Holiday Punch is our favorite festive party drink, perfect for Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, or Christmas celebrations! This bright and bubbly vodka punch is made with the season’s favorite flavors like cranberry, orange, apple cider, and ginger. It’s one of our very favorite drinks for the holidays and after one sip, you’ll taste why!

A bowl filled with oranges and cranberries.

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Why We Love This Christmas Punch Recipe

We love serving a fun party punch when we have people over for the holidays. It just makes us happy!

  • Big-Batch. This recipe easily serves 14 people as written.
  • Fruity. The combination of cranberry juice, orange juice, and sparkling apple cider is fruity and refreshing.
  • Easy. There’s virtually zero prep, and it comes together in just 10 minutes!

Non Alcoholic Holiday Punch

Yes! If you want an alcohol-free punch for your Christmas or holiday party, simply skip the liquor when mixing everything together. The mix of juices, cider, and ginger ale tastes delicious, and makes an easy party punch that everyone (even the kids) can enjoy.

A bowl filled with oranges and cranberries.
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How to Make Ahead

You can make this holiday punch recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge, so it’s ready for your Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s party. When mixing ingredients together, leave out the sparkling apple cider until the very last minute or else it will fall flat. Right before serving, stir in cold sparkling cider–this ensures the bubbly zip will be there for your guests! 

How to Store 

If you have any of this cranberry orange Christmas punch left over after your holiday party, store it in the fridge. I recommend pouring it into pitchers or containers with lids, or just covering the punch bowl with plastic wrap. Keep it for up to 3 days. It will lose its bubbly carbonation from the cider, but it will still taste the same.

Serving Suggestions

This cranberry holiday punch pairs well with all of the best Christmas and Thanksgiving appetizers, New Year’s Eve finger foods, and party dishes. I love to serve it with cocktail meatballs, cheeseball bites, cranberry chicken wings, or this orange cranberry cheese ball.

Orange cranberry sangria with ice and cranberries.

More Punch Recipes To Make This Holiday Season:

5-Star Review

“I made this as a trial run for Christmas. Since it was the kids and me testing it we made the non-alcoholic version. It was great. For Christmas I’m going to make two versions, one with, and one without. Thanks for a great idea.” – Edwina

Recipe Card

Holiday Punch Recipe

4.46 from 549 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 14
Author: Becky Hardin
A bowl filled with oranges and cranberries.
This holiday punch recipe is one of our favorite Thanksgiving or Christmas drink recipes. It’s wonderfully flavorful, easy, and delicious. So if you’re on the hunt for the best Thanksgiving or Christmas punch recipe, look no further!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients 

  • 32 ounces cranberry juice (1 large bottle)
  • 16 ounces orange juice (2 cups)
  • 750 milliliters sparkling apple cider (1 bottle)
  • 2 liters ginger ale (1 large bottle)
  • 8 ounces good quality vodka (1 cup)

Optional Garnishes

  • Orange slices and fresh cranberries

Instructions 

  • Pour all ingredients into a punch bowl and stir well to combine. Top with orange slices and fresh cranberries.
    32 ounces cranberry juice, 16 ounces orange juice, 750 milliliters sparkling apple cider, 2 liters ginger ale, 8 ounces good quality vodka, Orange slices and fresh cranberries
  • Pour over ice to serve.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Non-Alcoholic Variation: For a non-alcoholic version, simply leave out the alcohol. It’s just as delicious and great for guests of all ages!
  • I recommend using 100% pure cranberry juice. This is the base of the punch, giving it a sweet and tart flavor. You can use cranberry juice cocktail, but it will be much sweeter because of the added sugars.
  • You can substitute regular apple cider or apple juice, but it will be missing that fizziness.
  • You can also substitute sparkling grape juice, but the flavor will be slightly different.
  • Throw some fresh orange slices and fresh cranberries (or sugared cranberries) into the punch bowl to dress it up for Christmas parties.
Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 17gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 79mgSugar: 16gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 17.8mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Holiday Punch Step by Step

Make the Punch: Pour 32 ounces of cranberry juice, 16 ounces of orange juice, a 750-milliliter bottle of sparkling apple cider, a 2-liter bottle of ginger ale, and 8 ounces of vodka into a punch bowl and stir well to combine. Top with orange slices and fresh cranberries.

overhead image of holiday punch in a glass bowl with orange slices and cranberries

Serve the Punch: Ladle individual servings over ice. If you’re feeling spunky, add a bit more vodka.

overhead image of hand holding a glass of holiday punch over a punch bowl

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.46 from 549 votes (539 ratings without comment)
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46 Comments
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Gill
Gill
December 21, 2019 8:21 am

Did you use pure cranberry juice for this or cranberry juice blend? Thanks

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 23, 2019 6:41 pm
Reply to  Gill

Pure cranberry juice!

Gillian
Gillian
December 27, 2019 6:30 pm
Reply to  Becky Hardin

Thanks, was great!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 30, 2019 12:07 pm
Reply to  Gillian

I’m so glad to hear that!!

Kari Hazel
Kari Hazel
March 9, 2019 5:46 pm

OMG! I have the reputation for making the best punch ever- not just a holiday punch! I have been asked to make this for every party since the holidays. Now I’m making it for a wedding! AAAAA+++++5 stars

Courtney Minor
March 11, 2019 7:55 am
Reply to  Kari Hazel

I love hearing that! Thank you Kari. I’m glad everyone loves it. :)

Jane @ Juicer Reviews Plus
Jane @ Juicer Reviews Plus
January 6, 2019 6:09 am

Looks amazing on the photos! Can’t wait to try it on the next party.5 stars

Edwina
Edwina
December 21, 2018 7:34 am

I made this as a trial run for Christmas. Since it was the kids and me testing it we made the non-alcoholic version. It was great. For Christmas I’m going to make two versions, one with, and one without. Thanks for a great idea.5 stars

Courtney Minor
March 11, 2019 8:38 am
Reply to  Edwina

I typically make 2 batches of it for every party too. Glad you like it!

michele
michele
November 29, 2018 6:46 pm

We loved this today for our neighborhood get together luncheon. Made the alcoholic version for most of us and We especially enjoyed it !5 stars

Aimee Shugarman
Aimee Shugarman
November 29, 2018 6:24 pm

Boozy punch? Sign me up!

Carolyn
Carolyn
November 29, 2018 5:59 pm

Such a pretty fun and festive drink!

Sabrina
Sabrina
November 29, 2018 4:56 pm

I love having one option for adults and one for the kids! Perfect for all of my parties this season.

Jennifer
Jennifer
November 29, 2018 2:43 pm

Everything about this punch sounds amazing!! Can’t wait to make it!5 stars

Denise Lacertoso
Denise Lacertoso
November 8, 2018 1:47 pm

Can you substitute rum for the vodka?