Sparkling Cranberry Orange Holiday Punch
This festive punch combines cranberry juice, fresh orange, ginger ale, and sparkling wine for a crowd-pleasing drink that looks as good as it tastes.
It comes together in minutes and serves 12-16 people from a single batch.
Why You’ll Love It
Ready in under 10 minutes with no cooking required.
Easily scaled up for larger gatherings.
Beautiful ruby-red color that looks stunning in a glass punch bowl.
Can be made alcoholic or kept family-friendly with simple swaps.
The cranberry-orange combination tastes festive without being overly sweet.
Floating cranberries and orange slices create an impressive presentation with zero effort.
Ingredients
4 cups cranberry juice cocktail – chilled
2 cups fresh orange juice – about 4-5 oranges, or store-bought
1/2 cup fresh lime juice – about 4 limes
1/4 cup simple syrup – adjust to taste
1 bottle (750ml) sparkling wine, prosecco, or champagne – chilled
2 cups ginger ale or lemon-lime soda – chilled
1 cup fresh cranberries – for garnish
1 orange, thinly sliced – for garnish
Fresh rosemary sprigs – optional garnish
Ice or ice ring
Steps
1. Chill all liquid ingredients thoroughly before mixing – warm ingredients will melt the ice too quickly and dilute the punch.
2. In a large punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
3. Stir well to combine and taste for sweetness, adding more simple syrup if desired.
4. Just before serving, add the chilled sparkling wine and ginger ale.
5. Stir gently to combine without losing too much carbonation.
6. Add ice or a decorative ice ring to the punch bowl.
7. Float the fresh cranberries and orange slices on top.
8. Add rosemary sprigs if using for an aromatic touch.
9. Serve immediately using a punch ladle into glasses.
Helpful Tips & Substitutions
For a non-alcoholic version, replace the sparkling wine with additional ginger ale or sparkling apple cider.
100% cranberry juice is more tart than cranberry juice cocktail – if using it, increase the simple syrup to 1/2 cup.
Make a decorative ice ring by freezing cranberries and orange slices in a bundt pan filled with water or juice.
Use a dry sparkling wine rather than sweet to balance the fruit juices.
Vodka or white rum can be added for a stronger punch – about 1 cup total.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice makes a noticeable difference in flavor over store-bought.
Keep a backup bottle of ginger ale chilled to refresh the punch as it gets low.
Serving Ideas
Serve in a clear glass punch bowl to show off the beautiful color and floating garnishes.
Provide a set of punch cups or use wine glasses, champagne flutes, or mason jars.
Set up a self-serve drink station with the punch bowl, cups, and cocktail napkins.
Rim glasses with sugar for an extra festive touch.
Pair with appetizers like cheese boards, crackers, and cured meats.
Offer the non-alcoholic base separately for guests who prefer it, with the sparkling wine on the side.
Make-Ahead & Storage
The juice base (cranberry, orange, lime, and simple syrup) can be mixed up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated in a covered pitcher.
Do not add the sparkling wine or ginger ale until just before serving or they will go flat.
Prepare the ice ring up to a week in advance and store in the freezer.
Fresh cranberries and sliced oranges can be prepped a day ahead and refrigerated separately.
Leftover punch without carbonation can be refrigerated overnight – add fresh ginger ale before serving again.
This punch does not freeze well due to the carbonation and fresh juices.
The Life of the Party
A good punch does double duty – it looks impressive as a centerpiece while also keeping guests happily refreshed.
The tartness of cranberry balanced with sweet orange and bubbly sparkle hits all the right notes.
Set it out and let guests help themselves while you actually enjoy your own party.
