Sparkling Christmas Punch

This recipe is a part of 24 Days of Holiday Cocktails. Come back every day to reveal a new festive drink and stay holly jolly all season long.

There’s no better way to kick off a Christmas party than by handing guests a glass of Christmas punch as they come in from the cold. Punches can be a conversation starter and are a fun way to break the ice between old and new friends. Plus, because the punch is ready-to-serve there’s nobody stuck playing bartender making drinks to order. 

My favorite holiday punches are bubbly, brightly colored, and easy to make. This recipe combines sweet-tart cranberry juice with vodka and sparkling wine for a ruby-colored cocktail that’s perfect for the season. My secret ingredient of freshly squeezed orange juice makes a light and refreshing punch that everyone will love.

• It’ll get you into the Christmas spirit. Turn up the Mariah Carey, plug in the twinkle lights, and mix up a big batch of this festive beverage. The flavor is perfect for the season with cranberry juice, ginger ale, and fresh orange juice.
• It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Don’t play bartender at your own party; let your guests serve themselves from the punch bowl. 

• Cranberry juice: No-sugar-added cranberry juice blend is made of a blend of cranberry and other fruit juices. Cranberry juice is the prominent flavor, but its tart flavor is balanced by naturally sweeter juices like grape, apple, and pear juices. 
• Orange juice: You’ll need about 3 oranges for 1 cup of juice.  
• Vodka: This neutral-flavored spirit lets the seasonal flavors of cranberry and orange take center stage in this festive Christmas punch. I prefer to buy the French vodka from Costco for its crisp, clean flavor and affordable price tag.
• Ginger ale: Add bubbles and the sweet spice of ginger with ginger ale. 
• Sparkling wine: Because the sparkling wine will be mixed into a punch and not sipped on its own, choose an affordable bottle.
• Ice: Ice can dilute the flavor of any boozy punch, so it’s best to start with pre-chilled ingredients. Add ice just before serving or keep an ice bucket nearby for guests to add to their own glasses. Alternatively, an ice ring will chill the punch while melting slowly: Fill a pan or bowl (such as a Bundt pan) with 4 cups water and freeze until solid. Dip the outside of the bundt pan in warm water to loosen before removing and adding to the punch. 

1. Chill all the ingredients. Refrigerate the sparkling wine, cranberry juice, and ginger ale until cold. If you’re making an ice ring, freeze it in advance.
2. Mix the Christmas punch. Just before serving, combine all ingredients in a 3-quart or larger punch bowl. 

• Liquor alternative. Swapping brandy for the vodka adds deeper, more caramel undertones to the Christmas punch.
• Spice it up. For a spicier kick, use ginger beer instead of ginger ale. 

• Pre-batch the punch by combining the non-carbonated ingredients (cranberry juice, orange juice, and vodka) together in advance. Add the sparkling wine, ginger beer, fruit, and ice just before serving. 
• Refrigerate leftover punch in an airtight container for up to 1 week, but know that it will lose its effervescence.

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