Festive Fall Punch Recipes To Wow A Crowd

Fall is here and with it comes plenty of hosting duties. Football Sunday, Halloween (for adults and kiddos!), Thanksgiving, and Friendsgiving just to name a few. And, what a better way to celebrate than with a delicious cocktail? But, let’s make it easy on everyone and make it a crowd-serving, festive punch!

Making a big batch of punch is not only a fun way to serve several guests at once, but also becomes a stylish moment for your table. Served in a beautiful punch bowl with coordinating (or not-so-coordinating) glasses, a punch can become the star of your table. You can even glam it up with a stunning ice mold or let guests’ personalities show with a garnish bar. No matter what recipe you choose, you can use the colors and ingredients as inspiration as you plan your linens, such as Autumn Plaid or Buffalo Check.

If you’ve never made a punch before or are simply looking for some inspiration, we’ve gathered five delicious seasonal sips that are sure to impress your guests.

Warm Cider & Rum Punch

Courtesy of Martha Stewart

 Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1 apple, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 orange, thinly sliced crosswise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 -inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 cups dark rum

1. In a large pot, combine apple cider, apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and ginger. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. (Keep warm over low, up to 2 hours.)
2. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Transfer to a punch bowl; serve warm

Pumpkin Pie Sangria

Courtesy of Delish

Ingredients

• 1 bottle white wine, chilled
• 1 bottle sparkling cider, chilled
• 1/2 c. pumpkin pie vodka
• 1 pear, chopped
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice
• Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions

1. On a small shallow plate, combine sugar and pumpkin spice and mix to combine. Rim glasses with a piece of apple and dip glasses into mixture. Set aside.
2. In a large pitcher, combine wine with cider and pumpkin pie vodka. Add chopped fruit and stir to combine. Pour into glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch

Courtesy of Southern Living

Ingredients

• 4 cups apple cider
• 2 ½ cups (20 oz.) bourbon
• 1 (10-oz.) bottle club soda
• ½ cup Thyme Simple Syrup
• 12 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 1 Fuji apple, thinly sliced
• Thyme sprigs

Directions

1. Stir together apple cider, bourbon, club soda, Thyme Simple Syrup, and bitters in a large punch bowl or pitcher.
2. Serve over ice, and garnish with apple slices and thyme sprigs.

Bourbon & Coffee Punch

Courtesy of Thrillist

Ingredients

• 12 ounces brewed coffee
• 6 ounces amaro, any style
• 3 ounces bourbon
• 1½ ounces spiced honey syrup
• 12 dashes Angostura bitters

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with two cups of ice and stir to combine. 
2. To serve, pour into an old-fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with whipped cream (or milk foam) and grated nutmeg.

Blood Orange + Blackberry Rum Punch

Courtesy of Elle Decor

Ingredients

• 1 cup blood orange juice
• 48 oz. natural blackberry soda
• 1 cup rum
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1 blood orange, thinly sliced
• Pansies to garnish (optional)

Directions

1. In a large pitcher filled with ice, add all of the liquid ingredients. Stir gently to combine.
2. Add several blackberries and an orange slice to each glass, and pour the punch into the glasses. Garnish with a pansy if desired, and serve immediately.

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

Courtesy of Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 1 quart pomegranate juice
• 2 cups fresh orange juice, strained
• 2 cups chilled limeade
• One 750-milliliter bottle Prosecco
• Lime and orange slices, for garnish
• Ice
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions

1. In a punch bowl, combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice and limeade.
2. Pour in the Prosecco; float lime and orange slices on top.
3. Ladle into 12 ice-filled glasses, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve.