Simplify your life and get ready for the holidays with this simple pumpkin punch recipe! This seasonal drink is so easy to make, perfect for Thanksgiving and winter holiday parties!
Everyone loves an easy punch bowl cocktail, and this spiced pumpkin punch is a crowd favorite every year!
You can make it for Halloween or Thanksgiving, and it’s easy to prep in advance in no time!
It’s that time of year for holiday punch!
Anything that can be made into a batch cocktail recipe is a personal favorite of mine.
What is a Cocktail Punch?
Punch is defined as a mixture of fruit juices or spices. It may also include alcohol, such as wine or liquor.
Punch bowls usually contain these types of drinks.
Punch is great because it’s super convenient to be able to make in advance, and it’s ready to serve when guests arrive.
Not to mention having a pumpkin punch bowl makes it as cute as it is tasty!
You can either make a mocktail or cocktail version depending on the crowd, and it will easily be a party favorite either way.
Or both! That way, there’s something for everyone.
This particular pumpkin punch recipe has a light and refreshing taste that you can make as spiced or as sweet as you’d like…
Ingredients for an Easy Thanksgiving Punch Recipe
When it comes to Thanksgiving drinks, it’s all about the flavors of fall!
Our pumpkin punch recipe includes canned pumpkin puree, apple cider, ginger ale, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and citrus slices.
But if you’re looking for a fruity punch that’s sweet and sour with a fruity flavor, you can try this Instagram-worthy Classic Rum Punch Cocktail.
While there are plenty of ways to customize your Thanksgiving punch, these are the most common substitutes —
— using pomegranate juice for a tart version of this punch recipe
— adding apple slices for a fall feel
— serve your pumpkin punch with whipped cream on top like pumpkin pie
— add a splash of lemon juice to cut back on the sweetness
How to Make a Thanksgiving Pumpkin Punch Recipe
The beautiful thing about punch recipes is that they’re literally as easy as combining all of the ingredients.
You can serve them from your favorite punch bowl or, in this case, a pumpkin drink dispenser.
This particular Thanksgiving punch is meant to be served chilled.
You can combine all of the ingredients and store them in the refrigerator for a few hours before your guest arrives.
One important thing to note is that the ginger ale will lose some of its carbonation if you make it too far in advance.
Be sure to add your ginger ale or sparkling substitutes just before serving, so you have optimal bubbles for guests!
If you don’t have time to chill the punch mixture, just make sure to chill your liquid ingredient beforehand.
How to Garnish A Thanksgiving Punch
The only thing better than a really great Thanksgiving cocktail is getting to garnish them!
This is where you can really have a lot of fun.
We kept ours simple with slices of lemon and oranges and half of a cinnamon stick.
We love the idea of adding a mini candy pumpkin to the rim of the glass, though!
Especially if you’re making a mocktail version for the kiddos to have something fun to sip on.
If you want a sweeter dessert cocktail, you can serve it with a dollop of whipped cream on top and a dash of cinnamon or cloves for a little spice.
Be sure to let us know if you make a rendition of this pumpkin punch that you absolutely love!
It’s fun getting ideas of how others served theirs, garnished them, or added a playful twist.
More Holiday Recipes and DIYs
And in case you’re looking for some other holiday inspiration to go along with this Thanksgiving pumpkin punch, here are a few favorites —
- Mulled spiced wine recipe
- A spiced pumpkin punch recipe
- Serve them alongside sophisticated DIY sequin pumpkin decor
- Thanksgiving table decor inspiration
- Pumpkin blondies recipe for your after-dinner snack
Pumpkin Punch Recipe
Equipment
- Large punch bowl
Ingredients
- 8 cup apple cider
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup ginger ale
- 2 cup spiced rum replace with 1/2 orange juice and 1/2 ginger ale if making a mocktail version
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- Cinnamon sticks, orange slices and lemon slices for garnishing
Nutrition
Notes
- If you do not have time to chill the punch beforehand, just make sure your liquid ingredients are chilled beforehand.
- For an extra bubbly punch, only stir in the ginger ale right before serving.
Instructions
To make a cocktail punch:
- Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and stir.
- Store in the refrigerator for a few hours prior to your guests arriving since this drink is made to be served chill. Stir mixture again if needed.
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks, orange slices and lemon slices.
To make a mocktail punch:
- Combine the apple cider, orange juice, pumpkin puree, cinnamon and ground cloves in a bowl and stir.
- Store in the refrigerator for a few hours prior to your guests arriving since this drink is made to be served chill. Stir mixture again if needed.
- Add in and stir the ginger ale just before serving so you have optimal bubbles for guests!
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks, orange slices and lemon slices.
Don’t forget to share your Pumpkin Punch with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here, with a few desserts to go along with them.
I don’t know what I did wrong, but my punch is not that color. It’s a murky dark orangey brown and if you don’t stir it frequently the pumpkin settles to the bottom and gives a separated appearance.
Hi Jessica! Oh no! We are sorry to hear. This is the first time we have heard of this issue. Did you use pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie filling? Pumpkin pie filling does have additional ingredients (that could separate in liquids.)
Yum! I love the cocktail glasses, very unique shape..do you mind sharing where you purchased them?
Hi Nikki! The cocktail glasses are from Home Goods. We purchased them last year so we don’t have a current link to them. Hope this helps!
This was a big hit at our girls night!! I didn’t have the cute punch bowl, but everyone loved the punch!!
Must’ve been a fun girls night! Thanks for letting us know how it turned out! XOXO
We actually just made this this past weekend for a small got together and it was a HUGE hit. Seriously everyone who tried it was begging for the recipe. Awesome flavors!
Yay! So glad to hear that all your guests loved it! Thank you so much!
I love how simple this is AND i love how it can be adapted to be kid friendly!
Thank you, Beth! Totally can be kid-friendly and pregnant-friendly! XOXO
This is the first time I’ve had a punch like this. It was so good. Can’t wait to share it with my family at Thanksgiving.
Yay! So happy to hear you loved it! XOXO
What a fun, different punch! I’ve never had a punch with pumpkin before. Tasty and unique!
Thanks, Betsy! Pumpkin is definitely a “different” punch flavor but that’s why we wanted to make something unique! Glad you enjoyed it.