Drinks

Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch Recipe

ByHailey Reed October 31, 2025October 31, 2025

Introduction

This Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch is a festive and flavorful drink that combines tart cranberries, warm spices, and a splash of bourbon for a cozy holiday treat. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this punch balances sweet and tangy notes with a sparkling finish.

The image shows three clear glasses filled with a red drink, each with a layer of crushed ice on top. Floating in the drinks are red cranberries, a dark brown star anise, a brown cinnamon stick standing upright, and a twist of orange peel with a bright orange color curling above the surface. The glasses have a subtle gold rim at the top. Around the glasses, there are powdered sugar-dusted cranberries, dark brown star anise pieces, cinnamon sticks, and a single dried orange slice with a light brown color. The setting is on a white marbled textured surface, giving a clean and elegant look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cinnamon stick (for syrup)
Zest from 1 large orange
6 cups 100% cranberry juice or cranberry pomegranate juice
2 cups apple cider
8 ounces (1 cup) bourbon
3 ounces (1/3 cup) orange liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
1 orange, sliced
4 cinnamon sticks (for punch)
1 bottle (750 ml) champagne
Star anise, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Make the cranberry syrup by combining 1/2 cup water, maple syrup, brown sugar, fresh cranberries, and 1 cinnamon stick in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 5 minutes until the cranberries begin to burst.
Step 2: Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest. If the syrup becomes too thick, add a little water to thin it out. Let the syrup cool, then strain out the cranberries if you prefer a smooth syrup.
Step 3: In a large pitcher, mix the cooled cranberry syrup with cranberry juice, apple cider, bourbon, orange liqueur, and orange bitters. Stir well to combine.
Step 4: Add 4 cinnamon sticks and 1–2 star anise pieces to the punch. Chill the mixture until ready to serve.
Step 5: Just before serving, add ice to your punch bowl and pour in the chilled punch mixture. Slowly add the champagne and stir gently.
Step 6: Stir in orange slices, then ladle the punch into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with sugared cranberries or additional star anise if desired.

Tips & Variations

For a non-alcoholic version, omit bourbon and orange liqueur, and replace the champagne with sparkling water or soda.
Add fresh rosemary sprigs for an extra herbal note that complements the spices.
Use frozen cranberries if fresh are not available; just increase simmer time slightly for the syrup.
To make sugared cranberries, toss fresh cranberries in a simple syrup then coat with granulated sugar and let dry.

Storage

Store any leftover punch base (without champagne) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve again, stir in fresh champagne and orange slices. Avoid storing punch with champagne as it loses its fizz over time.

How to Serve

The image shows three clear glasses filled with a deep red drink layered with crushed ice, deep red cranberries, and topped with garnishes. The top layer has a bright orange peel twisted elegantly, a brown cinnamon stick, a star anise, and some frosted cranberries scattered around. The glasses have a textured pattern and a thin gold rim near the top. They are placed on a dark surface dusted with white powdered sugar, with dried orange slices and more cinnamon sticks and star anise visible around. The overall look is rich and festive, with warm light highlighting the colors and textures. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the punch ahead of time?

Yes, prepare the cranberry syrup and punch base a day ahead and refrigerate. Add the champagne and ice just before serving for the best fizz and flavor.

What can I use instead of bourbon?

If you prefer a different spirit, dark rum or whiskey work well as substitutes. For a non-alcoholic option, simply omit the bourbon and orange liqueur and increase the apple cider slightly.

Hailey Reed