Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail -

Brighten up your holiday table with this Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail! Bursting with apple cider, fresh cranberries, and a blend of warm fall spices, this crowd-pleasing drink is as cozy as it is refreshing—perfect for guests of all ages to enjoy. Completely Vegan.

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail in a small glass

If you’re looking for the perfect drink to serve with Thanksgiving dinner, let me introduce you to my easy, go-to Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail! With just a handful of simple ingredients, this punch comes together in minutes and is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

Sure, Thanksgiving is all about the food—from crispy-skinned roast turkey to Pumpkin Pie—but let’s not forget the drinks. A big pitcher of fruity, festive punch is my favorite way to get everyone in the holiday spirit, and this drink is packed with seasonal flavors so you can spend less time mixing drinks and more time enjoying the company and cooking up all the cozy classics!

For more holiday drinks try my Apple Cider Mocktail, Vegan Eggnog or this Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail!

What is A Mocktail?

So if you’re sitting here thinking, what is a mocktail? Let me explain. A mocktail is like a party in a glass, minus the hangover. It’s a delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic drink that’s packed with all the flavor and complexity of a traditional cocktail but without any of alcohol.

Whether you’re a designated driver, a health-conscious human, or just someone who wants to enjoy a delicious drink without the buzz, mocktails are the perfect solution.

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail topped with pomegranate arils, cranberries, and a rosemary sprig

Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Mocktail

Bursting with cozy fall flavors like apple cider, cranberries + warming spices
Simple + quick to make, perfect for busy holiday prep
Festive, family-friendly & alcohol-free for everyone to enjoy
Beautifully complements rich Thanksgiving dishes, adding a bright, refreshing sip
Make-ahead friendly, so you can relax and focus on cooking (and company!)

How to Make Thanksgiving Punch Mocktails

This mocktail is served chilled, so there’s no cooking necessary. Which is a nice bonus on Thanksgiving, when every burner and oven rack can be taken by a side dish! All you need to make this Thanksgiving punch is to gather the ingredients, mix and serve!

Ingredients

Here’s what goes into this spiced punch:

MOCKTAILS:

Apple cider. You can use store-bought apple cider, or make your own!
Maple syrup. This is a vegan-friendly liquid sweetener that adds rich, fall favors to your punch.
Apples. I like to use one red (Gala) and one green (Granny Smith) to add tart and sweet flavors to the punch.
Cranberries. You can use fresh or frozen berries.
Spices. I can’t get enough of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice this time of year.
Ginger beer. For topping (You can also use sparkling water or seltzer if preferred)

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:

Fresh rosemary sprigs
Sliced apples
Fresh or frozen cranberries
Pomegranate arils

SHOP MY FAVORITE DRINKWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES!

Here, I’ve curated a list of drinkware and mocktail essentials that I use to achieve my favorite drinking experiences, especially with this Thanksgiving Punch Mocktails. Everything from my fave glassware, cocktail shakers, ice cube trays, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Closeup of a Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail topped with pomegranate arils, cranberries, and a rosemary sprig

Garnishes For This Thanksgiving Mocktail

The decorations for this festive punch are the fun part! You can make them extra festive and fun with sliced and colorful fresh toppings like:

Fresh rosemary. Thyme would also work well!
Ginger beer to add fizz and extra sweetness
Sliced apples (use a mixture of red and green)
Cranberries
Pomegranate seeds
Cinnamon sticks
Star anise

Spruce Up Your Mocktail with Fancy Ice Cubes

Of course, you can always use regular ice cubes, however, if you’re looking to take things up a notch with your Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail, I recommend making some fancy ice cubes —which are SUPER EASY! See my Orange Thyme Ice Cubes or Blueberry Ice Cubes recipes! You literally stir together the ingredients, pour it in your favorite ice cube tray, set it and forget it for a minimum of 3-4 hours (or overnight) until ice cubes are formed.

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail next to a halved pomegranate

How To Make Your Own Apple Cider

If you’d prefer to make your own batch of apple cider, no worries—I’ve got you covered! You can make your own apple cider easily in a slow cooker, which is the easiest way to do so without requiring your full undivided attention. Of course, you can slowly simmer everything over the stovetop if you don’t own a slow cooker.

What Is The Best Type Of Orange Juice To Use?

For me, I prefer squeezing my own fresh orange juice to ensure I know exactly what’s in it. However, there are plenty of fantastic alternatives available, so there’s no harm in opting for bottled juice to skip the squeezing step. Just make sure to check that it’s 100% pure orange juice.

Can I Add Alcohol?

If you’d like to serve this Thanksgiving drink as a cocktail, you can add your favorite alcohol to the mixture. The best types of alcohols (just about 1 ounce or so) that work great with this apple cider-citrus-apple-ginger flavor combo is:

Gin
Rum
Champagne
Tequila
Whiskey
Vodka

For a more « cocktail-feel » without the alcohol, I love using Ritual Zero Proof alcohol alternatives.

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail Q + A’s

More Fall + Festive Mocktails to Try Next!

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.