35 Holiday Punch Bowl Cocktails to Make This Party Season

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 2

This mocktail is for any and all non-drinking guests...just give everyone the option of adding rum, if it suits their fancy. "This rum-less rum punch is honestly just as easy to make as that lemonade," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen explains, "but the combination of sweet and tart flavors tastes way more special." It's also a cinch to multiply for a crowd. It’s the perfect drink to serve alongside kids' Christmas crafts. Set up a crafting station with supplies for holiday ornaments, festive garlands, or handmade cards, and keep everyone refreshed with this delightful mocktail. It’s sure to make the crafting session feel even more festive!

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, no cook
• Serves: 15

The cocktail that serves itself is a gift that keeps on giving. "This large-batch cocktail combines fresh mint, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, vodka and, my favorite part, sparkling wine," writes recipe developer Erin McDowell.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

"When you make these spiked cinnamon lattes, you can leave the boozy brew in your slow cooker on the low setting and it’ll stay warm for hours," McDowell explains. Just leave the Crockpot on next to a ladle and mugs for easy serving. Pair with your favorite Christmas movie for a cozy evening.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, no cook
• Serves: 8

This, a few friends and an epic playlist are all you need for a great New Year's Eve. "I've already shown you a few of my favorite ways to enjoy some bubbly, from boozy gummy bears to watermelon Champagne," McDowell writes. "Here is another sophisticated way to serve sparkling wine to a crowd."

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

Take it from McDowell: "It tastes basically like dessert in a glass—a grown-up's alternative to hot chocolate, if you will." Double the recipe for a crowd and serve it straight from the pot.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Sure, you can add liquor to store-bought eggnog and call it a night. Or you can wow your guests with the real thing. "This recipe takes only 15 minutes to prepare, and then you let it chill in the fridge for about an hour, or until guests arrive," McDowell says. Adding spiced rum is optional (kind of).

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe (optional)
• Serves: 4

Double the seven-ingredient recipe in your slow cooker instead of on the stove so it stays hot throughout the whole party. Oh, and there's whole spices, fresh citrus and brandy. Thank me later.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12 to 14

Aka the cashmere sweater of cocktails. "This hot toddy is extra festive, thanks to cranberries and tangerines instead of lemon juice," McDowell writes. "I swap in rum and brandy for traditional bourbon and garnish everything with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries."

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Candied rosemary garnishes FTW. The cocktail's gorgeous presentation will definitely get you bonus points with any tough-to-please relatives at the party.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

Red wine + apple cider = a match made in wintry heaven. And it'll leave your house smelling absolutely divine, thanks to the star anise and cinnamon sticks that steep in the vino. Need I say more?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Cinnamon, cardamom and ginger—oh my! I'll take three. Bourbon is the recommended spirit for this holiday punch bowl cocktail recipe, but I think the base would pair well with spiced rum, vodka or prosecco too.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8 to 10

Starring your favorite blanc and a generous glug of brandy. Just keep in mind that this sweet sip is more alcoholic than it tastes, so take it nice and slow (or pair it with Christmas dinner).

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Keep it virgin for the kids' table and spike a second batch with rum, vodka or Champagne. For the adults, keep a light hand with that Ocean Spray, or opt for 100-percent cranberry and pomegranate juices instead of juice cocktail for a tarter flavor and darker color.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

"Thanks to Lillet Blanc, they’re slightly lighter, sweeter and more floral (read: more crowd-pleasing) than the O.G. version," former PureWow food editor Heath Goldman asserts. Better yet, the fresh lemon juice brightens up the holiday punch bowl cocktail just right.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Soul-warming bourbon meets tart pomegranate juice and bubbly Prosecco to create a wintry drink for the books. Go the extra mile by freezing cranberries, blood oranges and rosemary sprigs in the ice cubes.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

In case you didn't get your fill of apple season by Thanksgiving, this is the ultimate holiday cocktail for your taste. Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top for a little extra zing, or use a festive cookie cutter to slice the apples.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Three words: Chai. Sugar. Rim. If you need more convincing, let me tell you that this drink can be made ahead and stored in the fridge until cocktail hour. Sound like a plan?

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten-free, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

This Mexican staple that'll satisfy your eggnog craving is as easy as soaking rice in water overnight and blending until smooth. Then, it's time to pick your poison, if you want it boozy. Rum or coffee liqueur would both taste divine.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Pumpkin butter is the secret to this holiday punch bowl cocktail’s magic. Find some at the supermarket or make your own if you're feeling ambitious. I promise it's an easier task than you think.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

The fresh grapefruit and lime juices will show your guests what citrus season is all about. The thyme perfectly complements it all, as does the spicy ginger beer and warming star anise.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Thanks to bubbly ginger beer, I'm bookmarking this pick for New Year's Eve, too. There's nothing I'd rather sip when the ball drops than this potent-yet-sophisticated sipper crowned with pomegranate arils.

How about New Years Fashion Resolutions!

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, no cook
• Serves: 6

Wet a few rosemary springs, roll them in sugar and let them dry for the ultimate pièce de résistance. Just like that, you have a Santa-approved garnish that your guests will want to snap photos of.

Staying in for New Years? Try these NYE Movies!

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4 to 6

The buttered batter for this holiday punch bowl cocktail is made with brown sugar, maple syrup and warm winter spices. Excuse me while I drool into my glass.

Planning New Years Dinner?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 12

I may or may not be planning on adding a few scoops of fruit sherbet to the holiday punch bowl. (Your guests wouldn't be mad about little cocktail umbrellas in their cups either—they'd add some kitschy pizazz, IMO.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten-free, no cook
• Serves: 4

Wassail is an old-school Yule drink made from mulled cider and spices. Start with store-bought cider or try making your own. (You can even just boil apple juice and spruce it up with seasonal spices if you're feeling extra lazy.)

Need NYE Outfit ideas?!

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, gluten free, <30 minutes
• Serves: 16

Whole bottles of bourbon and sparkling wine? That's one way to land yourself on the naughty list, especially if you splurge on Champagne. (But TBH, it's worth it.) Pair with a classic Christmas appetizer, for the perfect holiday evening.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 8

You can never have too many five-ingredient party cocktails up your sleeve, right? Add some pomegranate seeds, and it becomes a five-star beverage in a flash.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 6

Just dump all the ingredients in a pitcher, stir them to combine and refrigerate the holiday punch bowl cocktail overnight. Then... voila! It's a (low-effort) Christmas miracle, if you ask me.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 20

Let's just say the holiday punch bowl is your oyster. This versatile recipe works with Champagne, Prosecco or Cava—whatever you have on hand. Just go with something labeled "brut," meaning dry.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 12

Spike it with coffee liqueur, coconut rum or even white chocolate liqueur for the ultimate grown-up treat. You can also garnish with a candy cane, which would add a pop of color (and a tasty note of peppermint).

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
• Serves: 6

I love it when my drink is pretty enough to double as a decoration. Coconut milk and coconut cream bring the snowy-white hue, while tequila, orange-flavored liqueur and rum bring the party.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Sorry kids, this drink is for party guests 21 years old and up. Made with bourbon, hazelnut-flavored liqueur and Irish cream, grown-ups will swoon over this nostalgic sipper.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 12

This classy number is a total crowd-pleaser, ensuring that your guests will stay properly served as the night goes on. That way, you won't worry about having to whip up individual cocktails, which always makes hosting ten times harder.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 10

I'd serve this Insta-worthy drink at Christmas morning breakfast. This holiday punch bowl cocktail is both flavorful and effervescent, making it the ideal drink to accompany quiche, pancakes and everything in between.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
• Serves: 2

Another alcohol-free recipe that can be spiked (and easily doubled, tripled or quadrupled), if you want it to be. Whether you add booze or not, that red color makes it ho-ho-holiday ready.