Need a light, refreshing seasonal cocktail for a crowd? Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch is perfect recipe for holiday meals and gatherings. It also can be changed up for a shortcut mulled drink too! Please always drink responsibly!
As everyone is bustling around thinking through the delicious recipes they’ll make for their Thanksgiving feast, the drink aspect of the meal is often forgotten about. We always have sparkling juice on hand for our kids who get to drink from special goblets I bought them for fancier occasions such as holiday meals or dinner parties with friends.
My husband and I typically have champagne or wine with our Thanksgiving meal but there are hours of hanging around before actually dining. Having a fun punch on hand keeps the mood festive and bright. Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch is just the ticket for fall and winter gatherings! And don’t you love that color?!
Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch could not be easier with four simple ingredients: cranberry juice, vodka, lemonade and ginger ale. It’s light and refreshing. Served with lots of ice, this thirst quenching sipper is light enough to day drink or serve with your meal.
Boulder is a very health conscious hamlet and I kept running into ‘just cranberry’ types of juice when shopping for my punch ingredients. This type of juice is not sweetened. As much as I love antioxidants, I don’t recommend using unsweetened cranberry juice for this punch; it’s too tart. Classic cranberry juice cocktail (or sweetened cranberry juice) is what you’ll want to use.
Chilling the combined juice, lemonade and vodka for a few hours helps to blend the flavors and allow it to stay cooler longer when combined with the ginger ale (which should be pre-chilled before adding it to the other three ingredients) and the ice. Use a punch bowl, glass dispenser with spigot or a pitcher. This punch is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday gatherings or just to keep in the fridge in case someone pops over (add the ginger ale when serving if keeping some ready in the fridge).
Too cold outside for a chilled punch? Add all the ingredients together (ginger ale included; it won’t stay fizzy but will add warming ginger flavors) and warm in a saucepan with a ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Serve in mugs by a roaring fire. It’s like a shortcut mulled cocktail that will take the edge of the briskest of days!
This easy Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch recipe can be whipped up in no time and served from a punch bowl or in individual glasses. It’s a festive cocktail to make any holiday or party a memorable occasion!
Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch
This simple punch is refreshing and gorgeous in ruby red tones. It can be served cold over lots of ice OR warmed on the stove top with some spices for a quick mulled cocktail as well!A shortcut for the 2 hours of chilling may be accomplished by having all ingredients chilled beforehand. Allowing the flavors to mesh together before serving is preferred.The total time is for chilling.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Cranberry Juice Cocktail
- 2 cups Vodka
- 2 cups prepared Lemonade
- 2 cups Ginger Ale (chilled)
- Garnish suggestions: sliced citrus fruit , fresh cranberries, mint leaves
Instructions
- Combine the cranberry juice, vodka and lemonade in a large jar or glass dispenser and chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
- Just before serving add the ginger ale and several cups of ice (if using a punch bowl an ice ring may be used). Serve in 8 ounce glasses. The recipe may be doubled for larger gatherings.
Recipe Notes
TIPS:
- A shortcut for the 2 hours of chilling may be accomplished by having all ingredients chilled beforehand.
- Allowing the flavors to mesh together before serving is preferred.
Shauna says
Now this is a drink I could get behind. LOL. I would have to make it and serve it at dinner, though, because I have a feeling if I begin drinking while making dinner I would drink it all 🙂
Debra says
I love this as a holiday gathering drink. I’m not a fan of mulled wine, which many parties I go to serve – I’ll be making this at our annual Santa party
Toni Dash says
I feel like mulled wine has its place but I love this light, fresh flavor!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I love this! This is absolutely the perfect cocktail for a holiday get together. I love the flavors.
Jen Rattie says
This is the best holiday cocktail I’ve seen in a long time. Cranberry is a classic holiday flavor, and vodka is the king of cocktails.
Catherine Sargent says
This punch sounds so yummy. I will have to add it to my drink list for my Christmas wrapping party with the girls.
Toni Dash says
It would be perfect for that!!
Melissa @ Married my sugar daddy says
Definitely the quintessential drink for the holiday season! Thanks for the cocktail inspiration-can’t wait to try this for the thanksgiving holiday!
Kelly Hutchinson says
This looks so refreshing! It would be perfect for my next holiday party!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Gorgeous cocktail! I love cranberry.
Meagan says
It looks to beautiful to drink! I bet a lot of people would like this for part of their Thanksgiving dinner.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
My sister and I will be the hosts for our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. This cranberry vodka punch will be the perfect drink to serve! Thanks for the idea.
Lisa Favre says
Yum, yum, yum – is all that I can say! I would LOVE to make this for holiday parties!
Kim @ What's That Smell? says
You had me at vodka. Seriously though that looks amazing and would look beautiful on our holiday table. *almost* too good to drink
Vera Sweeney says
Oh my gosh this looks so good!!! You really can’t go wrong with a good punch like this for holiday get together!
Tara says
I enjoy a good punch over the holidays. This looks scrumptious. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Pam says
I really have never done much with cranberries other than making cranberry sauce. This is a fun grown up way to use them.
Amanda Love says
It looks so festive! I would definitely serve this for the Holidays, at least after the kids are sleeping or if we’re hosting an adult only party! I’m sure it tastes amazing!
Meagan says
I’m sure this is great for a party. I have friends who would love it.
Nicole says
Your punch pictures are beautiful. It’s such a pretty drink, and with all those wonderful flavors, I’m sure it tastes good.
Amy Desrosiers says
This is such a gorgeous drink for the season. I love vodka based drinks and know this would be delish!
Claudia Krusch says
This looks soooooo good! I can’t wait to make it for our Thanksgiving party!
Merry Kuchle says
Yum! We have people coming over after Christmas. This looks like the perfect cocktail to serve!
Lisa Bristol says
Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch looks so delicious and refreshing. It will be perfect for my Holiday party. I will have to make some this weekend to give it a try.
Elizabeth Lampman says
I think this Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch will be a big hit at my next party. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some.
Jo says
Oh wow! These look so amazing. I could definitely use one of these right about now!
Reesa Lewandowski says
i think this will be a must this holiday season! how delicious!
Theresa says
This is such a great holiday drink! I really do love the red color. It makes it look so festive on the table!
Hali @daytodayMOMents says
Sounds delicious, and what a beautifully festive looking drink too. 🙂
Kristi says
Yum. I find cranberry such a refreshing addition to drinks, even in the summer out on the deck but of course for fall as well.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This drink looks like a nice refresher to the season.
It is very colorful and cheerful. Probably would lighten up the darker, cloudier Fall days. 🙂
Jeanine says
I love the colouring, very festive! Looks and sounds delicious, and anything with cranberries on top I would love to give a try!
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
One of my favorite alcoholic drinks is cranberry juice and vodka so this is right up my alley. YUM! It is very festive too.
Melissa @ Married my sugar daddy says
You had me at cranberry juice and vodka!! Can’t wait to try these-Sooo excited!!
Kiwi says
Well this is definitely going to spread some holiday cheer! Wow this look good!
Amy Desrosiers says
I love vodka based drinks and would certainly give this a whirl. I know my husband would love for me to make this for us for Thanksgiving.
Rosey says
I like that you can serve it hot or cold. Must be the way you feel at the tie that determines which to have.
Rachel@yourtablecloth.com says
Happy Thanksgiving
Christina Aliperti says
This sounds like a drink I would really enjoy. Sounds delicious and looks so pretty and festive.
Tonia @TheChattyMomma says
Wow, these look absolutely delicious. They are perfect holiday drinks, color and all.
Tom says
Looks good. Easy to make as ingredients are readily available. Taste? not bad…kinda boring.
Julie says
Can you sub club soda or seltzer for the ginger ale
Toni Dash says
The ginger ale really contributes to the flavor Julie. I think this substitution would dilute the flavorsand leave something missing. If you want to try it my suggestion would be to make a small test batch to see how you like it before making a batch to serve if entertaining.