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Cranberry Cobbler Punch

Cranberry Cobbler Punch (Thanksgiving Punch)

Bright, bubbly, and full of holiday spice, this cranberry cobbler punch is the easiest way to make any gathering feel festive. Mix the base ahead, add the bubbles at the last minute, and let me know in the comments whether your crowd went for the punch or the mocktail!

  • Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Scale

Cranberry syrup:

  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
  • ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
  • 2 cups (200 g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Zest of 1 large orange

Punch:

  • 6 cups (1.4 L) 100% cranberry juice or cranberry-pomegranate juice
  • 2 cups (475 ml) non-alcoholic apple cider
  • 1 cup (240 ml) bourbon
  • ⅓ cup (90 ml) orange liqueur
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) champagne, chilled
  • Star anise, for garnish

Mocktail version (instead of the punch ingredients):

  • 6 cups (1.4 L) 100% cranberry juice
  • 3 cups (710 ml) spiced apple cider
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) orange juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 dashes orange bitters (optional)
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 cups (475 ml) sparkling white grape juice or ginger beer
  • Star anise, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Syrup. Bring the water, maple syrup, brown sugar, cranberries, and cinnamon stick to a boil over high heat. Boil for about 5 minutes, until the cranberries burst. Remove from the heat, stir in the orange zest, and cool. Strain if desired.
  2. Mix. In a large pitcher, combine the syrup with the cranberry juice, cider, bourbon, orange liqueur, and bitters. (Mocktail: combine the syrup with the cranberry juice, spiced cider, orange juice, vanilla, and bitters if using.)
  3. Infuse. Add the cinnamon sticks and 1–2 star anise. Chill until serving.
  4. Serve. Fill a punch bowl with ice. Pour in the punch, add the champagne (mocktail: sparkling grape juice or ginger beer), and stir in the orange slices. Serve over ice.

Notes

  • Make ahead: Mix the punch base up to 3–4 days ahead. Add the champagne just before serving.
  • Cider: Use non-alcoholic apple cider or cloudy apple juice, not hard cider.
  • Sugared cranberries: Soak cranberries in maple syrup, toss in sugar, and let dry.
  • No cranberries in the syrup? Leave them out, or use pomegranate juice instead.
  • Mocktail: The orange bitters are optional. Skip them for a fully alcohol-free drink.
  • Author: SOFIA
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American