Pa-Rum Pum Pum Punch: 16 Holiday Punches and Large-Batch Cocktails
Don't stress holiday hosting duties. Simply make big punch bowls of these large-batch holiday cocktails and have your party guests help themselves.
Sparkling Hibiscus Holiday Punch from The Kitchn
The holiday season can be stressful enough as it is with a flurry of gift shopping, travel planning, and hosting parties. But one thing that can make that last one easier is to batch holiday drinks ahead of time. Then, come party time, all you have to do is set it out in a large punch bowl or pitcher for self-serve holiday cheer.
Fortunately, there is a variety of options available for any skill level and in any style. Here are a few of our favorites, from festive punches to winter warmers, including non-alcoholic drinks.
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Holiday punch how-tos
Is this your first foray into serving a holiday punch? Start here.
How does one make a holiday punch?
Holiday punches are generally easy to make, especially since many recipes involve dumping a whole bottle of wine, juice, and/or soda into the punch bowl. No cocktail shaker required. For instance, this easy holiday punch consists of 1 bottle of sparkling cider, 2 liters of ginger ale, a cup of vodka, 2 cups of orange juice, and 32 ounces of cranberry juice.
What does one need to serve a holiday punch?
When serving punch, it’s best to make the beverage in a large vessel, such as a punch bowl, a drink dispenser, or even a huge mixing bowl. Make sure to also have cups and a ladle handy for doling out the drink from the bowl. Instead of chilling it with ice cubes, make an ice ring like the mixed berry one in this recipe so it’ll dilute the punch slower.
What are some good holiday punches?
Some very festive drinks to serve at holiday parties include large-batch sparkling punches (with sparkling wine, beer, sparkling water/club soda, or lemon-lime soda); traditional cocktails (eggnog or milk punch); and even winter warmers (mulled wine or spiked cider).
Are punch and large-batch cocktails the same thing?
Traditionally “punch” consists of alcohol, spice, sugar, juices, and water but nowadays people use it to refer to cocktails made in large batches for parties and served in punch bowls.
Festive punches
Greet and delight party guests with these holiday-themed punches
Ponche Navideño (Mexican Christmas Punch)
This spiced apple cider flavored with piloncillo, tangy hibiscus, cloves, and fresh fruit — such as guava, pear, and orange — is the perfect way to get a holiday party started or to warm up after a night of caroling, especially with a hit of tequila or rum.
Sparkling Pear Hanukkah Sangria
This Hanukkah sangria, decidedly made with kosher white wine versus cloying Manischewitz wine, will pair beautifully with appetizers, such as pan-fried latkes. Dry sparkling wine, such as prosecco or cava, is sweetened with pear liqueur, making for a light and easy drinking tipple.
Sparkling Hibiscus Holiday Punch
Whether you serve this in your grandma’s vintage punch bowl or your prettiest pitcher, this simple tea-infused drink will delight your party guests. A refreshing alternative to hot toddies, it’s made with hibiscus herbal tea, white cranberry juice, sparkling wine, and white rum, and decorated with frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thin lime slices.
White Christmas Coconut Margarita Punch
Bring a bit of warm-weather vibes to holiday festivities with this piña colada-inspired Christmas punch recipe. Thanks to canned coconut milk and coconut cream, it’s holiday decadent and rich without any heaviness. The perfect antidote for those weary of eggnog.
Yuletide Wave Holiday Punch
For a taste of the tropics, mix up this holiday punch from award-winning bar Smuggler’s Cove for your Christmas party. Since a lot of tiki cocktails share many of the same spices as holiday baked goods, a tropical punch with bourbon, aged rum, pineapple juice, vanilla, pear liqueur, and allspice liqueur is a fitting libation to fuel any festive fête.
Decadent drinks
These richly flavored cocktails are the perfect way to finish off a Christmas dinner
Mint and White Chocolate Milk Punch
This frothy non-alcoholic punch features favorite flavors of the season with white chocolate and a hint of mint. For an extra Christmassy garnish, dip the cup in corn syrup and then crushed candy cane. Spike it with 2 tablespoons of vodka per 1 cup of punch for holiday cheer.
Roasted-Pineapple Hot Buttered Rum
Martha Stewart can never do anything plainly and her hot buttered rum recipe is no exception. The cold-weather treat incorporates a cardamom-spiced pineapple puree, which does require a little prep time but it’s worth the extra effort. The punch's base can be made ahead of time and refrigerated the day before.
Boozy Frozen Hot Chocolate
It’s just not the holidays without a bit of indulgence. Made with four different versions of chocolate — ice cream, cocoa mix, chocolate sauce, and chocolate bar — this chocolatey concoction, inspired by Serendipity’s famous Frozen Hot Chocolate, is sure to delight your guests.
Clarified Milk Punch
This next-level version of the milk punch, which is all the rage right now at bars, may seem intimidating to take on, but it’s actually pretty easy to make. Its extra step of clarifying the punch simply involves allowing the mixture with the milk to curdle and then straining that out. It takes about an hour to filter it till it runs clear, but the result is a beautiful rose-tinted punch with a silky mouthfeel.
Tequila-Sherry Eggnog
For a different take on the usual nog, try this recipe by celebrated Portland bartender and author Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Instead of the traditional brandy, he fortifies it with añejo tequila, which brings a less-sweet brandy-like profile, and Amontillado sherry, for a dry, nutty flavor.
Spirit-free sips
For those who don’t drink liquor, fix up these intriguing non-alcoholic punches
Sparkling Chai Christmas Punch
In this non-alcoholic Christmas Punch, spiced chai tea, ginger ale, apple juice, and cranberry juice cocktail easily combine together for a crisp and light refreshment at any family-friendly gathering. Dress up the punch with cranberries and apple slices, and garnish your glasses with cinnamon sticks.
Orange Sherbet Punch
With pastel colors and fresh lime and orange slices, this creamy sherbet punch will light up any holiday table. Although it can easily be served during the summer, its ingredients — cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and ginger ale — make it especially suited for a holiday party.
Pomegranate Party Punch
This holiday punch recipe featuring pomegranate juice allows for a lot of flexibility. You can use lemon-lime soda or sparkling water, or sub in bubbly for a grown-up version, as well as make it sugar-free.
Holiday warmers
Keep the winter chill out with these cozy concoctions.
Viennese Hot Christmas Punch
The stalls at the Christmas markets in Vienna often serve this piping-hot orange punch, which is similar to a hot toddy, to help its visitors fight off the cold weather. Enjoy its mix of blood orange tea, orange juice, and spices either with rum or alcohol-free.
Santa's Little Helper Cider Punch
Fix up this simple and fuss-free warming cider punch right in your crock pot. Just add all the ingredients — including rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, unsweetened apple cider, and spice — to the crock pot and set on low for an hour before serving.
Smoking Bishop
What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the same mulled wine punch Scrooge did in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol? But since the Seville oranges (sour oranges) in the Dickens drink are hard to come by this time of year, this recipe adaptation subs in oranges and lemons.
More holiday cheer in a glass
Whether you're hosting brunch this holiday season or a formal dinner party, we've got you covered with festive cocktail ideas. Explore them in the Yummly articles below.