Easy Pomegranate Champagne Punch

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/28/22
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 16 to 18 servings
Yield: 1/2 gallon

Pomegranate is an excellent flavor base for a Champagne punch. In this recipe, pomegranate and cranberry juices are accented with a cinnamon twist to create a seasonal taste that is perfect for any autumn or winter party, including the holidays.

To accent the pomegranate-cranberry flavor, the recipe uses a cinnamon syrup for spicy sweetness. Adding the bright flavor of lemon juice and citrus vodka brings balance to the punch base and gives it just a little more dimension. To give the punch an extra dose of sparkle, the recipe includes ginger ale along with a full bottle of sparkling wine.

Champagne Punch Recipe

The Spruce

This Champagne punch is enjoyable year-round and can be customized for any season. Simply switch to a plain simple syrup or a more suitable flavor; a lavender syrup is a fantastic substitute for spring and summer affairs. Serve it for Christmas and New Year's Eve or weddings and housewarming parties and it's sure to impress all of your guests.

Ingredients

  • Seasonal fruits and citrus slices, plus more for garnish

  • 1 cup citrus vodka

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice

  • 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 3 tablespoons cinnamon syrup

  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle Champagne

  • 1 1/2 cups ginger ale

  • Pomegranate arils, for garnish

  • Fresh mint, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place a frozen ice ring or large chunks of ice and some of the fresh fruit in a punch bowl.

    Ice ring for punch.
     The Spruce

  3. Add the vodka, pomegranate, cherry, and lemon juices, and cinnamon syrup. Stir well.

    Fruit punch.

  4. Slowly add the Champagne and ginger ale.

     The Spruce

  5. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and other seasonal fruit, mint, or citrus slices.

    Mint garnish on punch.
     The Spruce

  6. Ladle into individual serving glasses, including a few fruits in each. Serve and enjoy.

    Champagne punch.
     The Spruce

Tips

  • Choose any sparkling wine you like. Though the recipe says "Champagne," other varieties will do just fine. Prosecco is often a favorite and it tends to be a more budget-friendly option over true French Champagne.
  • Keep in mind that Champagnes are often classified as either brut (dry) and sec (sweet). When choosing one, consider how sweet the rest of the punch is. In this recipe, for instance, you might want to go with a dry wine to offset the rather sweet fruit juices.
  • Add the wine and soda at the very last minute. This will keep the punch sparkling throughout the party. To save time, mix the other ingredients in advance and store them in the refrigerator until it's time to serve the punch.
  • You'll notice that many Champagne punches also include ginger ale or another soda. This adds to the carbonation and volume without bringing in any extra alcohol. Feel free to add a second bottle of wine instead.

How Many People Will the Punch Serve?

This recipe makes 75 ounces of punch; just over 1/2 gallon and 16 to 18 servings. The standard punch serving is 4 ounces, perfect for the average small punch cup (with room for ice if needed and space to prevent spilling). Most party planners estimate that each person drinks one glass per hour and that accounts for guests who don't drink and those who drink more. It's easy to adjust punch recipes to fit the size of your party, so increase or decrease it as needed.

  • If you're using a single punch bowl, have some punch in reserve: Mix the juices, syrup, and vodka and store the pitcher in the fridge. When it's time to refill the bowl, pour the punch base along with the wine and soda.


Recipe Variations

  • Pomegranate juice is not cheap. If you want to save money, pick up a pomegranate-cranberry juice blend and use it instead of the individual juices. It won't have the pomegranate focus but it will be just as tasty.
  • Rather than cinnamon, use rosemary syrup. It's made in the same way and its floral flavor is also perfect for a winter Champagne punch.
  • Play with your ice. Adding complementary fruits and herbs in ice cubes or rings while they freeze is a nice touch that adds flavor and style to the punch bowl.
  • Add seasonal fruits. Sparkling punches are meant to be adorned with the best fruits of the season. When in doubt, lemon, lime, and orange slices are always good choices.

How to Avoid Watered-Down Punch

Most parties last for a few hours and you'll want to take steps to keep your punch from getting overly diluted. The best ways are to chill all of the ingredients and use ice rings or big chunks of ice which will melt slower. You can also use fruit juice rather than water for the ice, or mix equal parts of juice and ice. Freezing the sparkling wine is an option, though the alcohol prevents it from freezing as solid as water so it remains a little slushy. Another option is to place the punch bowl in a deep, decorative platter or larger insulated bowl packed with ice. It shouldn't melt too fast but you'll want to keep an eye out for leaks if the party lasts a while.

How Strong Is a Champagne Punch?

Despite adding a full cup of vodka, all of the juices bring this punch down to a pleasant strength for a party. On average, it will mix up to a mild 9 percent ABV (18 proof). That is lighter than a glass of Champagne, so you shouldn't have to worry about too many drunken blunders if a guest has one too many glasses!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
107 Calories
0g Fat
18g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16 to 18
Amount per serving
Calories 107
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 11mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 14mg 69%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 200mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)