Let’s be honest, no holiday party is complete without a big bowl of colorful punch, and there are tons of Christmas punch recipes from which to choose. This collection of Christmas cocktail recipes includes proper punches, big-batch cocktails, and single-serve drinks that can easily be made into a punch by upscaling the recipe. Pick several to delight guests throughout the holiday season and beyond.
Holiday Punch
Jennifer Causey
This Caribbean-inspired punch features sweet pineapple juice, tart lime juice, and three kinds of alcohol: dark rum, Campari, and Prosecco. Add some whimsy to your punch bowl by making an ice ring in your Bundt pan and placing it in the bowl just before serving.
White Grapefruit Ginger Spritz Punch
Christopher Testani
This pretty holiday punch boasts a gingery simple syrup paired with unsweetened white grapefruit juice. Add a bottle of chilled Prosecco, and you have a crowd-pleasing drink that’s a little sweet, a little tart, and satisfyingly effervescent. Garnish the punch bowl with pink slices of Ruby Red grapefruit and sprigs of thyme for a memorable touch.
Bourbon Campari Punch
Christopher Testani
Christmas punches can be pretty retro, and this one leans into those vintage vibes courtesy of a pomegranate aril ice ring that floats in the bowl. This ruby red punch features warming bourbon, bitter Campari, and bright citrus juice to balance everything out. To cut down on prep time during the busy holidays, shop for ready-to-use pomegranate arils.
Minty Moscow Mule Punch
J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler
This party-sized version of a Moscow Mule adds one upgrade: a subtle, cool, and inviting note of mint. The resulting cocktail is every bit as smooth and refreshing as the classic vodka drink that inspired it, but the mint adds a festive freshness that makes this libation holiday-worthy. The spicier your ginger beer, the more fire and bite it gives your punch, so choose accordingly.
Chambord Lemonade Punch
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While this grownup take on pink lemonade makes for a great summer cocktail, there’s no rule that says you can’t serve it at Christmas. In this single-cocktail recipe, which you can easily make in bulk, the lemonade gets a boozy upgrade courtesy of vodka and Chambord. If you like your cocktails fizzy, swap standard lemonade for a carbonated French version.
Sweet and Spicy Mulled Wine
Greg DuPree
Think of mulled wine as a warm punch that’s perfect for winter. While some mulled wines can be sticky-sweet, this bulk cocktail recipe—which makes eight drinks—calls for a hearty dose of black peppercorns and spicy fresh ginger. The result is a balanced and unique punch your revelers will love.
Plaza Champagne Punch
Jen Causey
Try this iteration of the French 75 cocktail. The recipe comes from New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel in its swanky Champagne Bar. It’s a sparkling punch recipe that makes eight servings, so you can sit back and enjoy it with your guests. It calls for gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, tropical tea, and rosé Champagne with some strawberries and lemon wheels for garnish.
Holiday Negroni
Brie Passano
This holiday negroni recipe suits a Christmas party because it’s infused with warm flavors like star anise, cinnamon, and cloves overnight. Serve this eight-serving recipe as a punch, and garnish each glass with a strip of orange zest and whole star anise.
Tarragon French 75 Cocktail
Victor Protasio
This twist on a classic French 75 takes the sparkling wine and lemon drink and replaces the third component—gin—with warming cognac for a more wintry take. Additionally, this cocktail recipe, which makes eight drinks, calls for licorice-scented tarragon that delivers a herby depth of flavor fit for a holiday party.