Christmas Punch
This amazing Christmas Punch is bursting with bright pomegranate, citrus, and cranberry flavors for a holiday drink you will love! This easy cocktail is easy to make for a crowd and is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Cranberry Champagne Punch
If Santa Claus had a signature drink, it would definitely be this Christmas punch! This easy, festive cocktail is like a festive explosion in your mouth. The pomegranate juice adds a sweet and tangy flavor, while the cranberry gives it a tart kick. The lime adds a touch of citrusy zing, and the champagne brings the bubbles and the fun.
It’s the perfect drink for those who want to get into the holiday spirit without feeling like they’re drinking a bottle of syrup! Plus, it’s a gorgeous drink that will look perfect with your holiday spread. Grab a glass and cheers to the most wonderful time of the year!
Christmas Punch Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements.
- Juices: Pomegranate, Cranberry, and Lime – This gives you a great mix of sweet and tart flavors! The tangy taste helps balance out the sweetness in the other ingredients. Fresh juice will always have the boldest flavor, but bottled juice works great for convenience.
- Alcohol: Cointreau and Champagne – You’ll get a sweet citrusy flavor from the Cointreau and tons of bubbles from the champagne. If you’d like to make this alcohol-free, scroll down to the FAQ section for tips.
- Other: Honey simple syrup, Sliced limes, Pomegranate seeds, Fresh cranberries, and Mint leaves – Honey simple syrup is richer in flavor than sugar simple syrup and perfectly complements the tart juices in this punch! The rest are all perfect for garnishing.
You’ll also need a large pitcher and some glasses – We love these! These plant-based disposable cups are the perfect plastic alternative for parties!
How to Make Christmas Punch
This is a simple recipe that can mostly be whipped together ahead of time! Follow the step-by-step guide for this delicious, easy winter cocktail.
Add juices & fruits
Pour your pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, honey simple syrup, and Cointreau into a pitcher. You can mix this a day or two ahead of time and leave it sitting (covered with a lid) in the fridge. If you’re ready to serve immediately, though, move on to the next step.
Add Champagne and garnishes
Stir in the limes, pomegranate seeds, and fresh cranberries. This can be done several hours before serving, then left in the fridge to chill. Finally, right before serving pour in your bottle of champagne. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint leaves and more lime slices.
Best garnishes for the holidays
- Citrus peels, slices, or wedges – Use a vegetable peeler to get a twisty garnish, or slice your limes/oranges/citrus into wedges for an easy, classic garnish. Use a whole citrus slice for a showy garnish on the side of your glass, or float it right on top.
- Fresh cranberries & pomegranate seeds – These tend to be go-to flavors for holiday beverages! You can toss the seeds right into the glass, but we love the look of cranberries threaded onto a toothpick/cocktail pick.
- Fresh herbs – Mint, rosemary, thyme, or basil can all make perfect garnishes. They add an aroma that impacts the entire drink, and you can often stick the whole stem in the drink! We loved mint in this, but you should experiment to see what you love best (and consider what food you’re serving with it).
What to serve with Christmas Punch
For a super easy holiday get-together, opt for some no-cook appetizers! Let everyone serve themselves from a good Charcuterie Board and a veggie plate with Whipped Feta Dip. To stretch the food further, add in some Marinated Shrimp or Mozzarella.
If you want a light brunch, consider serving this punch with Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, an Apple Kale Salad, and Cherry Brie Bites. If your Christmas gathering is more sports-and-family centered, try these favorites: 5-Ingredient Keto Sausage Balls, Baked Crab Artichoke Dip, and Deviled Eggs.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can combine all ingredients up to 24 hours ahead of time except the champagne. You want to save this until right before serving so that the drink stays nice and bubbly when your guests tastes it. If you mix the champagne in ahead of time, your drink may taste flat.
Some people don’t love the look of fruit that has been sitting in punch for a full day, so feel free to hold off on adding the fruit until a few hours or just before serving. The fruit won’t go bad after a day in the punch; this is just an aesthetic choice.
How can I make a punch non-alcoholic?
You can easily swap two ingredients to make this a tasty beverage everyone can enjoy! Replace the 6 ounces of Cointreau with 3 ounces of orange juice, then add a bit more to taste if you’d like a stronger flavor. Skip the champagne and instead use the same amount of sparkling apple cider or ginger ale.
If you like this bubbly drink, you’ve got to try these festive recipes!
- Cranberry Spritz – Enjoy the Aperol craze year round with this citrusy cranberry cocktail. This is perfect for the holiday season!
- Apple Cider Sangria – This delicious white wine sangria is so easy to sip with apple cider, ginger beer, and apple brandy. It’s the ideal fall brunch cocktail!
- Raspberry Red Wine Slushy – Top this boozy slushy drink with homemade chocolate whipped cream (recipe included) for a truly remarkable cocktail for the holiday season! Perfect for New Years!
- Blood Orange Raspberry Sangria – This rich cocktail has a beautifully sweet citrus flavor you’ll love! This would be amazing with a bit of cranberry added, too!
- Cranberry Pineapple Spice Tea – Let the amazing aroma of citrus, cinnamon, and cloves envelop your house as this delicious tea simmers on the stove! It’s everyone’s favorite way to warm up around the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Punch
Ingredients
- 3 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ¾ cup Cointreau
- â…” cup honey simple syrup, see Notes
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 4 limes, sliced (plus more for garnish)
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 bottle champagne, 750 ml
- Mint leaves for garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, stir together pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, Cointreau, honey simple syrup, and lime juice. Stir in the limes, pomegranate seeds, and fresh cranberries and chill until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, pour in the bottle of champagne and serve garnished with mint leaves and more sliced limes.Â
Notes
- You can make this ahead of time, but wait to pour in the champagne until just ready to serve. That will ensure it’s bubbly and not flat!
- Here’s a great recipe for honey simple syrup!
