This festive, kid-friendly Snowball Christmas Punch is the perfect non-alcoholic Christmas punch that will delight the entire family. This colorful punch is sure to impress, featuring a fizzy blend of cranberry and orange juices topped with creamy vanilla ice cream. It’s also known by other names like “Santa Snowball Punch” or “Christmas Punch,” depending on the variation. It is an easy Christmas punch to make, and its vibrant look and refreshing taste make it the perfect festive treat for your holiday gatherings. Grab your punch bowl and serve this sweet, sparkling treat for a memorable holiday experience!
Growing up, my mother always had some libation in the punch bowl at Christmas, so it was natural that I carry on the tradition with my children. That’s when I developed this super easy yet flavorful Snowball punch.
A few ingredients combine to make a delicious punch bowl full of wintertime excitement. I usually make this at least once during the holiday season, even now that my kids are grown.
The key is to make this right before your guests arrive so the snowballs stay cool. Also, have the other ingredients chilled; if you want, add ice cubes.
If you want to host a kids’ winter party, try making a blue-tongued snowball punch and serving snowball cookies and other snow-related treats.
Why You Will Love This Festive Punch Recipe
Kid-friendly and Non-Alcoholic. This punch is perfect for creating a festive drink reminiscent of an ice cream float. It also has the added bonus of being a non-alcoholic punch that the whole family can enjoy, making it a delightful addition to holiday gatherings.
Simple to Make, Yet Delightfully Festive. This punch is easy to prepare for your Christmas party with just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort. Its fizzy texture, colorful presentation, and creamy “snowball” ice cream topping make it a hit at holiday gatherings. Don’t stop there, though. Kids love this served up at their birthday party, too.
Customizable and Crowd-Pleasing. The recipe is versatile—you can adjust the sweetness by swapping ginger ale for club soda or experimenting with different juice combinations. It’s ideal for parties, buffets, or any festive celebration where you want to wow your guests without much effort.

Snowball Punch and The Return Of The Punch Bowl
The tradition of using ice cream in punch has a long and delightful history. It was popularized across the United States and Canada during the mid-20th century. Communal punch bowls, often graced with floating scoops of ice cream, became a staple at weddings, baby showers, and holiday celebrations. Recipes featuring this combination frequently appeared in cookbooks and homemaking magazines, blending practicality with creativity. In Canada, this festive tradition mirrored the American trend, incorporating bright juices like cranberry and orange to reflect snowy holiday aesthetics.
The “snowball” effect of floating vanilla ice cream, evoking freshly fallen snow, made these drinks especially beloved during Christmas. This visually appealing touch was matched by the balance of creamy ice cream, the tartness of juices, and the sweetness of soda, creating a perfect harmony for all ages.
Today, the resurgence of punch bowls owes much of its charm to period dramas that reintroduce their historical significance. Shows like “Bridgerton” and “Emma.” depict punch bowls as elegant centerpieces at Regency-era gatherings, highlighting their role in fostering social connection. Moving into the late 19th century, “The Gilded Age” and “Sanditon” showcase punch bowls at opulent parties and seaside gatherings. At the same time, “Downton Abbey: A New Era” presents them as fixtures of early 20th-century aristocratic life.
These period dramas revive nostalgic traditions and position punch bowls as stylish and functional elements of modern festivities. Blending history with whimsy, Snowball Christmas Punch continues to capture the holiday spirit, proving that this cherished tradition remains timeless and universally delightful.
Let’s Prepare The Snowball Punch Recipe.
To make your Snowball Christmas Punch, select a large punch bowl. Chilling the bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes is optional but can help keep the punch cooler longer. It’s also a good idea to take the frozen concentrated Minute Maid orange juice out the night before and let it partially thaw in the fridge. This makes it easier to mix into the punch.
Once thawed, pour the orange juice into the chilled punch bowl (if you’ve chosen to chill it). Then, add 7 cups (55 oz) of Ocean Spray cranberry juice for that perfect balance of tartness. Follow this with 8.5 cups (68 oz) of Schweppes ginger ale for a fizzy, refreshing base. If you prefer a less sweet option, swap the ginger ale for club soda to maintain the effervescence without the added sugar.


Scoop generous portions of vanilla ice cream onto the surface of the punch to cover it entirely. Be sure to leave about three inches of space at the bowl’s top to allow the ice cream to expand with the fizzy foam. This ensures the punch doesn’t overflow.
Before slicing the orange for garnish, wash it thoroughly under cold water to remove any lingering chemicals or wax that may have been applied to the skin. This will help ensure the orange’s flavor doesn’t affect the overall taste of the punch.


Finally, garnish the punch with slices of vibrant orange and frozen cranberries to add a festive touch and keep the punch cold.


If you’re serving very small children, it might be safer to use disposable cups instead of the glassware that comes with the punch bowl to avoid any potential spills or breakage.
Serve the punch with a ladle, including some ice cream for that fun snowball effect!
Warning: Kids have been known to overconsume this fizzy treat and get tummy aches from the combination of sugary soda and ice cream. Monitor their intake and limit their drink amount to avoid discomfort.

Ingredients:
Concentrated Orange Juice: This part of the punch is essential as the orange juice tones down the sweetness of the pop and the cranberry juice. As we are using it frozen, it also aids in keeping the punch cool.
Cranberry Juice: I used Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice in this recipe. The cranberry adds a tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the soda and a lovely pinkish-red color to the punch.
Ginger ale: A quality ginger ale is better than a low-quality one when making this punch, as higher-quality pop will have more actual ginger flavor. Also, low-quality brands tend to be a fair bit sweeter.
Vanilla Ice Cream: Whether you choose natural vanilla ice cream or French vanilla, the ice cream adds a smooth, luxuriousness to the punch. Of course, you will want to use the whitest ice cream option due to the name Snowball Punch.
Frozen Cranberries: These tart fruits offer a pop of red for the festive time of year and add ice to the drink, helping to keep it cold. It’s also fun to watch kids’ faces when they pop one of these tart berries open for the first time.
Orange Slices: When washed and sliced, these add visual appeal to the surface of the punch.

Concentrated Orange Juice: This is the one portion of the snowball punch besides the ice cream you want to include and switch.
Cranberry Juice: In this recipe, I used bottled cranberry juice. However, concentrated cranberry works just as well. If you don’t like cranberry juice, you can switch it out entirely for another red juice to get the pretty pink color.
Ginger Ale: This can be a bit sweet for some palates. Club soda in place of ginger ale works well to reduce sugars. Alternatively, a lemon-lime-flavored pop may be more to your liking.
Vanilla Ice Cream: Remains—If you want a pure snow look, be sure to find a very white vanilla.
Frozen Cranberries: They can be replaced with fresh cranberries or substituted for strawberries, raspberries, or jarred maraschino cherries.
Orange Slices: If you have mini mandarins but no oranges, they, too, will work. Just be sure to remove any seeds that may be hiding in the fruit before adding the punch to avoid a choking hazard.
Looking for another bit of complexity in your punch. I have also added canned pineapple juice to the mix with good success. If you want to make the drink even more fanciful, add cinnamon sticks for a warm, spicy touch that perfectly matches the holiday flavors.
For a festive touch, make an ice ring or cubes with frozen cranberries and orange slices to keep the punch chilled.

Expert Tips and Serving Suggestions For Christmas Snowball Punch:
Tip #1: Keep Your Punch Cold. If you’re hosting a gathering and want the punch to stay cold, chill the bowl ahead and add a few ice cubes. Be careful not to add too many ice cubes, as they will melt and water down the drink.
Tip #2: Perfect for Buffets and Kid’s Parties. This punch is fantastic for buffet-style parties or kid’s holiday gatherings. Its fancy presentation and kid-friendly flavors make it the perfect festive beverage for casual events.
Tip #3: Ladle Carefully to Avoid Spills. Be sure to ladle the punch over the bowl to avoid unnecessary spillage. Often, the punch ladle that comes with punch bowls isn’t overly neat in pouring, so this method will keep things tidy.
This Snowball Christmas Punch is a simple recipe that’s perfect for your next holiday party during the Christmas season. With its easy recipe, you can quickly prepare this fizzy, festive drink that will be a hit at any gathering, adding a touch of sparkle and cheer to your celebrations with fanciful punch glasses. Whether you’re hosting a casual get-together or a more formal holiday dinner, this is the perfect drink to bring a touch of whimsy to your holiday parties.
If you have any leftover punch, don’t let it go to waste! Store it in a large pitcher in the fridge, ensuring that it’s covered with either a lid or plastic wrap to keep it fizzy and fresh. Kids won’t mind when the ice cream has melted into the punch as it retains that creamy, festive flavor. Just be sure to cover it to prevent the punch from losing its carbonation and becoming flat. You can easily enjoy the punch the next day, making it a great way to stretch this easy Christmas punch into another round of holiday fun.
If you loved this festive Snowball Christmas Punch recipe, please consider leaving a rating and sharing your thoughts in the comments! I’d love to hear how this recipe worked for you and if it became a hit at your holiday gatherings. Feel free to share any of your favorite holiday recipes or fun drinks that made your celebrations even more special. Your feedback is always appreciated. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas Snowball Punch a Non-Alcoholic Beverage
Equipment
- 1 Punch Bowl
- 1 Ice Cream Scoop
Ingredients
- 1 Can Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice
- 55 oz Cranberry Juice 1.6litres Cranberry Juice
- 67 oz Ginger Ale One 2L bottle
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Orange Slices
- Frozen Cranberries
Instructions
- Add the concentrated orange juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale to the punch bowl.
- Stir the mixture until the orange juice has mostly dissolved.
- Scoop vanilla ice cream over the surface of the punch.
- Add a few orange slices to the top of the ice cream.
- Sprinkle a handful of frozen cranberries on top for garnish.
- Serve immediately.