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.
45 Christmas Punch and Batch Cocktail Recipes
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi

A punchbowl full of Christmas punch 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 yourgathering. These punch recipes range from light and tart, fizzy and bracing, to boozy, rich, and warming. Cheers to a happy holiday!

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    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    3/49

    Scotchy Boulevardiers for a Crowd

    If you like aNegroni, you might like a Boulevardier even more when the weather's cold. This version is batched for a crowd, and uses a little Scotch for added intrigue.

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  • Photo by Kelly Puleio
    4/49

    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
    5/49

    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 Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    9/49

    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
    10/49

    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
    11/49

    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
    15/49

    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
    16/49

    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
    17/49

    Golden Milk

    这轻调味饮料,用姜黄和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
    18/49

    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
    19/49

    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
    20/49

    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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  • 21/49

    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
    22/49

    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
    23/49

    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 David A. Land, food styling by Carrie Purcell, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano
    27/49

    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
    28/49

    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
    29/49

    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
    30/49

    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
    31/49

    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
    32/49

    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
    33/49

    The Long Hello

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

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  • Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher.
    34/49

    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
    35/49

    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
    36/49

    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
    37/49

    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
    38/49

    Backwoods Bourbon Punch

    波旁威士忌和葡萄柚汁红石榴和西南eet vermouth in these easy punch recipe. We're partial to the grenadine from Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.

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  • Photo by Shutterstock
    39/49

    Uncle Angelo’s Eggnog With Bourbon and Rum

    What makes this recipe special is its lightness: twice as much milk as cream, and the white of the egg whipped stiff and folded into the mix, so it was almost like clouds on top of the eggnog.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    40/49

    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
    41/49

    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
    42/49

    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
    43/49

    Red Ryder

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

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  • Gabriella Imperatori-Penn
    44/49

    Flaming Brandy Punch

    Stop the show with this mulled red wine punch that's spiked with a flaming ladle of brandy.

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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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