Midnight Frost Christmas Punch is a sparkling, jewel‑toned holiday drink built on cranberry, pomegranate, and fresh orange juice, perfect as a big‑batch mocktail for parties. It pours a deep festive red and can be topped with soda or sparkling water for a light fizz.
Ingredients
For the punch:
- 4 cups cranberry juice, chilled
- 2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
- 2–3 cups lemon‑lime soda, ginger ale, or sparkling water, chilled (add to taste just before serving)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (optional, for extra tartness)
- 2–4 tablespoons simple syrup or honey, to taste, if you prefer it sweeter
For garnish (optional):
- Orange slices
- Fresh cranberries and/or pomegranate arils
- Fresh mint or rosemary sprigs
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Mix the juice base
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and orange juice.
- Stir in lime juice if using. Taste and add simple syrup or honey a little at a time until the sweetness is where you like it.
- Chill
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours so the flavors meld and the punch is thoroughly cold.
- Add fizz and garnishes
- Just before serving, gently stir in lemon‑lime soda, ginger ale, or sparkling water so it stays bubbly.
- Add ice, orange slices, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and herb sprigs directly to the punch bowl for a wintry look.
- Serve
- Ladle into glasses. If you like, sugar the rims first by dipping them in orange juice and then in sanding sugar for a frosty effect.
Tips
- Use 100% juices (not from concentrate if possible) for the brightest flavor and color.
- Add the fizzy component in small batches if the punch will sit out a long time, keeping extra soda chilled to top up.
- Turn this into an adults‑only version by replacing part of the soda with dry sparkling wine or a splash of vodka, keeping overall sweetness in check.
FAQs
Can I make Midnight Frost Christmas Punch ahead of time?
Yes. Mix all the juices and chill up to a day ahead. Wait to add soda and ice until just before serving so it stays bubbly and doesn’t get diluted.
How do I keep it cold without watering it down?
Freeze some of the punch base in an ice ring or large cubes and use those instead of plain ice; they’ll chill the drink without diluting the flavor as they melt.