How to make Christmas punch
You hear the words ‘Christmas punch’ and it immediately conjures up visions of cozy holiday gatherings, Aunt Susan’s really bad sweaters, and nostalgic cheer. It’s the kind of drink that makes the rounds from Thanksgiving through New Year's, usually in a big bowl or pitcher that everyone helps themselves to.
There are plenty of versions, but our favorite one has apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, and mainelove with bubbles.
A quick history of Christmas punch
Punch has been around for a long time. One of the earliest known written references to it dates to 1632, in a letter from India.
Punch became common in England toward the end of the 17th century, and large punch bowls were used for communal drinking. In A Christmas Carol, punch aficionado Dickens included it in the Cratchit family's Christmas dinner. Bob Cratchit serves the family a steaming bowl of punch, and later Scrooge promises to visit the Cratchits and discuss Bob's future over a “Christmas bowl of smoking bishop.”
Dickens’ Smoking Bishop was a hot, boozy punch, made with wine, port, oranges, sugar, and spices. Our version takes the orange and holiday spice in a different direction, with apple cider, cranberry juice, and mainelove with bubbles instead. We left out the alcohol, so everyone from great-grandpa to your youngest nephew can have a glass.
Ingredients you'll need to make Christmas punch
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3 cups chilled nonalcoholic apple cider
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1 cup unsweetened 100% cranberry juice
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1 cup orange juice
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3 cups chilled mainelove with bubbles
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1 orange, thinly sliced
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Fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish
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Rosemary sprigs and cinnamon sticks, one of each per glass
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A few star anise pods, for garnish
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Ice, for serving
How to make Christmas punch
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Combine the apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
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Refrigerate the mixture until you're ready to serve.
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Just before guests arrive, add the mainelove with bubbles and stir gently.
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Float the orange slices, cranberries, and star anise on top.
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Serve over ice with a rosemary sprig and a cinnamon stick in each glass.
How to make sure this packs a punch
Most Christmas punch recipes end up too sweet. They often use sherbet, ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda, so the punch is so sugary that people usually don’t want a second glass.
This recipe uses cider and orange juice for sweetness, and unsweetened cranberry juice to add tartness. Rosemary and a cinnamon stick give it a festive aroma without making it any sweeter.
When shopping, pick 100% cranberry juice instead of a cranberry juice cocktail, because the cocktail has added sugar.
Temperature is important too. Chill all the ingredients before mixing so the ice lasts longer and the punch stays flavorful. Add any bubbly drinks at the very end so the fizz stays fresh in each glass.
If your younger guests will be serving themselves, leave the cranberries on top as a garnish instead of letting them scoop them into their cups, because whole cranberries can be a choking hazard.
Christmas punch with alcohol
If you want a stronger punch, mix in about 3/4 cup of bourbon, rum, whiskey, vodka, or tequila with the juice before adding the mainelove with bubbles. This will make a mild punch, but you can use up to 1 1/2 cups for a stronger version.
Creamy liqueurs don’t go well with these flavors, so it’s best to leave them out.
An easy way is to keep the punch alcohol-free and put a few bottles nearby so guests can add their own if they want.
FAQs
Can I make Christmas punch ahead of time?
Yes. You can mix the apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until your party. Add the mainelove with bubbles and ice just before serving so the punch stays fizzy and doesn’t get watered down. Add the orange slices and rosemary in the last 15 minutes so they stay fresh.
Do I need sherbet, ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda for Christmas punch?
No, you don’t need those. The cider, cranberry, and orange give enough sweetness and color, and mainelove with bubbles adds fizz without extra sugar or flavor.
What can I use to garnish Christmas punch?
You can use orange slices, fresh or frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, or star anise pods to garnish the punch. Frozen cranberries also help keep it cold.
How do I keep Christmas punch from getting watered down?
Chill all the ingredients before you mix them.
You can also freeze water with orange slices and cranberries in a Bundt pan or ring mold. It melts more slowly than ice cubes and looks pretty floating in the bowl.
How many servings does this Christmas punch make?
This recipe makes 8 servings. If you have a bigger group, just double the juices and add more mainelove with bubbles to match.
What are the top 5 Christmas drinks?
Popular Christmas drinks include eggnog, mulled wine, hot chocolate, apple cider, and Christmas punch. If you’re serving a group, Christmas punch is easy to make in a pitcher and works well without alcohol.
