Thanksgiving Punch Recipe

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!

photo of a thanksgiving punch recipe 

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…

photo of a thanksgiving punch recipe

photo of a punch bowl recipe

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 

photo of thanksgiving cocktails and pumpkin punch bowl

easy spiced punch recipe

photo of the ingredients to make a thanksgiving punch

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.

 photo of a thanksgiving punch in a pumpkin punch bowl

photo of thanksgiving cocktails

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.

photo of an easy thanksgiving cocktails recipe

photo of a pumpkin punch bowl and thanksgiving cocktail

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 —

photo of pumpkin punch with text

photo of a thanksgiving punch recipe

Sparkling Thanksgiving Punch Recipe

Print Recipe
4.83 from 34 votes
This easy punch recipe is the perfect Halloween or Thanksgiving cocktail recipe for a refreshing pumpkin drink.
Total Time6 minutes
Course Cocktails, Mocktails
Cuisine Punch

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

Serving: 1g | Calories: 200.58kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.55g | Protein: 0.7g | Fat: 0.36g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 11.76mg | Potassium: 273.2mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 21.58g | Vitamin A: 5553.23IU | Vitamin C: 13.24mg | Calcium: 26.96mg | Iron: 0.81mg
Servings: 12
Calories: 200.58kcal

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.
KEYWORD: thanksgiving punch

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.

Please note that we may earn a commission for some of the above affiliate links. However, products featured are independently selected and personally well-loved by us!

14 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Punch Recipe”

  1. 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.

    Reply
    • 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.)

      Reply
    • 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!

      Reply
  2. 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!5 stars

    Reply
  3. 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.5 stars

    Reply
    • Thanks, Betsy! Pumpkin is definitely a “different” punch flavor but that’s why we wanted to make something unique! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

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