch bowl size
8	64 oz (½ gallon)	Large pitcher
16	128 oz (1 gallon)	Standard punch bowl
24	192 oz (1½ gallons)	Large punch bowl
40	320 oz (2½ gallons)	Dispenser or two bowls

Each card below is written for 8 servings. Tap the Pitcher or Punch bowl presets on the card to scale it up; it adds the water and keeps the fizz for the end.

How to Make an Ice Ring That Does Not Melt Fast

A single big block of ice melts far slower than cubes, so it chills the punch without watering it down. Fill a bundt pan or a ring mold with cranberries, orange slices and rosemary, cover them with water and freeze overnight. For a clear ring, use boiled and cooled water. To release it, dip the base of the mold in warm water for a few seconds and slide the ring into the bowl.

A ring-shaped mold of frozen cranberries, orange slices and rosemary on a marble counter. — Fig. 02Freeze the ice ring the night before; it melts slowly, so the punch stays cold and strong.

5 Christmas Punch Recipes

Cranberry-Orange Sparkling Punch

Tart cranberry, fresh orange and a little lime, topped with something sparkling. It is bright, ruby-red and ready in five minutes. The twin swaps the vodka for a rosemary syrup and tops with sparkling grape juice, so the bowl still tastes festive.

A glass cup of sparkling cranberry orange punch with an orange slice and cranberries. — Fig. 01Cranberry-Orange Sparkling Punch: tart, bright and ready in five minutes.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Punch bowlBuilt5 minLight · 8%

Punch bowlBuilt5 minZero-proof · 0.0%

Method

1Stir the vodka, juices and lime into a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring just before guests arrive.
3Pour in the chilled prosecco and garnish with orange slices, cranberries and rosemary.

Method

1Stir the tea, juices, lime and syrup into a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring just before guests arrive.
3Pour in the sparkling grape juice and garnish.

How the swap works
Tea brings back the tannin vodka would add, rosemary syrup gives it an herbal edge and sparkling grape juice replaces the prosecco's bubbles.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Eggnog Ice Cream Punch

Store-bought eggnog, bourbon and scoops of vanilla ice cream that melt into a lighter, frothier drink. Use pasteurized eggnog only, and add the ice cream just before serving.

A cup of creamy eggnog punch with nutmeg, a cinnamon stick and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. — Fig. 03Eggnog Punch: vanilla ice cream melts into it for a lighter, frothier drink.

Ladle gently, and keep the cups beside the bowl so guests can help themselves.

A ladle pouring red punch from a glass bowl into a cup. — Fig. 04Ladle gently, and keep the cups beside the bowl so guests can help themselves.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Punch bowlBuilt8 minLight · 8%

Punch bowlBuilt8 minZero-proof · 0.0%

The pour · 40 oz (5 cups)

Eggnog Ice Cream Punch

Vanilla Eggnog Punch

Eggnog, bourbon and vanilla ice cream.

Serves

Ingredients (8 drinks)

bourbon8 oz (1 cup)
pasteurized eggnog, very cold32 oz (4 cups)
vanilla ice cream, about 1 pint (2 cups)
freshly grated nutmeg1 pinch

GarnishFreshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon sticks

Ingredients (8 drinks)

chai tea, chilled8 oz (1 cup)
pasteurized eggnog, very cold32 oz (4 cups)
vanilla ice cream, about 1 pint (2 cups)
freshly grated nutmeg1 pinch

GarnishFreshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon sticks

Method

1Stir the bourbon and eggnog together in a chilled punch bowl.
2Just before serving, add scoops of vanilla ice cream.
3Grate nutmeg over the top and ladle into cups.

Method

1Stir the chai and eggnog together in a chilled punch bowl.
2Just before serving, add scoops of vanilla ice cream.
3Grate nutmeg over the top and ladle into cups.

How the swap works
Spiced chai thins the eggnog the way bourbon would and adds warm-spice depth, without leaving it sweet and heavy.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Spiced Pear Ginger Punch

Pear nectar, brandy, lemon and cinnamon, topped with ginger beer. It is mellow and warming without being heavy. Thin pear slices float and soak up the spices as the punch sits.

A glass dispenser of golden pear punch with pear slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise. — Fig. 05Spiced Pear Ginger Punch: pear nectar, ginger beer and warm spices.

Slice the pears thin so they float and soak up the spices.

Sliced pears, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and ginger on a wooden board. — Fig. 06Slice the pears thin so they float and soak up the spices.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Punch bowlBuilt8 minLight · 5%

Punch bowlBuilt8 minZero-proof · 0.0%

Method

1Stir the brandy, nectar, lemon juice and cinnamon syrup in a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring and thin pear slices.
3Top with ginger beer just before serving.

Method

1Stir the tea, nectar, lemon juice and cinnamon syrup in a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring and thin pear slices.
3Top with ginger beer just before serving.

How the swap works
Black tea gives the structure that brandy adds, and the ginger beer's heat covers the rest.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Slow-Cooker Wassail

Wassail is hot spiced cider, and a slow cooker keeps it warm for hours, which makes it the easiest punch to serve at an open house. Oranges studded with whole cloves float on top and make the kitchen smell like Christmas.

A slow cooker of steaming wassail with orange slices, cinnamon sticks and a ladle, beside glass mugs. — Fig. 07Slow-Cooker Wassail: hot spiced cider that keeps warm for hours.

To stud an orange, press whole cloves into the peel about an inch apart; it takes two minutes.

Oranges studded with whole cloves on a wooden board. — Fig. 08Clove-studded oranges look festive and perfume the whole pot.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Glass mugWarm10 minLight · 3%

Glass mugWarm10 minZero-proof · 0.0%

Method

1Add the cider, juices and maple syrup to a slow cooker with 4 cinnamon sticks, 8 whole cloves and 6 allspice berries.
2Warm on low for 2 hours, without letting it boil.
3Stir in the brandy just before serving and keep on warm.

Method

1Add everything to a slow cooker with 4 cinnamon sticks, 8 whole cloves and 6 allspice berries.
2Warm on low for 2 hours, without letting it boil.
3Keep on warm and ladle into mugs.

How the swap works
Cranberry juice adds the tartness brandy gives and ginger syrup adds warmth, so it is not just plain hot cider.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Pomegranate Rosemary Punch

Jewel-red pomegranate, lime and rosemary syrup with a prosecco top. It is tart, herbal and not too sweet, which makes it a good starter before a heavy meal.

A glass bowl of ruby pomegranate punch with seeds, rosemary and lime slices, beside a garnished cup. — Fig. 09Pomegranate Rosemary Punch: jewel-red, herbal and not too sweet.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Punch bowlBuilt6 minLight · 8%

Punch bowlBuilt6 minZero-proof · 0.0%

Method

1Stir the vodka, pomegranate juice, lime and rosemary syrup in a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring.
3Pour in the chilled prosecco and garnish with seeds and rosemary.

Method

1Stir the tea, pomegranate juice, lime and rosemary syrup in a punch bowl and chill.
2Add the ice ring.
3Top with the sparkling grape juice and club soda and garnish.

How the swap works
Half sparkling grape juice and half club soda keeps the bubbles but not the sweetness, so it stays tart and herbal.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Make It Ahead: What to Mix Now and What to Add at Serving Time

Mix the juices, syrups and spirit up to a day ahead and keep them in the fridge. Add sparkling wine, ginger beer, soda and ice cream only when you serve, or the bubbles go flat and the ice cream melts.

Up to 24 hours ahead: juice, syrup, spirit, spices, ice ring.
At serving time: prosecco, soda, ginger beer, sparkling grape juice, ice cream, fresh garnish.
Never freeze the punch itself, only the ring.

Overhead view of a punch bowl, cups and garnish bowls on a white tablecloth with pine sprigs. — Fig. 10Set out the garnish bowls beside the cups so guests can finish their own glass.

Spike It at the Glass: One Alcohol-Free Bowl for Everyone

The easiest way to host is to make the non-alcoholic punch for everyone and let guests add their own. Set a small bottle of prosecco or vodka beside the bowl, and keep the alcohol-free cups separate and clearly marked. Everyone gets the same drink, and nobody who is not drinking needs to ask. If you serve children or guests who are pregnant, make a separate bowl so there is no cross-over.

Two glasses of cranberry orange punch side by side, one with alcohol and one without. — Fig. 11Make the punch alcohol-free, then add sparkling wine only to the glasses that want it.

Punch Bowl vs Dispenser vs Slow Cooker

A punch bowl looks best, and an ice ring only works in a wide bowl. A dispenser with a tap is the neatest for a large crowd and keeps guests from dipping a ladle in. A slow cooker is the right choice for hot punches like wassail, set to “warm” so it never boils. For the garnish, set out sugared cranberries and rosemary so guests can finish their own cup.

Sugared cranberries, rosemary and orange wheels on a white platter. — Fig. 12Sugared cranberries and rosemary make the cups look finished.

More party drinks: the Christmas batch cocktails, Christmas cocktails, festive Christmas mocktails and the general guide to batch cocktails.

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Last call

Questions from the bar

Q1How much punch do I need per person?

Plan on about two 4-oz servings per person in the first hour and one per hour after that. A gallon (128 oz) serves about 16 guests for a two-hour party.

Q2How do you keep punch cold without watering it down?

Use a large ice ring or block instead of cubes, since it melts much slower. You can also chill the punch bowl and all the ingredients first, and freeze some of the juice into the ring so the melt adds flavor.

Q3Can you make Christmas punch ahead of time?

Yes, mix the juices, syrup and spirit up to a day ahead and keep them chilled. Add the sparkling ingredients, ice cream and ice ring only when you serve.

Batch cocktails ↗

Q4How do you make non-alcoholic Christmas punch?

Skip the spirit and replace it with chilled black tea for body, then top with sparkling grape juice, ginger beer or club soda for bubbles. Every recipe on this page has a non-alcoholic version.

Festive Christmas mocktails ↗

Q5What is wassail?

Wassail is a hot, spiced drink traditionally made from apple cider or mulled ale. Today it is usually warmed apple cider with orange, cinnamon, cloves and sometimes brandy or spiced rum.

Q6What can I use instead of a punch bowl?

A large pitcher, a dispenser with a tap or a slow cooker (for hot punches) works well. Serve in small glasses or mugs, and keep the ice ring or ice in a separate container.

Christmas batch cocktails ↗

Another round?

Christmas Punch Recipe5 Festive Punches for a Crowd (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)

How Much Punch Do You Need?

How to Make an Ice Ring That Does Not Melt Fast