The Best Christmas Citrus Punch

5 from 1 vote

Meet The Best Christmas Citrus Punch—your new holiday favorite! Bright, zesty, and perfectly spiced, this bubbly blend of cranberry, orange, and ginger ale is as festive as it gets. With its vibrant colors and fresh garnishes, it’s easy to make and guaranteed to wow at any holiday gathering. Vegan + Dairy-free!

Prep Time15

Cook Time5

Total Time20

Course: Drinks

Keyword: beverage, christmas, classic, cranberry, drinks, easy, fall recipe, ginger, healthy, holiday, homemade, mocktail, natural, orange, pomegranate, recipe, sweet, traditional

Servings: servings

Calories: 56kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

CHRISTMAS PUNCH:

4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
1 cup orange juice (You can use freshly-squeezed or store-bought)
1 teaspoon lime zest
2 cups ginger ale or lemon soda (I love using Olipop for a healthy twist; See Notes for storage tips before adding)
handful whole star anise
1 pomegranate, just the seeds (arils)
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 orange, sliced thin
3 cinnamon sticks
crushed ice or ice cubes (Use as much as you'd like depending on how cold you need the punch to be)

HOMEMADE SIMPLE SYRUP [OPTIONAL]:

1 cup water
¼ cup organic raw honey (See Notes for other sweetener options)

OPTIONAL GARNISH:

Fresh thyme sprigs
Fresh rosemary sprigs

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

TO MAKE THE SIMPLE SYRUP:

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add together all ingredients, stirring to combine and bring to a boil, about 1-2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.

TO MAKE THE CHRISTMAS PUNCH:

In a bowl, add together the ice, cranberry juice, orange juice, ginger ale, lime zest, cinnamon sticks, star anise, pomegranate arils, orange slices, and cranberries, stirring until combined. Let everything site for a few minutes to "marry together" in flavor.
To serve—scoop punch out into glassware (along with ice if preferred) for all servings and garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs for a bit of pizazz!
Sip and enjoy!

Notes

STORAGE: You can store leftovers in a pitcher or large mason jar that's tightly sealed for 3-4 days. Be sure to omit the ginger ale and just top each drink when serving for optimal freshness.
SERVING SIZE: To make additional punch, simply double or triple ingredients, depending on need.
ALCOHOL: If you'd like to add a bit of fun to this punch, feel free to add 1 ounce of rum, vodka, bourbon, etc.
SWEETENER: If you'd like to substitute the honey for the simple syrup, you can easily use organic brown sugar, organic cane sugar, or maple syrup, instead.

Nutrition