Recipe Roundup

49 Best Christmas Punch and Batch Cocktail Recipes

Turn up the festivity factor at any holiday party with these Champagne punches, boozy riffs on hot chocolate, non-alcoholic sippers, and more.
Photo of a creamy milk punch for Christmas in glasses with a pitcher alongside and a plate of cookies.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi

A punchbowl full of Christmas punch or a pot full of wassail makes for a better party; a holiday party is definitely more fun (for everyone! including the host!) when the drinks are by the dozen. Here are a few of our favorite Christmas punches and batched cocktails, all made in advance so you can actually enjoy your gathering. These punch recipes range from light and tart, fizzy and bracing, to boozy, rich, and warming. Cheers to a happy holiday!

  • Photo of a creamy milk punch for Christmas in glasses with a pitcher alongside and a plate of cookies.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    1/49

    Mike's Milk Punch

    Try this frothy, creamy cocktail instead of eggnog to kick off your Christmas festivities.

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  • Photograph by Kelly Puleio
    2/49

    Tingly Pomegranate Rum Punch

    There are only a few ingredients in this party-friendly pomegranate-rum punch.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    3/49

    Gourmet’s Classic Eggnog

    What makes this recipe special is its lightness: the cream is whipped before blending with the remaining ingredients, and the egg whites are whipped stiff and folded in, so the final concoction is cloudlike in the glass.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Gerri Williams, Food styling by Micah Marie Morton
    4/49

    Wassail

    Warm apple brandy mixed with fresh cider and cranberry juice, aromatized with a bevy of warm spices is just the thing to keep you cozy during you next holiday movie marathon.

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  • Photo by Kelly Puleio
    5/49

    The Blaylock

    It's our philosophy that everyone deserves a special beverage even if they're not drinking booze. This nonalcoholic cocktail (please don't call them mocktails!) still tastes really fancy without any spirits. Fresh grapefruit and honey are just perfect together. 

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    6/49

    Under-the-Mistletoe Punch

    This punch recipe easily scales down by half, or even all the way to festive drinks for two.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    9/49

    Raspberry and Thyme Hot Toddy Punch

    Serve this festive, warming punch to welcome guests in from the cold or along with dessert at the end of a Christmas Eve feast.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    10/49

    Apple Cider and Rum Punch

    Hard ciders can range from bone-dry to rather sweet, so take a sip and adjust the simple syrup if needed.

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  • Photo by Kelly Puleio
    11/49

    Sneaky Peat

    This tart and slightly savory Christmas punch recipe brings together cranberries, smoky Scotch, and a bit of long-steeped oolong tea. Fresh lemon keeps things lively and bright.

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  • Photo by Bobbi Lin
    12/49

    Earl Grey–Bourbon Punch

    Turn this punch recipe up a notch with a decorative ice ring.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    17/49

    Buttered Rum Hot Chocolate

    Butter adds velvety texture and comforting flavor to this special-occasion cocktail, a combination of our two favorite winter warmers.

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  • Photo by Kelly Puleio
    18/49

    Perfect Circle

    The simple combination of sharp Campari and salty fino sherry makes for a spritz that quenches your thirst and works wonderfully with potato chips, olives, or aged cheeses.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Judy Mancini
    19/49

    Golden Milk

    This lightly spiced drink, made with turmeric and coconut milk, is similar in flavor to chai. A touch of honey adds just the right amount of sweetness, while the ginger and black pepper add a little heat.

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  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    20/49

    Evening in Kingston

    Sparkling wine and Jamaican rum make for a compelling riff on the Negroni. Plus, it's a quick finish once it's batched.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    21/49

    Quick Cider-Mulled Wine

    This pared-down mulled wine recipe is great for impromptu entertaining this weekend.

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  • Photo by Peden + Munk
    22/49

    Blackberry Collins

    Not a fan of blackberries? This cocktail recipe will be just as good with blueberries—or any other berry you like.

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  • 23/49

    All She Wrote

    The Italian bittersweet vermouth called Punt e Mes is the secret to this bold but low-alcohol concoction.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    24/49

    Spiked Rose Lemonade

    Delicate rose water (a common ingredient in Middle Eastern sweets) and tart lemonade are a refreshing combination in this pretty pink drink.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    25/49

    Matcha White Hot Chocolate

    This rich and creamy white chocolate has tropical notes thanks to the coconut milk, plus a boost of caffeine and bold green color from matcha powder.

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  • Photo by Kelly Puleio
    26/49

    Islay and Olive

    Think of this as a big-batch dirty martini, though it has a few tricks up its sleeves. Made with a touch of smoky Scotch, it's earthy and olivey.

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  • Photo by Linda Xiao
    27/49

    Pineapple-Hibiscus Cocktail

    We love the citrusy sour flavor of hibiscus, not to mention its amazing color.

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  • Photo by Ted Cavanaugh
    28/49

    Moneygun Hot Toddy

    At Moneygun in Chicago, they make this hot toddy in a French press. It's the perfect answer to what to drink on a chilly night.

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  • Photo by David A. Land, food styling by Carrie Purcell, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano
    29/49

    Pimm's Royale Punch

    Who says that Pimm's is just for Pimm's Cups? Add Champagne, and it becomes an especially refreshing punch.

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  • Photo by Danielle Levitt
    30/49

    Rosy Boa Cocktail

    Freshly squeezed winter grapefruit juice combines with pomegranate juice and holiday season–appropriate ginger beer in this sprightly tequila punch complete with a chile-salt rim.

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  • Tara Striano
    31/49

    Rompope (Mexican Milk, Egg, Spice, and Liquor Punch)

    Rompope is served chilled, often over ice, but it can be served warm, which is how I prefer it when cold weather sets in. Either way, it's rich, velvety, fragrant, and certainly full of cheer.

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  • Photo by Christopher Testani
    32/49

    Fish House Punch

    This punch — containing rum, Cognac, and peach brandy — is potent. If it packs a bit too much of a wallop for your taste, you can dilute it with cold black tea, a common mixer for this particular punch, or with seltzer water, for a bit of fizz.

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  • William Hereford
    33/49

    Mother's Ruin Punch

    Traditionally, punch is made with some kind of spice element. We satisfied that requirement with this tea-infused vermouth.

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  • Photo by Gabriella Imperatori-Penn
    34/49

    Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

    Nothing could be more Christmas-ready than this sparkling red and green stunner of a punch.

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  • Cedric Angeles
    35/49

    The Long Hello

    Go festive with this floral, slightly fizzy, apple-brandy punch.

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  • Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher.
    36/49

    French 75 Punch

    Gin takes the place of cognac in this large format version of the classic champagne cocktail.

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  • John Kernick
    37/49

    Gin Punch

    Behold the greatest reason to use tea cups: A fruity gin punch that gets bubbly with the addition of Champagne.

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  • Photo by Daniel Krieger
    38/49

    Boathouse Punch

    This citrusy gin, rosé wine, and Aperol cocktail can be prepped up to 24 hours in advance—just make sure to add the sparkling wine just before serving.

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  • Sara Remington
    39/49

    Painful Punch

    More flavorful and higher in alcohol than your average sangria, this punch relies on inexpensive Spanish wine.

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  • Photo by Annabel Mehran
    40/49

    Backwoods Bourbon Punch

    Bourbon and grapefruit juice meet grenadine and sweet vermouth in these easy punch recipe. We're partial to the grenadine from Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    41/49

    Thanksgiving Sangria

    The warm spices and fall fruits that make this punch perfect for Thanksgiving also render it the ultimate drink for a Christmas cookie swap.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    42/49

    Champagne Punch With Brandy and Citrus

    Eye-opening notes of lemon, lime, and grapefruit keep this festive punch from heading into ultra-sweet territory—and fresh mint seconds the motion.

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  • Photo by Andrew Purcell
    43/49

    Slow Cooker Hot Toddy

    This festive, spiced toddy starts with a black tea base. English breakfast tea is especially good with the black pepper and star anise, but Earl Grey would be nice, too.

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  • Sivan Lewin
    44/49

    Red Ryder

    Make sure to use plain, unflavored rooibos tea, which will complement the other punch ingredients.

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  • Sarah Shatz
    47/49

    Mulled White Wine with Pear Brandy

    Like a delicate warm sangria, this drink is the perfect accompaniment to a cozy evening indoors.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    48/49

    Matcha-Mint Sparkler

    This non-alcoholic lime-mint-matcha combo is a great pick-me-up—but a splash of rum turns it into an invigorating cocktail.

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  • 49/49

    Everything Good Cocktail

    Our final idea for the best Christmas punch for a party is this make-ahead cocktail, which brings together mezcal and orange liqueur, plus a touch of chocolate bitters. Think of it like one of those foil-wrapped chocolate oranges in the foot of your Christmas stocking, but boozy. 

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