When I’m looking for an extra touch of festiveness during the holidays, I lean on this easy Christmas Punch. It’s made with sparkling cranberry and apple flavors, can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic and is ready in 15 minutes.

Looking for more Christmas recipes? Try my Homemade Caramels, Christmas Cornflake Wreaths, Caramel Hot Chocolate, and Peppermint Brownies!

A large glass pitcher of homemade Christmas Punch with fresh cranberries and lime slices floating on top.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Quick – Only 15 minutes from start to finish for the best Christmas punch recipe to compliment your meal.
  • Festive – This bright red punch will add the perfect holiday touch of color and make it feel like Christmas.
  • Delicious – Everyone always raves about this easy Christmas drink when I serve it. It’s refreshing, full of flavor, and an absolute crowd pleaser. We look forward to it every year.
A picture showing all the ingredients needed for an easy Christmas Punch recipe: ginger ale, cranberry, cranberries, spiced cider, sugar, and lime.

How to make Christmas Punch:

Combine Ingredients: Pour the water, sugar, and cranberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. 

A saucepan with water, sugar, and cranberries to make the best Christmas Punch.

Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop. Pour into a container and allow it to cool to room temperature, or chill in the fridge until cooled.

A bowl of cranberries, sugar, and water after being cooked with the cranberries popped open.

Add Juice: Pour cooled cranberry syrup in a pitcher, followed by apple cider, cranberry juice and lime juice and chill until ready to serve. 

A cooled cranberry syrup in a large glass pitcher with cranberry juice being poured in.

Once ready to serve, pour in Ginger-Ale and ice.

Ginger ale being poured into a pitcher of homemade cranberry punch.

Serve this easy Christmas punch recipe with thinly sliced lime, apples, or oranges floating on top, or even a cinnamon stick to add to the festive appearance (optional). Add them all last so they don’t add any bitter flavors to the drink.

A small glass filled with an easy Christmas Punch recipe, topped with fresh cranberries and a slice of lime.

Make Ahead and Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The whole traditional Christmas punch recipe can be made 1-2 days ahead of time, just don’t add the ginger-ale, ice, or any garnishes until ready to serve. Store covered in the fridge.

More Holiday Beverages to Try:

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Recipe

A large glass pitcher of homemade Christmas Punch with fresh cranberries and lime slices floating on top.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 15 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup fresh cranberries
  • 3 cups apple cider
  • 2 cups cranberry juice (not juice cocktail)
  • juice from half of a small lime
  • 3 cups ginger ale , chilled
  • crushed ice

Instructions
 

  • Combine the water, sugar and cranberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop. Pour into a tupperware and allow to cool to room temperature, or chill in the fridge until cooled.
  • Add cooled cranberries to a pitcher. Add apple cider, cranberry juice and lime juice and chill until ready to serve. 
  • Once ready to serve, add ginger-ale and ice.
  • Optional: Serve with thinly sliced lime, apples, or oranges floating on top, or even a cinnamon stick to add to the festive appearance. Add them all last so they don't add any bitter flavors to the drink.

Notes

To Add Alcohol: Instead of 3 cups Ginger ale, use 1 ½ cups Ginger ale and 1 ½ cups of an inexpensive champagne, cava or prosecco, or dark rum, or brandy. You could also add a few shots of vodka.
Make Ahead Instructions: This is a great drink to make in advance. You can make all of it, except for adding the ginger soda or champagne, a day ahead of time.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 1gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 34IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.4mg

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I originally shared this recipe November 2016. Updated December 2020 and December 2023.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. This looks awesome, sadly I cannonlybget frozen fresh cranberries. What would be the best way to tweak the recipe to accommodate for this? Or do I just thaw them first?
    Thanks!
    Erin

  2. The recipe calls for cranberry juice, but in the picture it’s cranberry juice cocktail, which has a ton of sugar. If you make it with 100% cranberry juice is it going to be too tart to drink? 🙂 Thanks!

  3. 5 stars
    Made this several times over the holidays and it was a HUGE hit at different parties! Thanks for a great recipe!

  4. Oh yes ! The list of dishes is done and this is just what I need to add to make it complete ! Thank you and happy holidays !