Warmth and Flavor: Homemade Christmas Punch Recipes to Embrace the Chilly Season

Christmas punch is a must-have for the holiday season.

When we think of Christmas, we often envision bustling Christmas markets filled with the aroma of mulled wine and freshly baked treats.

Do you have a favorite homemade punch recipe, or do you opt for store-bought punch?

We’ve assembled easy and authentic recipes to make you reconsider buying Punch!

Get inspired.”

A Real Christmas Punch

There’s something special about our family’s Christmas punch recipe that has been passed down for generations.

This traditional punch is a delicious blend of spices and a touch of festive cheer. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavors, and it always brings back heartwarming memories of holiday gatherings with loved ones.

Making this punch has been a cherished tradition in our family, and every sip carries the essence of our shared history and warm celebrations.

And we want to share this recipe with you today!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup apple juice
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• a few whole cloves (optional)
• 2 stars of anise
• 4 cups cranberry juice OR 2 cups cranberry juice and 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2-3 cups champagne OR ginger ale (use your favorite sparkling wine instead, or try non-alcoholic ginger beer for a spicier version)
• orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and star anise for garnish

METHOD

• The day before you make the punch, open the lid of the apple juice container and add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Replace the lid and refrigerate the apple juice overnight.
• The next day, add the apple juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice to a pitcher or punch bowl. If making an alcoholic version, add champagne or sparkling wine. If making a non-alcoholic version, add the ginger ale or ginger beer.
• Stir well to combine, and add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and star anise to the pitcher or punch bowl for garnish. Serve.

Rudolph Punch: Kids-friendly Christmas punch

Kids will love drinking this non-alcoholic Christmas punch at Christmas dinner.

It’s affectionately called “Rudolph Punch,” it’s so simple you don’t even need a recipe for it!

INGREDIENTS

• ginger ale
• cranberry juice
• Green sanding sugar (or coarse sugar)

METHOD

• First, dip the top edge of the serving glasses in water and then dip it into the sanding/coarse sugar. 
• Then, carefully pour cranberry juice into each glass until it’s about halfway full.  Then fill it up with ginger ale.
• Add an ice cube and a straw, and you’re set! Cut regular straws in half so they’d fit little glasses for kids.

Alcohol-free Christmas Punch

Another alcohol-free Christmas punch recipe. Or – if you want to add some alcohol – you can add wine or sparkling wine.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 orange cut into slices
• 6 cloves
• 2 star anise (maybe a little extra for garnish)
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 1 apple, diced or sliced (also for decoration)
• 1 liter of apple juice (or 1 bottle of white wine/sparkling wine)

METHOD

• Put sugar, a few slices of orange, cloves, anise, cinnamon, and almost a whole apple cut into slices (keep the rest for decoration) in a saucepan and boil until syrupy.
• Stir while cooking to prevent the mixture from burning.
• Cook for half an hour, strain everything through a fine sieve, and add apple juice or white/sparkling wine.
• Warm the beverage (it should not boil!)
• Serve with slices of apples, oranges, and star anise.

Swedish Christmas Glogg

Glogg is a sweet, spicy, and warming drink served during the Christmas holidays in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.

This is the adult version of the drink, so don’t serve it to the kids!

Garnish drinks with raisins and slivered almonds. Serve warm with gingerbread cookies.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bottles of red wine with a fruity taste (Beaujolais)
• 1 bottle of port wine
• 3 whole cinnamon sticks
• 14 cloves
• peel of 1 orange
• 1 cup of sugar
• ¾ cup rum
• ¼ cup brandy (optional)
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup roasted almonds

METHOD

• Put all the wine, spices, and orange peel in a pot and cook on a low flame.
• After 20 minutes, add sugar and rum and cook for another 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
• The mixture should bubble, not boil, all the time.
• Serve with raisins and almonds in a separate glass or ceramic bowl.

Mulled Red Wine Punch

This flavourful mulled wine recipe is memorable for how it’s enjoyed: ladled warm into mugs or glasses.

It’s the perfect beverage to savor and enjoy snuggled up with friends on a cold winter’s day.

We also love how the slow simmering of this spiced wine fills the home with pleasing aromas. It’s just the thing to add a festive feel for Christmas.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bottles of red wine
• 1 cup brandy
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 teaspoon whole cardamom
• 2 stars of anise
• 1 lemon, zest scored, thinly sliced

METHOD

• Place wine, brandy, sugar, and maple syrup into a large pot.
• Stir to dissolve sugar. Drop in spices and lemon slices. 
• Bring to temperature on moderate heat until warm, about 20 minutes.
• Serve in tempered glasses garnished with lemon zest, cranberries and orange slices.

English Christmas Punch

This English Christmas punch is a traditional warm drink perfect for holiday parties. It is easy to make and the mix of rum, red wine, and the tea of your choice is fantastic against the citrus fruits.

Use your favorite dark rum and red wine for the punch because almost all of them will do fine. The real decision here is in the tea. Most green and black teas would work perfectly (Earl Grey is a great example). An orange-based tea would be nice as well.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bottle of dark rum
• 1 bottle of dry red wine
• 3 cups of strong black tea
• 2 cups of granulated sugar
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 2 cups seasonal fruit for garnish (orange, cranberries)

METHOD

• Heat the rum, wine, tea, sugar, orange, and lemon juice in a large pot over medium heat.
• Stir until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
• Pour the mixture into a heat-proof punch bowl. Add seasonal fruits like orange slices and cranberries. Serve.

The history of punch is very rich. Its first discovery dates back several hundred years.

Our ancestors already knew about it and used it to cheer themselves up and warm themselves at the festive table, just like we do today.

Although the punch has undergone several recipe changes, its core ingredients remain unchanged.

Alcohol, water, tea, spices, lemon, and sugar still form the basis of this traditional drink. However, the type of alcohol used varies from country to country.

Some use brandy, while others use Jamaican rum or brown rum. There are also other variations, such as punch made with gin or wine. It’s also possible to make a non-alcoholic Christmas punch by replacing the alcohol with juice, making it suitable for kids to enjoy. Adding ginger can give it an extra kick.

If you’re not keen on making punch at home, you can also buy it from different manufacturers in various combinations. However, be cautious of added dyes and other ingredients.

The purchased semi-finished product usually contains around 20% alcohol, while you can adjust the alcohol content in homemade punch according to your preferences.