Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch is perfect recipe for holiday meals and gatherings. It also can be changed up for a shortcut hot mulled drink too!
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?!
The ingredients are available all year long. Have it for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July too!
Trust me, after serving it just once, you’ll get requests.
And YOU won’t mind making it because it’s so EASY and delicious!
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An Easy Festive Punch Recipe!
This drink could not be easier to make or more refreshing to drink!
Seasonal flavors of cranberry and ginger in a fizzy punch that is perfect for holidays and parties.
Served with lots of ice, this thirst quenching sipper is light enough to day drink or serve with your meal.
It 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!
Recipe Ingredients
Four simple ingredients make this vodka cranberry punch a winner:
- Cranberry Juice
- Vodka
- Lemonade
- Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
How to Make Cranberry Vodka Punch – Step-by-Step
This is how easy it is…
STEP 1. Mix
Add the Cranberry Juice Cocktail to a pitcher or other glass container (photo 1).
Add the Vodka (photo 2). Add the Lemonade (photo 3).
STEP 2. Chill
Chill the first three ingredients for 2-3 hours to completely chill and allow the flavors to blend.
NOTE: if the ingredients are pre-chilled, the punch only needs to chill for 2 hours.
STEP 3. Add the fizz and ice
Add the chilled Ginger Ale (photo 4) and ice (photo 5).
STEP 4. Garnish
Add slices of oranges, fresh cranberries (if available) and mint sprigs and serve (photo 6).
PRO TIPS
I have a few tips to make your punch perfection:
Use Cranberry Juice Cocktail
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 Ingredients
Chilling the combined juice, lemonade and vodka for a few hours helps to blend the flavors.
It also allows the punch to stay cooler longer when combined with the ginger ale.
Time Saving Tip – Pre-Chill Ingredients
Chilling the ingredients BEFORE combining them, makes this process go even quicker!
NOTE: the ginger ale should always be pre-chilled before adding it to the other three ingredients and the ice.
How to Serve It
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 .
NOTE: add the ginger ale when serving if keeping some ready in the fridge so it doesn’t lose its fizz.
Turn it into a Warm Mulled Punch!
Too cold outside for a chilled punch?
Add all the ingredients together and warm in a saucepan with a ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.
NOTE: Include the ginger ale. It won’t stay fizzy but will add warming ginger flavors.
Serve in mugs by a roaring fire.
It’s like a shortcut mulled cocktail that will take the edge of the briskest of days!
The Only 5 Punch Recipes You Need – Free Printable
Punch recipes are a ‘must have’ for hosting friends and family!
Five of my favorite punch recipes have been combined onto one handy CHEAT SHEET you can print!
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- Party Dips: Great Recipes to Make Any Occasion a Party!
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Recipe
Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch
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.
Video
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
Originally published: November 22, 2016
Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch is a fast and easy recipe to serve a crowd!
Justine says
Love this cocktail! Its perfectly festive.
Anita says
So pretty and festive. This will be the perfect drink for Christmas party. 🙂
Emily Liao says
This sounds and looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this out during Christmas
Stephanie says
I made the mocktail version of this and it was fabulous!
Anna says
Loving this festive holiday drink! Perfect for our Christmas party this weekend!
Holly says
Has anyone tried this using Peppermint vodka? I’m wondering how it would taste with the other ingredients.
Toni Dash says
Hey Holly. We’ll see what responses come in but personally I think the flavor of peppermint and cranberry would conflict with each other and the other flavors. If you try it please let me know how it turns out!
Holly says
Thanks, Toni. That’s what I was thinking as well!
Toni Dash says
Have a fun party! Let me know how ‘our’ strategy works out!
Giovanna says
Hi, I’d like to make this for a holiday party, but there will be close to 40 guests. Should I double/triple this recipe or make more throughout the night? I’ve never served punch before. Thanks!
Toni Dash says
Based on your expected number of guests you’ll need 4 times the punch recipe for 40 servings. If you’ll be serving it cold the thing to think through is not allowing ice to dilute the punch or the ginger ale going flat. If you made the full amount for 40 guests and it sits around those two things will occur.
To make a fresh batch quickly chill all the ingredients a few hours before the party so you can combine it quickly and it will be ready to drink immediately. It might make sense to make a double batch right before your guests arrive. Keep your eye on it and as it begins to get low make the second double batch.
Lucy says
Anyone try with tonic or soda water instead of ginger ale?
Toni Dash says
Hi Lucy. We’ll see what responses come in but I wanted to add the ginger ale really enhances the cranberry flavor. I think you’d find the flavor to be flatter and maybe tangier without the ginger ale but I’m all for an experiment. If you make it please let me know how it turns out!
Pineapples says
Lucy,
I always use lime seltzer water to top off the drink, not ginger ale. And I use frozen limeade, muddled mint leaves and a squeeze of fresh lime. I also love the cranberry and pomegranate juice combination. Experiment and enjoy. Cheers!
Sharon says
If warming this punch, do you add the ginger ale to be warmed along with it?
Toni Dash says
Hi Sharon. Maybe you missed the section of the blog post on warming it? Toward the bottom there is a dedicated section with instructions.
Paige says
Has anyone ever made this with ginger beer instead of ginger ale?
Toni Dash says
Paige I had a reader make this last year for a holiday party with ginger beer and her guests loved it! I think it would be a great substitution that still sticks with the general flavors. Hope that helps!