Paul Kushner
Holiday gatherings are all about spending quality time with family and friends, having those super-long conversations that only happen when it’s cold outside and there’s a hot drink in your hand. Make them feel welcome and keep hosting super-easy with these easy-to-make big-batch Christmas cocktails that incorporate all of your favorite wintery flavor components, thinking of sweet, tart cranberry, citrus, and spices.
You can set these cocktails out in a punch bowl for guests to serve themselves so you’re not stuck behind the bar and can relax and enjoy the party. Perfect for casual holiday get-togethers like dinners and gift exchanges, and of course larger parties, these speedy-to-serve Christmas cocktails are easy to enjoy any time, anywhere. Cheers!
Christmas Punch
Big-batch holiday drinks are the solution to so many holiday cocktail conundrums. This bubbly Christmas Punch recipe is easy to make ahead if you add the fizzy elements just before serving time, beautiful, and refreshing. Plus, your guests can serve themselves. Combine vodka, sparkling rosé, persimmon or cranberries, cranberry-ginger ale, ginger syrup and soda. Cheers!
Christmas Punch
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pitcher, combine the pomegranate-cranberry juice and frozen limeade concentrate. Stir until the limeade is fully dissolved.
- Add the lime sparkling water and vodka to the pitcher, stirring gently to combine all ingredients.
- Garnish the mixture with fresh cranberries, lime slices, and mint sprigs for a festive presentation.
- Serve the punch chilled in glasses, making sure each serving includes some of the garnishes for an extra touch of holiday cheer.
Holly Jolly Christmas Punch
Perfect for any holiday get-together, this easy-to-make Holly Jolly Christmas Punch will have your family or friends asking for the recipe. Pineapple and cranberry juices provide a sweet-tart base, with Squirt adding light citrus, while Silver Tequila lends a soft, warm flavor. And the cranberry ice and lime slices not only keep the punch cold but also make this puncher look festive on a holiday table.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (64 ounces) cranberry juice
- 1 bottle (2 liters) Squirt
- 2 can (46 ounce each) pineapple juice
- 1 bottle (750 mL) tequila silver (I used Sauza)
Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers
A deeply flavored cranberry-honey-rosemary-cardamom base (the depth of flavor achieved by simmering is amazing), finished with rosé, elderflower liqueur and citrus, this sparkling, big-batch spritzer will get requests for the recipe. And it’s an easy-to-pour cocktail when you’re busy being the hostess at your Christmas get-togethers and holiday parties. Prep ahead to simplify entertaining.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon cardamon pods or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 bottle (750 ml) rosé wine
- 4 ounces elderflower liquor
- 1/3 cup cranberry or pomegranate juice
- 2-3 dashes orange bitter
- 2 blood oranges or regular oranges, sliced
- 4-6 (12 ounce) ginger beers, to your taste
Holiday Whiskey Punch
This Holiday Whiskey Punch is the ultimate Christmas cocktail. Make ahead, pour over a large ice block and serve at your next seasonal gathering. It couldn’t be easier. Made with rye whiskey, lemon oleosaccharum and Angostura bitters, this bold, big-batch holiday punch is warming and balanced at the same time. Perfect for slowing winter nights.
Ingredients
Cadet Punch
- Oleosaccharum (recipe below)
- 1 750-ml bottle of rye whiskey
- 12 hard shakes of Angostura bitters
- Large block of ice
For the oleosaccharum
- 4 lemons
- 1 cup sugar
Honeycrisp Apple Cider Rum Punch
Looking for a simple, crowd-friendly cocktail to make during the holiday season? Honeycrisp Apple Cider Rum Punch is a super easy big-batch cocktail to make for Christmas, made with honeycrisp cider, orange juice and rum. Bright flavors balanced with the soft spice of cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 64 oz Honeycrisp apple cider
- 16 oz Rum
- 8 oz Orange juice
- 3 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 Honeycrisp apple thinly sliced
- 1 Orange thinly sliced
Honeycrisp Apple Cider Rum Punch
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the Honeycrisp apple cider, rum, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and sliced fruit.
- Stir the mixture well to ensure all ingredients are fully combined.
- Place the pitcher or punch bowl in the refrigerator and let the punch sit for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the punch cold, garnished with additional fruit slices and cinnamon sticks for an extra festive touch.
Apple and Cinnamon Punch
What better to have on hand on a cold, chilly, autumn/winter evening when friends and family gather around the table than a lovely, welcoming, cozy beverage like Apple and Cinnamon Punch? Apple juice and cinnamon sticks simmered together make this recipe. As it simmers the juice becomes even sweeter and is infused with the most wonderful holiday scents. Serve it as a wonderful non-alcoholic punch or use it as the basis for your own concoction adding some brandy or rum.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces vodka
- 20 ounces apple juice chilled
- 33 ounces ginger beer chilled
- 2 apples thinly sliced
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- Cinnamon powder and brown sugar for rimming glasses
Apple and Cinnamon Punch
Ingredients
Method
- In a large punch bowl, combine the vodka, apple juice, ginger beer, and cinnamon sticks. Stir gently to blend the flavors.
- Cover the jug or punch bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Just before serving, mix cinnamon powder and brown sugar on a small plate. Wet the rim of each glass, then dip it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
- Pour the chilled punch into the prepared glasses. Garnish each glass with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick for an aromatic, festive presentation.
- Serve immediately and enjoy this cozy, flavorful punch!
Earl Grey–Bourbon Punch
Earl Grey Bourbon Punch is a sophisticated twist on the classic punch that will impress guests when served over ice. Bold notes of bourbon are tempered with a hit of citrus, complex flavors dance on your tongue with a smooth finish. Honey adds a touch of sweetness with Earl Grey tea’s floral, bergamot flavors to balance the warmth of the bourbon. With enticing, aromatic steam, this punch is sure to impress and makes for a sophisticated and comforting sip on a cozy party or an autumnal evening.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bourbon
- 8 ounces lemon juice
- 4 ounces honey
- 4 ounces Cognac
- 2 ounces Earl Grey tea 4 tea bags
- 2 dashes bitters
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary plus more for garnish
- Lemon wheels for garnish
Earl Grey–Bourbon Punch
Ingredients
Method
- In a heatproof bowl, combine the loose Earl Grey tea (or tea bags) with 10 ounces of boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring glass. Allow the tea to cool.
- In a small saucepan, bring the honey, thyme, rosemary sprigs, and 4 ounces water to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. Once the honey is dissolved, let the mixture cool and remove the herbs.
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, mix the cooled tea, honey syrup, lemon juice, bourbon, Cognac, and bitters. Add 2 cups of ice, stirring until the ice melts and the punch is well-chilled.
- Pour the punch into tumblers filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a rosemary sprig and a lemon wheel for a festive presentation.
Apple Cider Punch
Apple Cider Punch is an aromatic combination of rich apple cider with warm spices of cinnamon and cloves. As you sip this simple recipe you’ll be impressed with the sweetness of fresh apples complimenting the heat of the ginger. Perfectly combined, it’ll delight you with the soothing goodness in each sip. Warm, comforting cups of Apple Cider Punch bring families together in a snuggly embrace during a nippy winter.
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup rum optional, for spiked punch
- 1 liter ginger ale
- 2 apples sliced (Garnish)
- 1 orange sliced (Garnish)
- 10 cinnamon sticks Garnish
Apple Cider Punch
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir well to mix.
- If making spiked apple cider punch, add the rum and stir to combine.
- Add the sliced apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher or punch bowl.
- Refrigerate the mixture for at least one hour to chill and allow the flavors to meld.
- When ready to serve, add the ginger ale to the mixture and stir gently.
- Pour the punch over glasses filled with ice.
- Enjoy your Apple Cider Punch!
Vanilla-Pear Holiday Punch
The pear juice is the base of the Vanilla-Pear Holiday Punch recipe, which combines pear juice, reposado tequila, lemon juice, club soda, honey simple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. The pear juice provides a sweet, mellow flavor while the lemon juice provides the tartness that makes each sip refreshing. The tequila adds a bit of warmth to the drink, and the bubbles make the punch feel light. It’s a great holiday drink to serve at Christmas parties or to enjoy on a cold night at home.
Ingredients
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 24 ounces (3 cups) pear juice or pear nectar (I like Ceres or R.W. Knudsen brands)
- 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) reposado tequila (I like Espolón or Milagro)
- 8 ounces (1 cup) club soda or sparkling water
- 4 ounces (½ cup) lemon juice
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey simple syrup*
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Suggested garnishes: Lemon rounds, short fresh rosemary sprigs, ½ cup fresh cranberries
- Ice cubes, for serving
Cranberry Molasses Mulled Wine
Molasses gives Cranberry Molasses Mulled Wine a darker sweet taste than many mulled wines. Add cardamom, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, and cinnamon, plus some orange and lemon. The result is a wonderful holiday drink made from dry red wine, cranberry juice, citrus, molasses, and warm spices. You can drink this hot, and it’s great with a slice of orange floating on top in a mug at your next holiday party. Serve Cranberry Molasses Mulled Wine during winter, at Thanksgiving, or at Christmas.
Ingredients
- Zest from 1 orange + slices for garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 6 cloves
- 6 allspice berries
- 10 black peppercorns
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 750-ml bottle dry red wine
- 1/3 cup cranberry juice
Kris Kringle’s Jingle Big Batch Cocktail
A festive holiday cocktail made to serve a crowd, Kris Kringle’s Jingle Big Batch Cocktail calls for sparkling rosé, cranberry juice, Winter Spiced Cranberry Sprite, and either gin or vodka. The cranberry lends just a hint of tartness and the sparkling wine and soda pack in plenty of bubbles. Gin contributes the flavors of citrus and juniper, but vodka will do just as well. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, pour over ice, and add simple syrup only if your guests prefer a sweeter holiday cocktail.
Ingredients
- 750 mL sparkling rosé wine (1 standard bottle)
- 20 fl oz Winter Spiced Cranberry Sprite
- 20 fl oz cranberry juice
- 12 fl oz gin or vodka
- Optional to taste: 4 fl oz simple syrup
Jingle Juice Holiday Punch
Jingle Juice Holiday Punch is a bubbly blend of whipped vodka, pink Champagne or sparkling rosé and Cherry 7-Up. The whipped vodka provides a creamy vanilla note, while the pink fizz adds a bit of crispness, and the soda brings in some cherry flavor. Its lovely rosy color makes this a festive holiday punch that is great served in a punch bowl or pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with cranberries for a quick and easy Christmas cocktail recipe perfect for entertaining.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) Whipped Vodka
- 1 bottle bottle Pink Champagne or Sparkling Rosé*
- 1 bottle (2 liter) Cherry 7-up
- Cranberries for garnish optional
Sparkling Christmas Party Punch
This sparkling Christmas party punch brings together dry white wine, pomegranate juice, vodka, St. Germain, ginger beer, a touch of citrus, pomegranate arils, and a hint of cinnamon in a batch cocktail perfect for the season.Wine and elderflower liqueur ensure it’s fruity and refreshing. Ginger beer gives it bubbles and just the right amount of spice. Citrus slices made from grapefruit or blood oranges offer an additional burst of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 (750ml) bottle dry white wine
- 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup St. Germain (elderflower liquor)
- 2 (12 ounce) ginger beersplus more for topping, if desired
- 2 grapefruits or blood oranges, sliced
- arils from 1 pomegranate, plus more for serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- cinnamon sugar for the rims of your glasses (optional)
Big Batch Winter Spiced Negroni
Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and a base of mulled wine are combined with warm spices for Big Batch Winter Spiced Negroni. Spices used in the cocktail include cinnamon, cloves, allspice, coriander, star anise, and nutmeg. In addition, Campari provides a signature bitter note. After a few hours of infusion, the ingredients are strained before serving, making this recipe perfect for entertaining. Make Big Batch Winter Spiced Negroni ahead of time so that you can serve the drink to your friends at your next winter party.
Ingredients
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 5 whole cloves
- 10 allspice berries, crushed
- 10 coriander seeds, crushed
- 1/2 star anise
- 1/3 grated nutmeg
- 8 ounces Beefeater
- 8 ounces Campari
- 4 ounces sweet vermouth
- 4 ounces mulled wine
Winter Moscato Punch
This Winter Moscato Punch is made with Moscato wine, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, ginger beer and triple sec. It’s a fruity pitcher cocktail that’s lightly sweet with bubbles. The cranberry and pomegranate give it a tart flavor, and the ginger beer makes it slightly spicy. This is a great cocktail to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Serve it over ice garnished with orange slices, fresh cranberries and rosemary. It’s perfect for holiday dinners and seasonal parties.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 12 oz ginger beer
- 4 oz triple sec
- 1.5 liter Moscato Wine
- ice
- fresh orange slices cranberries and rosemary for garnish
