This Christmas punch is a blend of pomegranate, lime and cranberry, all mixed together into a fizzy beverage that’s perfect for any holiday party. A festive and refreshing drink that can easily be turned into a cocktail for the adults!
I like to serve some fun drinks when I entertaining during the holidays – for a hot drink, I opt for slow cooker apple cider or homemade hot chocolate. For a cold drink, I serve this easy Christmas punch, and it always gets rave reviews.
Every holiday party could benefit from some seasonal drink offerings! This super simple Christmas punch is cheery, refreshing and the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It takes about 5 minutes to put together and looks so pretty on your buffet table.
Christmas Punch Ingredients
This recipe contains pomegranate-cranberry juice, frozen limeade, lime flavored sparkling water, fresh cranberries, lime slices and mint sprigs.
How do you make Christmas punch?
Place the pomegranate-cranberry juice in a large pitcher along with a can of limeade, then stir until well combined. Pour in some sparkling water, then garnish with sliced limes, fresh cranberries and mint. Serve right away, or refrigerate for later use.
Tips for the perfect drink
- I use a pomegranate-cranberry juice blend by Ocean Spray. This drink contains sugar and other fruit juices which makes it sweet and pleasant to drink. Do not try to use plain unsweetened cranberry or pomegranate juices, they’ll be much too tart.
- Can’t find a pomegranate-cranberry juice blend? Try a cranberry juice cocktail instead.
- I use a lime flavored sparkling water with no added sugar. You can also use plain sparkling water, or the lemon or orange flavors. My store even has a seasonal cranberry orange flavor which would be delicious!
- You can serve this drink either in a pitcher, drink dispenser or a punch bowl, whichever is more convenient.
- Freeze your cranberries before you add them to the drink and they will serve as ice cubes – the drink will stay cold but won’t get watered down! You can also make ice cubes with cranberries or lime wedges in them, or even a festive ice ring if you’re using a punch bowl.
- Fresh pomegranate seeds also make a nice garnish if cranberries aren’t available.
Recipe FAQs
Christmas punch is typically made with a blend of fruit juice, citrus and a sparkling drink. Champagne or liquor can also be added for an alcoholic offering.
This drink is best served right after it’s made, as the carbonated water will start to go flat within a few hours of being added to the punch. Luckily this punch takes just minutes to make, so it’s easy to whip up at the last second. If you’re really pressed for time, you can mix the pomegranate-cranberry juice and limeade together up to 8 hours in advance. Store the mixture in the fridge, and add the sparkling water at the last minute.
Alcoholic Christmas Punch
This Christmas punch can easily be made into an alcoholic beverage with the addition of any of the following
- Champagne (add 2 cups)
- Prosecco (add 2 cups)
- Rum (add 1 cup)
- Vodka (add 1 cup)
I’ve listed my recommended alcohol amounts above, but you can always add a bit more for a stronger drink.
I make Christmas punch for every winter gathering, and I always make a big pitcher of it on Christmas Day for everyone to enjoy while we’re relaxing around the house. It’s pleasantly sweet, but not overly so, and you can never go wrong with a little bit of fizz!
More holiday entertaining recipes
Christmas Punch Video
Christmas Punch
Ingredients
- 6 cups pomegranate-cranberry juice such as Ocean Spray
- 1 can frozen limeade concentrate
- 6 cups lime flavored sparkling water
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 limes sliced
- 4 sprigs mint
- Optional addition: rum, champagne or vodka in quantity of your choice.
Instructions
- Place the pomegranate-cranberry juice and limeade concentrate in a pitcher. Stir until combined.
- Add the sparkling water and stir until well combined.
- Garnish with cranberries, limes and mint, then serve.
Notes
- I use a pomegranate-cranberry juice blend by Ocean Spray. This drink contains sugar and other fruit juices which makes it sweet and pleasant to drink. Do not try to use plain unsweetened cranberry or pomegranate juices, they’ll be much too tart.
- Can’t find a pomegranate-cranberry juice blend? Try a cranberry juice cocktail instead.
- Use a lime flavored sparkling water with no added sugar.
Hilary says
Hi! Can this make before and freeze?
Sara says
This cannot be frozen as it will lose its carbonation!
Mel says
This was delicious and easy! Made this for Xmas Eve but added 2 cups of vodka and it came out great. My in-laws even loved it and they are quite picky. Thanks for sharing!
Kleiner-Goudey Sara says
Do you thaw the limeade before mixing it?
Sara says
You don’t need to thaw it, it will melt on its own.
Carol says
I made this recipe for Christmas Eve and
followed the recipe, adding a bottle of Prosecco .
Big hit and definitely a keeper. Thank you! 🎄👍🎄
Jaye says
12 cups of liquid, 12 oz of limeade concentrate, 2 cups of cranberries… this is about a gallon worth of punch. You sure about those measurements for one pitcher? I figured it’s half that, but in the video you used a whole can of limeade. Thanks.
Sara says
The recipe is correct as written.
Jaye says
How many ounces is your pitcher?
Jul says
How much vodka would you add?
Sara says
I would add 1 cup!
Summer Ward says
For anyone who has added rum/vodka, how much did you add to the recipe to give it the right amount with out overwhelming?
Carey DARRAH says
Is the ocean spray juice frozen or in the juice aisle?
Sara says
In the juice aisle in a plastic bottle.
Trisha says
I made this for a family gathering. One with vodka and one without. It was a big hit!! I used a blended cranberry and pomegranate juice.
Lili Kovacevic says
Where can you buy the limeade concentrate
Sara says
It’s in the freezer section of most grocery stores, it comes in a can!
Sarah says
Do you replace the lime sparkling water with alcohol of choice or just add the alcohol with everything else?
Sara says
Add the alcohol with everything else! Unless you’re using a sparkling drink such as Prosecco, in that case you’d want to omit the sparkling water.
Martha says
Can I use a rum flavoring, instead of real rum, have a couple of recovering alcoholics?
Martha
Sara says
You can, just make sure your rum flavoring is free of alcohol, as many extracts do contain it.
Gavin says
This sounds dangerously good. Better keep the vodka locked away when I’m making this one…….!!
Erica Schwarz says
Ohhh this looks so good. Perfect for any holiday party – I’ll use the option to add champagne to mine!
Jas says
This sounds like it’ll be my new favorite festive drink! YUM!
Anita says
Oh my, how lovely is that color? And cranberries and pomegranate just scream festivities and holiday. This is going to be on my Thanksgiving menu for this year. 🙂
Adrianne says
This is a great looking Christmas punch and I am sure it is thirst quenching! I would be having mine with some champagne mixed in, that sounds like a delicious option!
Sherrie says
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 minutes
What am I supposed to cook for 1 minute? Thanks
Sara says
No need to cook anything, it’s a default that my recipe card puts in there when there is no cooking time!
Patricia says
Hello! This sounds wonderful. What size can of limeade concentrate? Thank you.
Sara says
12 ounces!
Jewelle says
Hi, Which I do you recommend, Ocean Spray Cran-Pomegranate Juice Drink or OceanSpray 100% Cranberry Pomegranate Juice.
Thanks!
Sara says
I use the juice drink, only because the 100% juice version is quite tart!
Jewelle says
Thank you so much! And please forgive my typo 😔
Boyd Kobe says
That sounds like a delicious drink! Definitely, want to give this a try.