Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (2024)

Wondering what to drink with thanksgiving dinner? Try this easy Thanksgiving Punch! With a few simple ingredients, you can make a delicious fall punchco*cktailor mocktail that will be a crowd-pleaser forkidsand adults at your Thanksgiving dinner feast! Both alcoholic and non-alcoholicinstructionsare included.

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (1)

What is the most popular drink on thanksgiving? If you’re wondering what drinks to serve at Thanksgiving, we’ve got you covered! As a trained chef, it’s no surprise that Thanksgiving is one of myfavorites for the holiday season!

A lot of times we focus on the food but we also need a nice easy fall punch recipe to sip from while everyone lingers. This Thanksgiving punch is perfect for a crowd andkid-friendly with a thanksgiving mocktail recipe option.

We all love the warmingflavorsof cider and cinnamon and adding fruits like apples and oranges and frozencranberries round out the natural flavors and add a lovely fall flavor.

This punch also has pumpkin pie spice mixed in for that extra bit of flavor and to make it feel like fall in a cup!

🍎Thanksgiving Punch Ingredients

  • Apple Cider:This makes up the bulk of the punch and screams fall and Autumn. Purchase your favoriteapple ciderwhile apples are in season!
  • Pumpkin PieSpice:Whisking thisflavor (nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice)intoapple ciderbrings this punch to a new level by adding the perfect amount ofspiceand warmingflavors. Check out my favoritePumpkin PieSpice.
  • Sliced Green and Red Apples:Slicethese up to add some fresh appleflavorand to helpgarnishthe punch.
  • Sliced Orange:Oranges add a fresh citrusflavorthat compliments this fall punch recipe perfectly.
  • Ginger Ale:If you would like to make a non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drink, add in your favoriteginger aleorginger beer. This makes it the bestkid-friendly drink for Thanksgiving.
  • Fresh or FrozenCranberries:Cranberriesadd a pop of color to this punch. You can use fresh or frozencranberries.
  • Champagne:If you’d like to make this an easy alcoholic Thanksgivingco*cktailfor adults, add in some champagne. You could also add a shot of your favorite vodka or whisky for a stronger punch.

🍹How To Make Thanksgiving Punch

1️⃣Dissolve the pumpkin pie spice: In a2 gallon drink jar, or holiday punch bowl, add 2 cups apple cider. Whisk in pumpkin pie spice until any clumps are gone, then add the rest of the apple cider.

2️⃣For a co*cktail: Pour in the champagne.

3️⃣For a mocktail: Pour in ginger ale.

4️⃣Add fruit: Slice up the fruit into thin pieces. Add apples, orange slices, and cranberries (fresh or frozen) to the jar and stir gently.

5️⃣Chill and serve: Refrigerate for 2-3 hours in a large pitcher before serving thanksgiving alcoholic punch cold in garnished glasses.

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Val’s Tips

  • No added sugar: Be sure to buyapple ciderthat doesn’t have any added sugar in it. The juice itself is sweet enough!
  • Develop flavors: This punch is best after sitting in the fridge for about 2-3 hours before serving. This gives enough time for all theflavorsto marry together.
  • Dissolve dry spices: Make sure you whisk in the pumpkin piespicewith a small amount of cider first. This will make sure thespiceseparates so that nobody gets a big clump of pumpkin piespicein their drink.
  • Serve as a co*cktail or mocktail at the same time: Kidslove the non-alcoholic versions just as much as the adults. You can keep this a mocktail for thekidsor non-drinking adults and have a bottle of champagne sitting on ice so that yourguestscan make theirco*cktailsin whatever strength they’d like.
  • Make a large batch: If you’re feeding a crowd for the holiday, feel free to double or triple the recipe. Simplymultiplythe ingredients by the number ofgallonsyou want to make. Serve it in a punch bowl for a festive look!

🍊Flavor Variations

  • Feel free to add other fruits to the mix likepears, plums, sliced lemon, fresh cranberries, blood orange or grapes.
  • Add a cup of cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, or orange juice to add flavor and additional sweetness.
  • You could also add acinnamon stickto the punch for extra flavor and to use as a stirrer.
  • Give it a light bold herb flavor by infusing with some rosemary sprigs or fresh thyme sprigs.
  • If you want to make this more like spiced wine, add in some red wine instead of champagne.
  • If you want an extra decadent touch, rim the glasses with raw or granulated sugar before adding the punch.
  • The gingerflavoris essential to this recipe. You can use ginger ale, or ginger beer to add flavor.
  • My husband’s pro tip:add a shot or 2 of Jack DanielsHoneyWhisky to your glass for an extra boozy drink. Or add whisky, rum, vodka, or your favorite alcohol to taste.

🎅🏻Don’t forget to try out our Christmas Punch Recipe!

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (2)

🧊How To Store & Make Ahead

Making ahead: This thanksgiving co*cktail punch can be made 8 hours in advance if the champagne (or ginger ale is poured in). You can also make the mixture without the fizzy component for up to 48 hours. When ready to serve, pour in the champagne or ginger ale.

Storing: Any leftover punch can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in a large pitcher or jar with a lid. Freezing is not recommended.

🦃More Thanksgiving Drink Ideas

What’s the most popular Thanksgiving drink? We can’t choose, so we’ve made other drinks that are just as delicious as this punch! No more wondering what to drink on Thanksgiving. And don’t worry, they can all be made non alcoholic thanksgiving drinks!

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (3)
  • Thanksgiving Margarita
  • Thanksgiving Moscow Mule
  • Thanksgiving Mimosa
  • Thanksgiving Mojito

FAQ

Can Thanksgiving punch be made hot?

This drink can be served hot, however, I would not use champagne. Instead, pour in your favorite alcohol or add a shot of whisky, vodka, or rum to taste. If you want it non-alcoholic, heat up the apple cider on the stove or crockpot and pour in some ginger ale when ready to serve.

Is there a Thanksgiving Drink?

Yes! This Thanksgiving punch recipe is perfect for the holiday. It’s non-alcoholic, so everyone can enjoy it. But, if you want to make it boozy, feel free to add your favorite alcohol like whisky, vodka, rum, or even red wine.

Would sparkling cider be a good replacement for champagne?

Yes! If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic option, the sparkling cider is a great replacement for champagne. It may be a bit sweeter to taste.

When you add whiskey or vodka, do you also add champagne?

You can add champagne, ginger ale, or sparkling cider along with the alcohol if you like the fizz and flavor.

How much champagne goes in the punch?

A 750ml bottle will fill 12 glasses. If you want to make a larger batch, use a magnum (1.5L) bottle or double the recipe.

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Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (4)

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe

ThisThanksgiving Punch Recipehas all thewarming flavorsof fall! With a few simple ingredients, you can make a delicious fall punchco*cktailor mocktail that will be a crowd-pleaser forkidsand adults at your Thanksgiving dinner feast! Both alcoholic and non-alcoholicinstructionsare included.

4.35 from 650 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 20 (1 cup servings)

Calories: 205kcal

Author: Valerie Skinner

Equipment

Ingredients

MOCKTAIL OPTION

  • 1 Gallon Apple Cider
  • 48 oz Ginger Ale
  • 1 Red Apple sliced thin
  • 1 Green Apple sliced thin
  • 1 Navel Orange sliced thin
  • 1 cup Frozen Cranberries
  • 1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 5 Cinnamon Sticks for garnish and flavor

co*ckTAIL OPTION

  • Replace Ginger Ale with one bottle of your favorite champagne (750ml)
  • Feel free to add your desired amount of Vodka or Whisky for a stronger punch

Instructions

  • In a2 gallon drink jar, add 2 cups apple cider.

  • Whisk in pumpkin pie spice until any clumps are gone, then add the rest of the apple cider.

  • Add in your ginger ale or champagne.

  • Add apples, oranges, and cranberries and cinnamon sticks to the jar and stir gently.

  • Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving cold in garnished glasses.

  • Will keep for 3-4 days in fridge in airtight container.

Video

Notes

Want More Easy Thanksgiving co*cktails?

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (5)

  • Thanksgiving Margarita
  • Thanksgiving Mimosa
  • Thanksgiving Moscow Mule
  • Thanksgiving Mojito

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Sodium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g

Thanksgiving Punch Recipe (co*cktail or Mocktail) (2024)

FAQs

How to make a Thanksgiving co*cktail? ›

Champagne Punch

Mix up a big batch of cranberry juice, pink lemonade, and limeade concentrates, add some white wine, club soda, and Champagne, and garnish festively with lemon slices, fresh mint leaves, and for some serious Thanksgiving flair, whole cranberries. "It's fruity, but not too sweet," says DPRYOR.

What is the most popular drink for Thanksgiving? ›

Think: pumpkin drinks, apple cider co*cktails, and cranberry recipes. Even the classic co*cktails have a Thanksgiving twist, like the cranberry thyme gin and tonic and the apple cider sangria. If sweet drinks are more your speed, try the pumpkin pie martini that doubles as a Thanksgiving dessert.

What drink goes well with Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The Best co*cktails To Pair With Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Apple Butter Old Fashioned. Half Baked Harvest. ...
  • Pomegranate Orange Punch. How Sweet It Is. ...
  • Pumpkin Patch Punch. HuffPost. ...
  • Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margaritas. ...
  • Bourbon Spiked Hot Apple Cider. ...
  • Pomegranate Ginger Paloma. ...
  • Cranberry Chai Sangria. ...
  • Apple Cider Whiskey Sour.
Nov 22, 2016

What makes something a mocktail? ›

Mocktails are non-alcoholic mixed drinks meant to replicate the presentation and complexity of craft co*cktails, just without the alcohol. To make mocktails, bartenders mix combinations of sodas, juices, herbs, and syrups to create unique flavors.

How can I create my own co*cktail? ›

The basic formula for creating a co*cktail is 2:1:1, says Burian. Add 2 parts alcohol, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour to a shaker and shake the ingredients over ice. Strain into a glass with ice, then add your garnish. (If you want something a little lighter, check out these low-alcohol co*cktail recipes.)

What is the best co*cktail for turkey? ›

Probably the most appropriate co*cktail—both in name and flavor profile—for a full-course turkey dinner is the Thanksgiving co*cktail. No matter which seasonings you use, the combination of dry gin and vermouth, sweet apricot brandy, and lemon juice pair perfectly with a savory turkey.

What do Americans drink during Thanksgiving? ›

We drink beer, vodka/flavored vodka, wine, or whatever basic drink or mixed drink aggreed upon to bring to one's Thanksgiving gathering. Not necessarily most, but a lot of Americans don't follow the traditional Thanksgiving meals and make their own choices or traditions of what food to bring, make/have, or order.

What do you drink with turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Zinfandel. There's a reason why Zinfandel has long been a Thanksgiving Day staple—it's one of the best wines with turkey. Jammy, juicy, and fruit forward, these bottles pair gorgeously with both light and dark meats, as well as an array of sides.

What drink did the Pilgrims actually drink at the first Thanksgiving? ›

The answer: hard cider. Here's why. The Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, via the Mayflower in 1621 in the middle of a frigid winter. Though sickness had raged throughout the ship, there was a more pressing issue at hand: They were almost out of beer.

What beverages were served at the first Thanksgiving? ›

What was in the cups at that first Thanksgiving dinner, alas, wasn't documented. Kathy Rudder, an expert in the foodways and culinary history of the Pilgrims at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, says the answer isn't terribly exciting: It was water, she claims. “The Pilgrims drank water,” she says.

What beverage was served at the first Thanksgiving? ›

In place of beer, historian Kathy Rudder shared with The Washington Post that the pilgrims simply drank water. Not only did they not have access to barley or hops, but they also wouldn't have had enough time to brew it all before that first Thanksgiving.

What is the most famous mocktail? ›

The most popular mocktail right now is a Shirley Temple.

What is the basic mocktail formula? ›

A general formula for making simple mocktails is four parts base, one part sour, one half part sweet, and a garnish. Ideas for base: tea. coconut water, sparkling water (flavored or unflavored)

What hard liquor is good for Thanksgiving? ›

Whiskey: Whiskey pairs well with so many fall beverages. It is so easy to add a little bit to any drink to take your autumnal beverage up a few notches. Bonus points if you use a specialty whiskey!

How do you make a Thanksgiving drink with vodka? ›

Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule

Fill two large glasses with ice. Add the vodka and cranberry juice. Add the sparkling apple juice and then fill the rest of the way with the ginger beer. Stir gently to combine and serve immediately.

What is a good signature drink for Thanksgiving? ›

Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour

This fruity combination is perfect for Thanksgiving. The bright berries add a fruity, tart intensity to the finish of each sip. Paired with bourbon, fresh orange and lemon juice, and maple syrup, it makes the best signature drink!

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