This Cranberry Christmas Punch (with ice ring) is an easy and festive drink to make and perfect for your Christmas brunch, Christmas dinner, Christmas parties, holiday parties or family gatherings. And it's even more fun with this festive cranberry ice ring!
I'm a little crazy about punch and have a few recipes on this site, including my Sparkling Strawberry Punch, Easter Punch and Melting Witch Halloween Punch (non-alcoholic)! Punch is an easy and fun drink that just screams P-A-R-T-Y! It's adored by kids and can be spiked for parents, so it's the ideal family friendly drink. And it's quick and easy last minute drink to make for a crowd. This Cranberry Punch is especially popular during the holiday season (Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years).
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If you are looking for a fun and easy punch to make for your Christmas Party or during the holidays, you'll love this Cranberry Christmas Punch with cranberry punch ring!
I saw this punch ice ring idea in a magazine years ago and have been meaning to make it ever since. It really adds that extra festive look to your holiday punch and you don't need ice cubes!
🥘Ingredients
For this Christmas morning punch recipe, you'll need:
Cranberry Punch:
- cranberry juice (cranberry juice cocktail)
- orange juice
- ginger ale (not seen in photos)
- freshly squeezed lime juice
- Vodka (optional)
Ice ring for punch:
- frozen cranberries
- water
- orange zest
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
How to make an ice ring for punch:
- Fill a 4- 6 cup Jello or metal ring mold with ¾ - 1 ½ inch water (depending on the size of your mold. *I have a 5 cup and I fill it 1 inch. Freeze until solid for about 6 hours.
- Place 2 cups frozen cranberries and the zest of 1 large orange on the ice.
- Fill the mold with water to top.
- Freeze until solid (at least 8 hours or overnight)
Step 5: To remove the ice ring, briefly dip the bottom of the mold in a bowl half-filled with warm water.
Step 6: Immediately float the ring in the punch.
Hint: Add the ice ring in the punch just prior to serving
📖Variations & Substitutions
You don't have to use a mold if you aren't using a punch bowl for this easy holiday drink. You could simply make this ginger ale cranberry punch in a pitcher and add frozen cranberries and/or ice. The cranberries are an extra fun garnish!
- Alcohol - feel free to spike this cranberry punch with 1 - 2 cups of vodka or white rum. If you're having it as a brunch drink, you may not want to do that (or maybe you do? 🙂 )
- Cranberry juice - you can use a blend of cranberry, apple, grape juice etc...
- Sparkling water- use any type of lemon-lime sparkling water you prefer or even lemon-lime soda (but this will make it sweeter) - I just happened to have Bubly on hand
- Lime juice - you could use lime juice from concentrate, but only use ¾ tbsp
- Orange - you could add fresh orange slices as well!
- Cranberries: use fresh cranberries instead of frozen
- Ginger ale - you could substitute ginger beer to make it a bit spicier
🍽 Equipment
You can use a large punch bowl or a trifle bowl, if you don't have a beautiful punch bowl or don't want to get one for this cranberry orange punch. Or you could simply use a large pitcher (affiliate links), if you're not making the ice mold.
If you want to make the cranberry ice ring, you'll need a mold. You can use a metal ring mold (affiliate link) or a Jello/ice ring mold (affiliate link). *This is the one I use for this easy Christmas punch; I like it because it doubles as a Jello mold.
👪 Serving Size
This non-alcoholic Christmas punch recipe makes about 24 servings. But you can half, double, or triple the recipe by simply clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust
🌡️Storage
Store this leftover punch recipe in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight juice jug (affiliate link). You will need to keep the frozen punch ring in the freezer. You can make this festive ice ring in advance, as it will freeze for up to 3 months.
Pro Tip
Check out your local thrift stores for jelly molds for the punch ring, as well as punch bowls. I got my jello mold for $3.99 at Value Village in excellent condition!
If you're looking for the perfect holiday drink for the festive season, that's ideal for your holiday party, you'll love this cranberry holiday punch!
⭐ COMMENTS & REVIEWS
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📋 Cranberry Christmas Punch Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Punch
- 3 cups cranberry juice
- 3 cups orange juice
- 3 tablespoon fresh lime juice *juice of 2 limes
- 3 cups sparkling water (lemon lime flavor)
- 3 cups ginger ale
- 1 ½ cups vodka (optional)
- 4 cups ice or make Cranberry ice ring below
Cranberry Ice Ring for Punch
- 4 cups water, approximately *this will depend on the capacity of your mold
- 2 cups frozen cranberries
- 2 tablespoon orange zest *peel of 1 large orange
Instructions
Punch
- Combine the cranberry and orange juice, ginger ale, sparkling water and lime juice in a large glass punch bowl or pitcher.
- Then add the ice (or cranberry ice ring, if using). Serve immediately.
Cranberry Ice Ring for Punch
- Fill a 4- 6 cup Jello or metal ring mold with ¾ - 1 ½ inch water (depending on the size of your mold. *I have a 5 cup and I fill it 1 inch. Freeze until solid for 6 hours.
- Place 2 cups frozen cranberries and the zest of 1 large orange on the ice.
- Fill the mold with water to top.
- Freeze until solid (at least 8 hours or overnight)
- To remove the ice ring, briefly dip the bottom of the mold in a bowl half-filled with warm water.
- Immediately float the ring in the punch.
Sean
Honestly, I'm not usually all that excited about decorative holiday food and drink, but this is SUCH a good idea. It looks great, it's practical, and it makes good use out of those bundt pans that all-too-often get ignored in our cupboards. Wonderful idea, and fantastic execution!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sean! That's a high honor 🙂 Although, I can't imagine not getting excited about holiday food and drink!
Pam
I love the cranberry wreath. What a great idea!
Terri Gilson
Thank you, Pam!
Colleen
I love this simple but festive holiday punch! I don't have a ring mold, but I'm going to try that awesome cranberry ice wreath in my silicone bundt cake pan. Thanks for sharing!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Colleen! Yes, the bundt cake pan is a great idea! I'd love to hear how it turns out 🙂
Bernice
This recipe is the perfect excuse to dust off my grandma's punch bowl set! I love the old school tupperware cranberry ice mold too. So festive!
Terri Gilson
Dust it off, Bernice! You'll love this one!
Vanessa
The frozen cranberry wreath is so fun and festive!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Vanessa!
Lily Ernst
This is delicious! The girls and I loved it (with vodka, lol)!
Terri Gilson
I'm so glad you enjoyed it (and the spiking of it) Lily!
nancy
this punch is sooo delicious ! We always make this during the holidays!
Terri Gilson
Glad you liked it, Nancy!