This Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe is a festive and sparkling recipe, which includes tart cranberry juice and bubbly lemon-lime soda. It’s the perfect holiday party drink for kids, ready in about 30 minutes (mostly crafting time).
Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe Ingredients
For the Punch:
- 6 cups lemon-lime soda (48 ounces)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (16 ounces)
- 1 lime, quartered
- Whipped cream, for topping
- 4 maraschino cherries
- Confectioners’ sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
For the Craft Decoration:
- 4 plain-sided pint-size (16-ounce) mason jars
- Black felt
- White felt
- Aluminum foil
- Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors and a ruler
- 4 paper straws

How To Make Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe
- Craft the Santa belts: Heat up your hot-glue gun. Cut four strips of black felt, measuring 1 1/4 inches wide by 7 inches long. Round off one end of each strip to look like a belt tip. Cut four squares of aluminum foil (1 3/4 inches). Snip two vertical slits into each foil square. Slide the rounded end of the black felt through the foil slits to create a buckle. Wrap this belt around the middle of a mason jar and secure it with a dot of hot glue. Repeat for all jars.
- Create the beards: Cut four teardrop shapes from the white felt (approx. 3 1/2 inches wide by 5 inches tall). Cut a hole near the top of the teardrop large enough to fit over the jar’s mouth. Cut out four mustache shapes from the white felt. Glue the mustache to the top of the beard piece.
- Mix the punch: In each decorated jar, pour 1 1/2 cups of lemon-lime soda and 1/2 cup of cranberry juice. Squeeze a quarter of a lime into each jar for a zesty kick.
- Decorate and serve: Slip the white felt beard over the mouth/rim of the jar. Mound a generous amount of whipped cream on top to simulate Santa’s hair/hat trim. Place a maraschino cherry on top for the “nose” or hat pom-pom. Insert a straw and dust with confectioners’ sugar “snow” if desired.

Recipe Tips
- Prep Ahead: You can make the decorated mason jars days in advance. Just store them in a box until the party starts. This saves a lot of stress during the event.
- Soda Options: If you don’t like lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up), ginger ale works beautifully and adds a warm holiday spice flavor that pairs well with cranberry.
- The “Beard” Fit: When cutting the hole in the white felt beard, make sure it fits snugly around the rim of the jar so it doesn’t fall off when kids lift the drink.
- For Adults: To make a “Bad Santa” version, add a shot of vodka, white rum, or coconut rum to the mixture before topping with whipped cream.
What To Serve With Santa Claus Cranberry Punch
This is a sweet treat, so pair it with savory holiday snacks to balance the sugar.
- Pigs in a Blanket: A kid-favorite savory snack.
- Cheese and Crackers: Simple and salty.
- Holiday Cookies: Sugar cookies or gingerbread men.
- Vegetable Platter: To offset the sugary drink.

How To Store Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe
- Storage: This drink is best enjoyed immediately because the soda will lose its carbonation and the whipped cream will melt.
- Leftovers: If you have mixed punch left over (without whipped cream), store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Jars: Save the decorated jars! Hand wash the inside carefully (don’t submerge the felt in water) and reuse them next year.
Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 45g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 42g
- Protein: 0g
Nutrition information is estimated per jar including toppings.
FAQsThis Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe is a festive and sparkling recipe, which includes tart cranberry juice and bubbly lemon-lime soda. It’s the perfect holiday party drink for kids, ready in about 30 minutes (mostly crafting time).
Jump to RecipeSanta Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe Ingredients
For the Punch:
- 6 cups lemon-lime soda (48 ounces)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (16 ounces)
- 1 lime, quartered
- Whipped cream, for topping
- 4 maraschino cherries
- Confectioners’ sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
For the Craft Decoration:
- 4 plain-sided pint-size (16-ounce) mason jars
- Black felt
- White felt
- Aluminum foil
- Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors and a ruler
- 4 paper straws
How To Make Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe
- Craft the Santa belts: Heat up your hot-glue gun. Cut four strips of black felt, measuring 1 1/4 inches wide by 7 inches long. Round off one end of each strip to look like a belt tip. Cut four squares of aluminum foil (1 3/4 inches). Snip two vertical slits into each foil square. Slide the rounded end of the black felt through the foil slits to create a buckle. Wrap this belt around the middle of a mason jar and secure it with a dot of hot glue. Repeat for all jars.
- Create the beards: Cut four teardrop shapes from the white felt (approx. 3 1/2 inches wide by 5 inches tall). Cut a hole near the top of the teardrop large enough to fit over the jar’s mouth. Cut out four mustache shapes from the white felt. Glue the mustache to the top of the beard piece.
- Mix the punch: In each decorated jar, pour 1 1/2 cups of lemon-lime soda and 1/2 cup of cranberry juice. Squeeze a quarter of a lime into each jar for a zesty kick.
- Decorate and serve: Slip the white felt beard over the mouth/rim of the jar. Mound a generous amount of whipped cream on top to simulate Santa’s hair/hat trim. Place a maraschino cherry on top for the “nose” or hat pom-pom. Insert a straw and dust with confectioners’ sugar “snow” if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Prep Ahead: You can make the decorated mason jars days in advance. Just store them in a box until the party starts. This saves a lot of stress during the event.
- Soda Options: If you don’t like lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up), ginger ale works beautifully and adds a warm holiday spice flavor that pairs well with cranberry.
- The “Beard” Fit: When cutting the hole in the white felt beard, make sure it fits snugly around the rim of the jar so it doesn’t fall off when kids lift the drink.
- For Adults: To make a “Bad Santa” version, add a shot of vodka, white rum, or coconut rum to the mixture before topping with whipped cream.
What To Serve With Santa Claus Cranberry Punch
This is a sweet treat, so pair it with savory holiday snacks to balance the sugar.
- Pigs in a Blanket: A kid-favorite savory snack.
- Cheese and Crackers: Simple and salty.
- Holiday Cookies: Sugar cookies or gingerbread men.
- Vegetable Platter: To offset the sugary drink.
How To Store Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe
- Storage: This drink is best enjoyed immediately because the soda will lose its carbonation and the whipped cream will melt.
- Leftovers: If you have mixed punch left over (without whipped cream), store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Jars: Save the decorated jars! Hand wash the inside carefully (don’t submerge the felt in water) and reuse them next year.
Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 45g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 42g
- Protein: 0g
Nutrition information is estimated per jar including toppings.
FAQs
Absolutely. You can use Diet Coke, Diet Sprite, or calorie-free sparkling water to reduce the sugar content significantly.
Yes, you can mix the liquids in a large punch bowl for easier serving. However, you lose the specific “Santa Face” visual effect of the individual jars. You could decorate the punch bowl with a giant belt instead!
Clear plastic cups or standard drinking glasses work just as well. Just adjust the length of the felt belt to fit the circumference of your specific cup.
Santa Claus Cranberry Punch Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes210
kcalA whimsical and interactive holiday drink where mason jars are dressed up as Santa suits, filled with sparkling cranberry lime punch, and topped with a whipped cream beard.
Ingredients
6 cups lemon-lime soda
2 cups cranberry juice
1 lime, cut into wedges
Whipped cream
4 maraschino cherries
Confectioners’ sugar
Craft supplies: Mason jars, black/white felt, foil, glue.
Directions
- Hot glue black felt strips and foil buckles around jars to make belts.
- Cut white felt into beard and mustache shapes.
- Fill jars with soda and cranberry juice; squeeze in lime.
- Place felt beard over the jar rim.
- Top with whipped cream and a cherry.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Notes
- Temperature: Ensure the soda and juice are very cold before mixing, as ice can water down the flavor and ruin the look.
- Straws: Use festive paper straws (red and white striped) to complete the North Pole look.
