Christmas Cranberry Punch Mocktail

How to make a Non-Alcoholic Punch for Christmas

So, this recipe is as easy as it gets, just pour everything together and stir for a perfect holiday punch. Yes, it’s really that easy!

Pomegranate Juice - I use Pom Wonderful brand which you can find with refrigerated juices in the produce section.

Cranberry Juice - 100% Cranberry Juice from Ocean Spray is my favorite, but I do find that it can be a little more tart than guests are used to. Sometimes, I use Cran-Cherry or Cran-Raspberry cocktail juices.

Ginger Ale or Sprite – I am oddly partial to Seagram’s Seven ginger ale but any brand is good, or use a lemon-lime soda Sprite.

Garnish Ideas

Ice ring: Make an ice ring in a bundt pan using water + cranberries + orange slices + pomegranate arils. It keeps punch cold without diluting quickly.

Floating fruits: Fresh cranberries float, so they work in both glasses and punch bowls. However, I don't recommend eating them due to their bitter taste. Pomegranate arils tend to sink to the bottom and can get stuck in straws.

Herbal touches: Float rosemary sprigs or even cinnamon sticks or star anise for aroma and visual appeal.

Sparkle Garnish Idea: Edible Glitter! This is actually a very finely ground mica powder that can be mixed into drinks for a fun, sparkly effect. While edible glitter works best in clear drinks, it adds a subtle razzle dazzle to this drink. The side shot of the drink in the photo below illustrates the effect slightly, but photos don’t do it justice. While edible glitter is considered safe for consumption, but not frequently.

What Are Some Easy Variations?

There are many ways to change up the recipe for your holiday celebrations. Here are a few ideas:

• Christmas Punch with Sherbert: Float 6-8 scoops Raspberry Sherbet Ice cream, or any other flavor you have on hand. These are beautiful in martini glasses.
• Cherry Christmas Punch: Use flavored cranberry juice like cran-cherry or cran-raspberry.
• Glittering Punch: Add some edible glitter to the mix to literally make your drink sparkle!
• Christmas Limeade: Add some fresh lime juice for an added citrus kick.
• Cranberry and Pineapple: One of my favorite combinations is to substitute fresh pineapple juice for the orange juice. It’s a little festive and a little tropical.

Festive Punch for One Recipe

Below are the measurements for a single 16-ounce serving.

• ¼ cup Pomegranate Juice
• ¼ cup Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• a splash of Orange Juice
• 1 ½ cups Ginger Ale or other sweet, clear carbonated beverage like Sprite.

What to serve with Christmas Punch?

Serve: I like to chill the mix until ready to serve. I add the ginger ale, ice and garnishes in right before serving. Want some recipe ideas of what to pair with your punch? We've got you covered:

• Brunch. Apple Crumb Cake, Quiche, Cranberry Chicken Salad would pair well with the fruit notes in this punch.
• Appetizers. A Charcuterie Board, Toasted Ravioli, or Spicy Crab Dip are our most popular appetizers for the holidays.
• Desserts. Biscoff Brownies, Chocolate Bundt Cake, Spice Cake, and Cinnamon Sugar Hard Pretzels are some of our favorite dessert pairings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Store: The mocktail mixture will last up to a week in the refrigerator, as long as you strain out the orange slices and cranberries. They tend to get mushy over time.

Make Ahead: Mix the pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, orange, and lemon juice the day before. Chill. Just before serving top with ginger ale and fruits. The orange slices may soak up the color of the juice, so don't add them ahead of time.