Christmas Punch is a festive sparkling beverage featuring champagne, pomegranate juice, and cranberry juice. It's easy to make, pretty to serve, and perfect for holiday parties!
There's nothing like a good party punch. And in case you're in need of one for an upcoming holiday gathering, this beautiful Christmas Punch is refreshing, yummy, and simple to throw together!
Champagne makes this punch celebratory and bubbly, while it gets gorgeous color and fruity flavor from two different juices. Or feel free to make it without the boozy bubbles for a non-alcoholic beverage. Pre-made ice cubes (using an ingredient from the punch) ensure that the punch stays cold without getting watered down. And don't forget the gorgeous garnishes!
Ingredients
So what does it take to make Christmas Punch? Just five basic ingredients plus some pretty garnishes!
- Pomegranate juice. Delicious flavor and lovely color inspired by an in-season fruit.
- Cranberry juice. I recommend choosing a combination of 100% juice (such as cranberry plus apple plus grape) with no added sugar. Alternatively, you could use a cranberry juice blend (such as cran-cherry or cran-pomegranate, etc.). I just wouldn't recommend pure, unsweetened cranberry juice as it's very, very tart.
- Lemon-lime soda. You may use ginger ale in place of lemon-lime soda. Or, for a less sweet punch, use seltzer in place of (part or all of) the soda.
- Lime juice. Lime juice lends balance to this recipe, to keep things from getting too sweet. Use freshly-squeezed if you have a few limes on hand. Bottled lime juice works as well, but I like to check the ingredient label to make sure it's real lime juice with no additives.
- Champagne. I recommend using a dry (brut) champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine. However, you may choose a sweeter option for a sweeter punch.
In my opinion, what makes this Christmas punch recipe extra festive are the garnishes!
Fresh cranberries and pomegranate arils are not only indicative of the flavors of the punch but, set against sprigs of fresh rosemary, they're also reminiscent of holly. 🙂
How to Make Christmas Punch
This recipe is seriously as easy as pour and stir. The hardest part is remembering to chill your ingredients and make your ice cubes ahead of time. And that's not even hard...it just falls under the umbrella of minor planning. 😉
Make the Ice Cubes:
Giant ice cubes laden with fruit and greenery float in your punch bowl or pitcher to keep your Christmas Punch both frosty and, well, pretty.
- Choose some small bowls or containers that will fit inside your punch bowl, pitcher, or drink dispenser.
- Fill the containers with fresh cranberries, pomegranate arils, and sprigs of rosemary.
- Pour lemon-lime soda to the top of each container. Freeze until solid.
Or, if multiplying the recipe and serving it in a large punch bowl, you can make an ice ring (in a bundt pan) instead of ice cubes. Just make sure the circumference of the ice ring will fit down into the punch bowl!
Make the Punch:
- Just before serving, place the ice cubes in your punch bowl or pitcher.
- Pour the chilled juices on top.
- Add the lemon-lime soda and the champagne. Gently stir.
Pour into glasses garnished with additional cranberries, pomegranate arils, and rosemary sprigs for still extra cheer!
Non-Alcoholic Version
While this recipe centers around champagne or prosecco for a boozy libation, you could certainly make Christmas Punch sans alcohol if that's your preference.
Simply swap out the champagne for a combo of sparkling water and lemon-lime soda, adjusting the ratio depending on how sweet you'd like your punch.
Christmas Punch with EXTRA Kick
On the other hand, if champagne punch isn't quite boozy enough for ya, feel free to add a cup of vodka to your pitcher of Christmas Punch.
Pretty Sugared Rims
For sugared rims, pour a thin layer of corn syrup onto one plate and pour a thicker layer of coarse sparkling sugar onto another plate.
Quickly dip the rim of a glass into the corn syrup and then press it down into the sparkling sugar.
Just be careful not to get too much corn syrup on the rim or it will drip down the glass!
Recipe Volume
The volume of this recipe is approximately 100 ounces, plus ice, so be sure to make it in a very large pitcher or a small drink dispenser.
For a smaller pitcher, you may cut the recipe in half.
And to fill a large drink dispenser or punch bowl, you may double or triple the recipe accordingly.
So who's ready to party? Whip up a pitcher of Christmas Punch for an intimate gathering. Or double (or triple, or quadruple!) the recipe for a larger-scale celebration!
And despite its title, don't think for one minute that this sparkling holiday punch is limited to Christmas. It's also a nice option for yummy bubbles come New Year's Eve!
More Festive Beverages
- Cranberry Pomegranate Bellinis with Lime
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate ~ 4 Ways!
- Mexican Martini (Trudy's Copycat)
- Sparkling Strawberry Floats
Christmas Punch
Ingredients
- 2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
- 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled (*see NOTES below)
- ¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 2 cups lemon-lime soda, chilled, PLUS EXTRA for ice cubes
- 2 (750 mL) bottles champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine, chilled
- Cranberries, pomegranate arils, & sprigs of rosemary, for ice cubes and garnish
- Corn syrup & coarse sparkling sugar, for rims of glasses (optional)
Instructions
- To make ice cubes, fill small bowls/containers with fresh cranberries, pomegranate arils, and sprigs of rosemary. Pour lemon-lime soda to the top of each container. Freeze until solid.
- Just before serving, place the ice cubes in a large pitcher, punch bowl, or drink dispenser. Pour the pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, and lime juice on top. Add the lemon-lime soda and champagne and stir gently to combine. Serve in glasses garnished with additional cranberries, pomegranate arils, and rosemary sprigs.
Notes
- The volume of this recipe is approximately 100 ounces (plus ice), so make sure that your pitcher/punch bowl/drink dispenser is the correct size before commencing with the recipe.
- Since pure, unsweetened cranberry juice is very, very tart, I recommend using a combination of 100% juice (such as cranberry plus apple plus grape) with no added sugar. Alternatively, you could use a cranberry juice blend (such as cran-cherry or cran-pomegranate, etc.).
- Feel free to swap ginger ale for the lemon-lime soda. Or if you prefer a less sweet punch, use seltzer in place of (part or all of) the soda.
- I recommend making this recipe with dry (brut) champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine. A sweeter option will work as well for a sweeter punch.
- For a NON-ALCOHOLIC Christmas Punch, swap out the champagne for 3 cups of seltzer plus 3 cups of lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or sparkling grape juice. Or you can adjust the ratio of seltzer/soda/juice to your taste.
Post originally published on December 18, 2017.
Melissa
Such a beautiful drink - I made it this past weekend for a party and it was hit!
Stehanie
I made a half recipe to sip on while we decorated the tree. So good! No alcohol for our version and everyone loved it!
Jessica
This was so easy and so yummy! Several friends at my party asked for the recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!
Boyd Kobe
Gorgeous looking punch. It sounds so delicious too. Can’t wait to try.
CS
This looks good!