This 3-ingredient cranberry pineapple punch is the perfect holiday drink. It’s vibrant red, sweet, tart, and refreshingly fizzy!
Drinks around the holidays are just as much about flavor as they are about presentation, and we jazz up this cranberry pineapple punch with fresh lime and cranberries for garnish.
Everyone loves sipping on a festive holiday drink, which for me is something I look forward to every year. From Christmas morning punch or Christmas morning mimosas in the morning to slow cooker peppermint hot chocolate or a drunk Rudolph milkshake in the evening.
This cranberry punch is one of my favorite kid-friendly party mocktails to whip up when I’m hosting a gathering. It comes together quickly, tastes great, and looks so pretty!
Cranberry Punch Recipe
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s made with just 3 ingredients!
- Garnishes can be customized to your holiday theme.
- Can be scaled up for larger parties.
- Turn this family-friendly mocktail into a fun party cocktail with a splash of your favorite rum.
Helpful Tools
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Pineapple juice: I use Dole pineapple juice, but any brand will do.
- Cranberry juice cocktail: Not pure cranberry juice! Ocean spray cranberry juice cocktail is less tart and contains added sweetness that pure cranberry juice doesn’t have.
- Ginger ale: Canada Dry Ginger Ale is my choice. If preferred, you can also use zero-sugar Canada Dry.
- For garnish: Sliced lime, fresh or frozen cranberries, and small pineapple wedges.
How to make Cranberry Pineapple Punch
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Pour the pineapple juice, cranberry juice cocktail, and ginger ale into your drink pitcher.
- Step Two: Add sliced limes, reserving some for garnish.
- Step Three: Add some of the cranberries and pineapple chunks to the pitcher.
- Step Four: Pour into glasses, and enjoy! Have some extra garnishes near by in case people want to add a little extra.
Scaling Up For Parties!
The ingredient amounts listed in this cranberry punch recipe are meant for a 60-ounce pitcher. This usually serves about 7, using 9-ounce punch cups.
See below for the amounts you’ll need for either a drink dispenser or a large punch bowl.
For a 1-gallon drink dispenser that serves 12, use the following amounts:
- 4 cups of pineapple juice
- 4 cups of cranberry juice cocktail
- 5 cups of Ginger Ale
- You’ll also need to increase the amount of garnish you slice and add.
For a large punch bowl that serves 20, here’s what you’ll need:
- 64 ounces of pineapple juice
- 6 cups of cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 liters of Ginger Ale
- Add extra garnish as desired.
- Get creative with your garnishes. You can decide which of the lime, cranberries, or pineapple chunks you want to use, and which to leave out.
- Adding a few mint leaves or fresh rosemary sprigs to each glass also looks nice.
- You can also go the extra mile and add red sanding sugar to the rim of each glass.
- If you’re using mason jars or mugs, you could stick a fun straw in each one.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used for garnish. Keep in mind that the longer the cranberries sit in the punch, the more tart the drink becomes.
- If using frozen cranberries, they stain as they thaw.
- I recommend using some of the cranberries in the punch and keeping some for garnish.
- Keep the drinks cold! That way the punch will stay nice and cold for longer without diluting it with ice.
Make Ahead and Storage
How to make ahead
If you want to get a head start on your preparation, you can mix the cranberry cocktail and pineapple juice together and keep it chilled in the fridge. You can also prepare your garnish and keep them store in the fridge as well.
Add the ginger ale just before serving, otherwise it’ll go flat if it’s out too long.
How to store leftovers
If you have punch left over, remove the garnishes and keep the punch covered in the fridge. The soda might be flat by the time you drink it again, but the taste will remain.
FAQs
Can I add alcohol to this cranberry pineapple punch?
You can! You could do something like a flavorless vodka or a splash of rum. If you want to add a bit of flavor, coconut rum is a great option.
What can I use instead of Ginger Ale?
Swap it for Sprite or lemon-lime soda instead.
Need more drink recipes? Try these:
Best Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Click here to view my entire collection of drink recipes.
Cranberry Pineapple Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
- 3 cups ginger ale
For garnish
- 2-3 small limes sliced
- 1 cup cranberries frozen or fresh
- 1 medium pineapple cut into small wedges
Instructions
- Mix pineapple juice, cranberry juice cocktail, and ginger ale into your beverage pitcher.2 cups pineapple juice, 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, 3 cups ginger ale
- Add sliced limes to the pitcher, saving some slices cut for cup garnish.2-3 small limes
- Add ¼ cup of cranberries to the pitcher.1 cup cranberries
- Add pineapple triangles onto the cups for garnish.1 medium pineapple
Notes
- Choose your garnishes: lime slices, cranberries, pineapple chunks—use any combo you like.
- Add mint leaves or rosemary sprigs to glasses for a festive touch.
- Rim glasses with red sanding sugar for extra flair.
- Use mason jars or mugs with fun straws for presentation.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries both work—frozen ones stain as they thaw.
- Cranberries add tartness over time; use some in punch and some as garnish.
- Chill all ingredients beforehand to keep punch cold without ice.
- To store leftovers, remove garnishes and store punch in the fridge.
- 4 cups pineapple juice
- 4 cups Cranberry Juice Cocktail
- 5 cups Ginger Ale
- Add limes, frozen cranberries and pineapple wedges as desired
- 64 ounces pineapple juice
- 6 cups Cranberry Juice Cocktail
- 2 liter Ginger Ale
- Add limes, frozen cranberries and pineapple wedges as desired
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
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Apparently, this recipe didn’t come from authentic punch recipe makers. The “Base” as it is called is frozen. Then chopped into a punch bowl
The ginger ale is poured over the crushed base.
IMPORTANT: Pour some Ginger Ale in bottom of punch bowl BEFORE adding the base. Otherwise the Glass Punch Bowl will Crack!
Hi Serena, it sounds like we just have different methods, which is the beauty of recipes, but I don’t think it’s fair to give my recipe, that you didn’t even make, 1 star, just because it doesn’t match yours 🤔
Our group loved it work lemon lime soda!
Yay, thanks, AJ!
Made it for our work party and everyone loved it! Plus, it just LOOKED festive! Awesome recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for reporting back 🙂