Easy Christmas Punch Recipe 2 Ways

Few Ingredients, Lots of Flavor!

We’re starting with three cups of high-quality cranberry juice. Those sweet and tart flavors are super Christmas-y! The very Christmas spirit in liquid form. If available, source pure cranberry juice; remember, you get what you pay for. You can also make your own with a blender or fruit processor — simply blend and strain a bunch of fresh cranberries, and you’ll get the tastiest juice ever.

Along with the red-hued cranberry juice we’re adding ginger ale, which will add bubbles, sweetness and the most enticing aromas to our punch. I’m sure you can smell the sweet ginger already!

The Right Sparkling Wine For Punch

Now, for the boozy ingredients, you’ll need an entire bottle of sparkling wine. Here you want to choose wisely. There are basically two types of sparkling wine: the ones inspired by the creamy French Champagne and the Italian style.

The first has a complex nose reminiscent of baker’s yeast and apples, and the latter is much fruitier. To make this type of wine winemakers ferment white wine twice, once in a tank and a second on in the very same bottle you purchase. It comes without saying this is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, meaning the Champagne-style sparkling wine is more expensive.

Today we’re using the fruit-forward Italian style. This one is fermented in a stainless steel tank, and it keeps all its fruity flavors. This is a great value, by the way, you can find a fantastic bottle for a few bucks. Get yourself a bottle of Prosecco if you can; the wine’s peachy personality and it’s mouthwatering acidic backbone will really elevate our punch to new levels of excitement.

You can also use sparkling grape juice for a non-alcoholic version.

Talking of alcohol, we’re spiking things up with a splash of brandy. Any vanilla-scented and spicy brandy will do here, and the best part is that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a bottle of fine grape spirit.

How to Garnish a Christmas Punch?

Combining everything in a pitcher, the only thing left to do is adding a fistful of zesty orange slices and whole fresh cranberries. Fresh garnishes are always best. I like to freeze leftover cranberries whole, then use them as a garnish. They add a beautiful look and help keep the drink cold without watering it down.

Make sure you refrigerate your Christmas punch for a few hours before your guests arrive; you want it ice cold to make the most of the cocktails refreshing nature.