These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (2024)

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (1)

We love a Christmas co*cktail as much as the next person, and mixing up a homemade drink for your guests is a great way to put a signature spin on your Christmas dinner. But on top of cooking all of that food, you’re probably not looking to add even more time and labor to your holiday planning — particularly if you’re hosting a larger gathering. For groups of around eight or more, it may be easier to make a batch of Christmas punch for guests to serve themselves from. After all, the holidays are all about sharing joy — and what’s more joyful than a giant bowl of boozy, festive punch?

While the word may conjure images of sugary bowls filled with floating orange slices, there’s actually a ton of different recipes and flavor combinations under the heading of ‘punch.’ Whether you prefer a creamy eggnog-based drink, a wintry sangria, or a delicious booze-free option, we’ve got your bases covered with these jolly recipes.

Since most of these are made with easy-to-find ingredients like fruit juice, sparkling water and red or white wine, you won’t have to do much more than measuring and stirring. Plus, punch is a perfect make-ahead recipe, meaning you can get it done a day or two ahead of time (holding off on adding fizzy ingredients until right before serving). So whether you serve your punch alongside some tempting Christmas appetizers, or during the main course, your night is guaranteed to be more laid back than ever before.

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1

Cranberry 75 Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (2)

A fruity, big batch Christmas twist on the iconic French 75 is sure to be a crowd favorite.

Get the Cranberry 75 Punch recipe.

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2

Fall Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (3)

Because those sweet, spiced fall flavors can keep us warm all through the holiday season.

Get the Fall Punch recipe.

RELATED: The 45 Best Fall co*cktails to Sip by a Bonfire This Autumn

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3

Sparkling Wine Mojito Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (4)

A splash of sparkling wine adds a fun and surprising bubbly twist to your holiday mojito.

Get the Sparkling Wine Mojito Punch recipe.

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4

Citrus Whiskey Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (5)

We gave some new life to this punch from our 1885 issue — and by new life, we mean bourbon.

Get the Citrus Whiskey Punch recipe.

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5

Black Magic Punch

Plum, berries, red wine and brandy make this magical, sangria-like punch a holiday favorite.

Get the Black Magic Punch recipe.

RELATED: 24 Best Sangria Recipes to Sip All Summer Long

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6

Christmas Morning Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (7)

Step up your a.m. OJ with this fruity beverage topped with sparkling apple cider. Looking for more of a kick? Swap in prosecco for the sparkling cider.

Get the Christmas Morning Punch recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

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7

Boozy Butterbeer Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (8)

If you’ve read Harry Potter, this punch needs no introduction. If you haven’t, get ready for a mug of buttery, candy-sweet sunshine.

Get the Boozy Butterbeer Punch recipe from Delish.

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8

Hot Toddy with Charred Oranges

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (9)

Charred oranges add a complex caramel sweetness to your classic hot toddy.

Get the Hot Toddy with Charred Oranges recipe from Country Living.

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9

Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (10)

This boozy, chocolatey drink will keep you toasty on a cold winter night.

Get the Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe from Country Living.

RELATED: 8 Best Hot Chocolate Mixes for the Perfect Cozy Cup

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10

Hot Buttered Rum

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (11)

Exactly what it sounds like, this cozy drink stars homemade spiced butter stirred into a mug of hot water (with a glug of rum, of course).

Get the Hot Buttered Rum recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

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11

Sparkling Pear & Orange Champagne Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (12)

The citrus-and-cranberry ice ring may look fancy, but all you need is a bundt pan to make a splash in your punch.

Get the Sparkling Pear & Orange Champagne Punch recipe from Country Living.

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12

Cranberry Sangria

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (13)

Adding cranberries to this classic Spanish drink gives a wintertime spin to a summer favorite.

Get the Cranberry Sangria recipe from Delish.

RELATED: 25 Sweet and Savory Cranberry Recipes That Go Beyond the Sauce

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13

Ponche Navideño Mexicano

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (14)

This traditional Mexican Christmas punch will keep both you and your house warm all night long. If you don’t have access to piloncillo, a kind of unrefined cane sugar, or tamarind pods, brown sugar and hibiscus flowers make for excellent swaps.

Get the Ponche Navideño Mexicano recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen.

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14

Cranberry Mimosa

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (15)

You'll certainly feel holly and jolly after these mimosas.

Get the Cranberry Mimosa recipe from Delish.

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15

Pineapple Citrus Punch

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This sweet, fizzy punch will brighten up any winter’s day — particularly with the addition of edible flowers and sliced fresh fruit.

Get the Pineapple Citrus Punch recipe from A Beautiful Mess.

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16

White Grape Punch with Cranberry Ice

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (17)

Pro tip: Fill a few ice trays with fresh cranberries and mint, then top with water, for festive cubes all season.

Get the White Grape Punch with Cranberry Ice recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

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17

Kranky Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (18)

This grinch-themed punch gets its kitschy green hue from lemon-lime-flavored Kool Aid, and a dose of merry cheer from a red sanding sugar garnish. Make like the Christmas villain himself and snag a cup before it’s gone.

Get the Kranky Punch recipe from Delish.

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18

Sparkling Pear Prosecco Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (19)

Put on your fancy pants (with an elastic waistband) and pour yourself a glass of this pretty pink co*cktail.

Get the Sparkling Pear Prosecco Punch recipe from Delish.

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19

Apple Cider Sangria

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (20)

The best way to unwind after a day of cooking, cleaning and wrapping presents is with one of these spicy and sweet beauties.

Get the Apple Cider Sangria recipe from Delish.

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20

Moscow Mule Punch

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (21)

Because if you make a big bowl of this classic mint and lime spritzer, you won't have to play bartender all night long.

SHOP PUNCH BOWLS

Get the Moscow Mule Punch recipe from Delish.

These Punch Recipes Will Turn Your Party Into an Extravaganza (2024)

FAQs

How many gallons of punch do I need for 50 guests? ›

The general rule is to provide one gallon of punch for every 10 guests. A conservative estimate assumes each guest will drink about three four-ounce servings.

What is party punch made of? ›

Directions. In a punch bowl, combine orange juice, water and pineapple juice; chill. Stir in ginger ale just before serving.

How do you serve punch at a party? ›

It's easiest to make glass jugs of punch, which guests can pour out for themselves. Use your imagination: you can use small jam jars as glasses and sip the drink through straws. Normal wineglasses or trendy wineglasses without stems are also stylish options.

Can you make punch the day before? ›

Make-Ahead Punch Tip: Prepare punch through Step 2, except do not add the carbonated beverage or, if using, ice ring and stir-ins. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Add carbonated beverage, ice ring, and stir-ins just before serving.

How much punch do I need for 100 guests? ›

Estimate 1-2 glasses per guest in the first hour, and 1 glass per hour after. Multiply guests by drinks per hour by ounces per drink for total punch needed.

How many gallons of punch do I need for 80 people? ›

If you are looking for a great party punch that can be made in a large 5 gallon jug, will serve a grand amount of folks (80, 8 ounce servings, here) and tastes wonderful…well then this post is for you!

How many gallons of punch do I need for a party? ›

The general rule is to provide one gallon of punch for every 10 guests. A conservative estimate assumes each guest will drink about three servings of four ounces each.

How long before a party should you make punch? ›

Follow this tip: Take advantage of this big-batch drink's make-ahead advantages, but within a reasonable amount of time. Prepare punch the morning of when you plan to serve it, and no more than a day ahead of time.

How do you keep a punch cold at a party? ›

Using regular ice cubes will indeed water down a bowl of punch as the evening progresses. Here are a few basic tricks that'll make sure your punch doesn't lose its oomph while guests circulate. 1. Mix and freeze some punch ahead of time in ice cube trays, and then add them to the punch bowl throughout the evening.

What's the difference between a punch and a co*cktail? ›

co*cktails, on the other hand, tend to treat spirits as the star, and will match the non-alcoholic elements ounce for ounce, or even forgo the add-ins entirely. Punches, therefore, contain significantly less alcohol, and since the highlight is often fruit juices, taste quite a bit sweeter than your standard co*cktail.

What can I use instead of a punch bowl? ›

Colorful Dutch ovens, surrounded by fruit or flowers could look cheery and pretty. (And Dutch ovens are obviously lots more multitasking than a punch bowl!)

What makes a co*cktail a punch? ›

Origins of the name punch

Popular belief has it that name 'punch' originates from the Hindi word for 'five', a reference to the traditional number of ingredients: sour (lime or lemon), sugar, spirit (rum, brandy or arrack), water and spice (nutmeg).

What are the 5 elements of a punch? ›

That story makes sense, especially since traditional punches contain five basic elements: strong (liquor), weak (water), sweet (sugar), sour (citrus) and spice.

Is it OK to put dry ice in punch? ›

While we have seen some recipes that recommend placing dry ice directly into your drinks, we do not recommend this. It's not worth the risk of it possibly touching your mouth and causing severe burns. Instead, we'll teach you how to give the effect of smoking punch without putting the dry ice directly into your drink.

What are the 5 components of punch? ›

The word punch is likely to come from the Hindi word for "five", पंज (panj), for the five ingredients in the recipe: spirit, sugar, spice, sour citrus, and water. By the mid 17th century, Jamaican rum or sometimes Dutch Gin was the prized spirit of choice for this social beverage.

How many people does a gallon of punch serve? ›

Signature co*cktails can to be served punch-style, or pre-poured into glasses and can go a long way. In fact, one gallon can serve up to 10 guests.

How many people will 2 gallons of punch serve? ›

2 gallons will serve 5 people. 30 gallons will serve 75 people. if 2 gallons serve 5 people, then the number of people served per gallon is 5/2 = 2.5. if 30 gallons serve 75 people, then the number of people served per gallon is 75/30 = 2.5.

How to calculate drinks for 50 people? ›

For a 4 hour party with 50 guests, you will need approximately 200 drinks: 80 beers, 72 glasses of wine (15 bottles) and enough for 48 individual co*cktails (amounts will depend upon what type of co*cktail you serve). If you aren't serving wine, plan on 120 co*cktails.

How many gallons of juice do I need for 30 people? ›

Since there are 128 ounces in a gallon, 2.5 gallons of juice is 320 ounces. Since a cup is usually understood to be 8 ounces, this translates to 40 cups in total. Hence, he has enough juice for his party of 30 people, with some juice left.

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