Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of planning, from the turkey and side dishes to desserts. But don’t forget about the drinks! This Thanksgiving punch is an easy one to add to your holiday menu.
It’s made with a combination of apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, and ginger ale. The apple cider gives it a little taste of fall, while the cranberry and orange add a fruity tartness. Ginger ale adds some fizz, making it a refreshing drink to serve alongside all those Thanksgiving dishes.
I also like that this is a non-alcoholic punch, so everyone can enjoy a glass, including the kids. It takes just a few minutes to mix together, and makes 16 cups for your Thanksgiving gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Punch
- Just four ingredients – No homemade syrups or special ingredients. Just four easy-to-find ingredients.
- Makes 16 cups – Plenty of punch for Thanksgiving dinner or a holiday gathering.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Thanksgiving holiday punch.
- Apple cider
- Cranberry juice cocktail
- Orange juice
- Ginger ale
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Apple Cider: Apple cider gives this punch a distinct apple flavor and a little more depth than you’d get from regular apple juice. It also brings some of that familiar fall warmth, especially with the subtle cinnamon notes in the cider. It’s what makes this taste like a fall drink rather than traditional fruit punch.
Cranberry Juice Cocktail: Cranberry and Thanksgiving go hand in hand! Use regular cranberry juice cocktail rather than one of the flavored blends like cran-grape, cran-strawberry, or cran-raspberry. Since we’re already mixing in other fruit juices, the classic cranberry flavor is best here.
Orange Juice: Orange juice adds a little sweetness and citrus flavor that balances the tart cranberry. It also helps balance the tartness of the cranberry and brings all the fruit flavors together.
Ginger Ale: Ginger ale adds sweetness, carbonation, and a little ginger bite. Wait until just before serving to add it so the punch stays bubbly.
How to Make Thanksgiving Punch
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
- Combine the juices. Add the chilled apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice to a punch bowl or large serving bowl that holds at least 18 cups. Stir to combine.
- Add the ginger ale. Just before serving, pour in the ginger ale and give everything a gentle stir. You don’t want to stir too much and lose the carbonation.
- Add the frozen orange slices, cranberries, fresh apple slices, and cinnamon sticks to the punch bowl. Serve with a ladle and cups.
Thanksgiving Day Party Punch Tip: Refrigerate all the bottles of juice and ginger ale ahead of time. When it’s almost time to serve, combine the juices in the punch bowl. Add the ginger ale and garnishes just before guests arrive.
Festive Garnishes for Thanksgiving Punch
The garnishes are part of what makes this punch look so pretty on a Thanksgiving table. I like using a combination of frozen fruit and fresh ingredients.
- Frozen cranberries: These add little pops of red throughout the punch and help keep it chilled without watering it down.
- Frozen orange slices: Slice a washed orange into rings and freeze them ahead of time. They look pretty floating in the bowl.
- Fresh apple slices: Add these just before serving for another fall-inspired touch.
- Cinnamon sticks: These add to the harvest look and bring a little seasonal charm to the punch bowl.
Plan ahead for the garnishes
The orange slices and cranberries need time to freeze solid. I like to prepare them the day before so they’re ready when it’s time to set out the punch.
Have extra fresh cranberries? Try my Cranberry Smoothie for another easy way to use fresh cranberries. It’s a creamy breakfast smoothie with cranberry, orange, banana and Greek yogurt.
How to Serve Thanksgiving Punch
When I was a kid in the 70s, I’m pretty sure every household had a punch bowl set. You know the kind, with a matching ladle and all those little cups that hung off the side. Ours was kept in its original box and only came out for special occasions.
Punch Bowl
Punch bowls are a little harder to find these days, especially affordable ones. A very large glass serving bowl works just fine. I found a good selection at HomeGoods, and the bowl you see in my pictures is actually a salad bowl.
If you have a traditional punch bowl that holds about 2 gallons, you can easily double this recipe to fill it.
Ladle
You’ll also want a ladle. Look for a double spouted ladle so the punch pours easily into cups. I couldn’t find one in stores, but if you don’t mind using acrylic, Walmart has disposable ladles for about a dollar. I like the curved handle because it rests over the edge of the bowl instead of falling inside.
Ice
Skip the ice cubes in the punch bowl unless you’re using a large ice ring that melts slowly. Regular ice cubes melt quickly and dilute the punch.
Instead, set out an ice bucket so guests can add ice to their individual cups.
Can You Make This Thanksgiving Punch Alcoholic?
Want to make an alcoholic version? Keep the punch bowl non-alcoholic and set out bourbon, vodka, or spiced rum on the side. Guests can add a splash to their own glasses. That way, everyone can enjoy the punch, including the kids.
More Big Batch Drinks for a Crowd
Looking for more drinks to serve a crowd? Here are a few more big-batch recipes to try.
Thanksgiving Punch
This Thanksgiving punch is a festive, non-alcoholic holiday drink made with fall-flavored apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, and ginger ale. Serve this bubbly punch with Thanksgiving dinner or at your next holiday gathering. It makes 16 cups, so there's plenty to share!
Ingredients
- 5 cups apple cider, chilled
- 5 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
- 2 cups orange juice, chilled
- 4 cups ginger ale, chilled
- Optional garnishes like frozen cranberries and oranges, apple slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise
Instructions
- Combine the apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice in a punch bowl or large serving bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Just before serving, add the ginger ale and stir gently.
- Garnish with frozen orange slices, frozen cranberries, fresh apple slices, and cinnamon sticks.
Notes
- Use a bowl that holds at least 18 cups.
- Double the recipe if you have a large 2 gallon punch bowl.
- Refrigerate all juices and soda ahead of time.
- Add ginger ale just before serving to preserve carbonation.
- Don't add regular ice cubes directly to the punch bowl, unless you make a large ice ring that melts slowly. Serve ice separately.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 105Sodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 26gSugar: 23g
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the brands and types of juice and ginger ale used.