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Getting in the Thanksgiving spirit with this Spiced Cranberry Punch. Homemade spiced cranberry jam with warming mulling spices, sweet honey, fresh citrus, and plenty of vodka. Mix everything together to create an easy, festive, pitcher style cocktail that’s simple to create, warming, and delicious. Added bonus? This easy punch is pretty enough to be the centerpiece of your holiday table and can be made ahead of time for stress-free holiday entertaining. It’s the perfect cocktail to serve this Thanksgiving…and even Christmas too!
And here we go! It’s finally time to share the first Thanksgiving cocktail of the holiday season. We’ve got only two Saturdays left before Thanksgiving and I have each day set with cocktails that I’m so excited to share. First, the Thanksgiving “party” punch.
I struggled with just what to call this pretty cocktail because I know many of us are not gathering for large Thanksgiving dinners this year. We’ve all said, it’s going to be a different holiday season. But that doesn’t mean our celebrations should be any less fun, even if they’re on the smaller side.
And let’s be real, no matter the size of your Thanksgiving gathering, everyone needs a good punch.
So whether you’re celebrating with a small group, or there’s just two of you…party punch is essential. And the leftovers are even better come black Friday.
Making this spiced cranberry punch is easy.
The key to this fun drink is the cranberry jam/syrup. It uses fresh fruit just like a jam would, but its consistency is much more syrup-like. It’s a bit of a cross between jam and syrup. Whatever you’d like to call it, it’s a delicious mix of sweet honey, fresh tart cranberries, spicy ginger, cinnamon, plus warming all-spice and cloves. The honey balances out the tart cranberries, while the mulling spices add coziness and warmth. Perfect for a Thanksgiving cocktail
To make the jam, just add all ingredients to a pot. Bring to a boil, boil a minute or two, and done. So simple and easy, but it’s the heart of this drink.
Once the jam has cooled, strain out the mulling spices and burst cranberries. You can either leave some of the burst cranberries swirled throughout the jam, or strain them all out. I like to leave some of the cranberries behind. I love the festive color they add to each drink.
Once the jam has been strained, add it to a large pitcher with cranberry juice, orange juice, and vodka. Chill until ready to serve, then simply top the punch off with sparkling water.
Couldn’t be easier. If you wanted to switch up the alcohol, a spiced rum would be especially delicious and fun too! In fact, I might make a rum version for my family, they’d love it!
Finish it up.
Just before serving, add fresh orange slices. I used blood oranges, but small clementines would be great, and really pretty too.
This cocktail is both refreshing and warming, perfect for a chilly November night, or a snow-filled Thanksgiving Day…which is exactly what I’m hoping for this year. Complete with freshly baked pies, candles, and family.
Already so excited!
Looking for other Thanksgiving cocktails? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Spiced Cranberry Punch, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spiced Cranberry Punch
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 296 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup, using more or less to your taste
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 8 all-spice berries
- 5 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups 100% cranberry or pomegranate juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 1/2-2 cups vodka
- 4-6 (12 ounce) cans sparkling water
- chai spice sugar or cinnamon sugar, for the rim (optional)
- sliced oranges, mint, and star anise, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the cranberries, honey, ginger, all-spice, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes, until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Let cool. Remove the ginger slices, all-spice berries, and cloves. If desired, strain out the cranberries.2. In a large pitcher, combine the cranberry syrup, cranberry juice, orange juice, and vodka. Chill until ready to serve. 3. Just before serving, add the sparkling water. If desired, rim each class in Chai sugar (recipe in notes), then fill with ice and pour the punch over. Garnish each drink with an orange slice and star anise, if desired.
Notes
Chai Sugar: In a shallow bowl, combine 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon all-spice, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, a tiny pinch of pepper, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
Yet another delish recipe and gorgeous presentation. Would you be so kind and post resources for where we can find things like those glasses or the gold rim ones you used in a previous recipe? Thanks so much!
Hey Lucianne,
I love shopping at Anthropologie for most of my glasses. Here is the link: https://rstyle.me/+foTmPzzcV-EahfAYC27jsQ
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Where are your glasses from!? They are SO cute!!!
Hey Morgan,
Here you go: https://www.shopterrain.com/products/gold-rim-stemless-wine-glass?via=Z2lkOi8vdXJibi9Xb3JrYXJlYTo6Q2F0YWxvZzo6Q2F0ZWdvcnkvM0U1MkFEOTc
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks so amazing! Can the syrup be made ahead of time and chilled? I plan on making these for Thanksgiving and would love to do that part ahead of time. Thank you!
Hey Vikki,
Yes, you can totally do that! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So good! Perfect fall drink. Will have this again for our family Thanksgiving.
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you Wanda! xTieghan
Could ground allspice, cinnamon, clove and ginger be used in this recipe instead of whole spices?
Hey Riley,
Sure that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This sounds delightful! What is an allspice berry?
Hey Nicole,
Thanks! You can find all spice berries at your local grocery store in the spice aisle. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks lovely and very Christmasy. I don’t usually make cocktails at Christmas however I might give it a go this year. I just have a question though, could I swap the vodka for gin in this recipe and if not, then can you recommend a festive gin cocktail recipe please?
your recipes are always the best!
Miki x
https://littletasteofbeauty.com/
Thank you Miki!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
That is incredible with the taste of cranberries that is can be combined with other ingredients or with other drinks that can be like an aperitif. It’s great and it can be drunk every day, I really like it, and it does not take much time to make … thank you so much, and all the best .. <3
I am really glad you like this! Thank you! xTieghan
I cannot wait to make this jam. It’s going to be delicious on a leftover turkey sandwich
Hi Karen! I believe you may have commented on the wrong recipe.. Anyway, I hope you enjoy some other jam on your turkey sandwich!! xTieghan
In the post it says sugared chia rim, is that in the recipe?
Hey Michelle,
Yes, as stated it is located in the recipe notes: Chai Sugar: In a shallow bowl, combine 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon all-spice, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, a tiny pinch of pepper, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Good Morning. Looks yummy. I have to sub some things..dietary concerns. Will let you know.
btw when i print our your recipesas is, , The SERVINGS do not print. I try to remember to pencil it in, but do forget.sometimes.
Is it a glitch?
Thanks.. Happy Saturday…Snow coming to Central Oregon today. YEAH!
Hi Mort! I hope you love this recipe! I am not sure why the servings would not be printing, I will look into it! Thank you! xTieghan
Sounds festive. Will give it a try this xmas.
I hope you love this one, Howard! Thank you! xTieghan
T! This looks amazing, but in your end notes, you put the passage for the coconut chicken curry from the other day, just thought I’d let you know ❤
Haha oops! Thank you Sapphire! xTieghan
At the end of the other recipes list it says : Lastly, if you make this Creamy Coconut Chicken Meatball and Noodle Curry. Haha!
Oops! Thank you for catching that Charlotte! xTieghan