Thanksgiving Drink Recipes: 13 Easy Thanksgiving Drinks with Ingredients & Simple Steps

Thanksgiving dinner gets all the attention — but the drinks are what your guests are holding in every photo. This roundup of 13 Thanksgiving drink recipes covers everything a host needs: big-batch Thanksgiving punches for a crowd, festive Thanksgiving cocktails (apple cider margarita, pumpkin pie martini, maple bourbon sour), and sparkling non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drinks and mocktails for kids and anyone skipping alcohol.

Every recipe below comes with the full ingredients, exact quantities and simple steps, so you can shop once and mix without stress. Most of the punches can be made ahead, which means one less thing to do while the turkey is in the oven.

Short on time? Start with the Thanksgiving Punch (5 minutes, serves 12), the Cranberry Orange Cooler for an easy everyone-drink, or the Apple Cider Margarita if you want the cocktail guests will ask about.

Planning ahead for December too? Bookmark our 13 Christmas Drink Recipes — dirty sodas, Grinch punch, Jack Frost cocktails and more.

The 13 Thanksgiving Drinks at a Glance

Big-batch punches: Thanksgiving Punch · Hot Cranberry Punch · Caramel Apple Punch

Cocktails: Cranberry Orange Cooler · Apple Cider Margarita · Apple Cider Mule · Apple Cider Sangria · Pumpkin Pie Martini · Pecan Pie Vodka Drink · Spiked Caramel Apple Cider · Maple Bourbon Sour

Mocktails & kids: Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail · Apple Cider Float

Big-Batch Thanksgiving Punches (For a Crowd)

1. Thanksgiving Punch (Fruit Fizz)

The classic 5-minute Thanksgiving punch — fruity, fizzy and made for a crowd.

Serves: 12 | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple cider, chilled
• 4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 2 cups orange juice, chilled
• 1 litre ginger ale, chilled
• 1 cup fresh cranberries, orange slices and rosemary sprigs, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Pour the apple cider, cranberry juice and orange juice into a large punch bowl and stir.
2. Add the ginger ale right before serving so it stays fizzy.
3. Add ice, then float the cranberries, orange slices and rosemary on top. Serve with a ladle.

2. Hot Cranberry Punch (Slow Cooker)

A warm, spiced punch that makes the whole house smell like Thanksgiving.

Serves: 10 | Prep: 5 minutes + 2–3 hours in the slow cooker

Ingredients

• 6 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup orange juice
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• Orange slices, to serve

Method

1. Add everything except the orange slices to a slow cooker and stir until the sugar dissolves.
2. Cook on LOW for 2–3 hours.
3. Ladle into mugs with an orange slice. For adults, a shot of spiced rum per mug works beautifully.

3. Caramel Apple Punch

Tastes like a caramel apple in a glass — the kids’ table will claim this one too.

Serves: 12 | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider, chilled
• 2 cups ginger ale, chilled
• ½ cup caramel sauce, plus extra to drizzle
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Apple slices, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Whisk the caramel sauce and cinnamon into the apple cider until fully dissolved.
2. Pour into a punch bowl, add the ginger ale and stir gently.
3. Add ice and apple slices, and drizzle a little extra caramel over the top.
4. For adults: stir in 1½ cups spiced rum or caramel vodka.

Thanksgiving Cocktails

4. Cranberry Orange Cooler

Bright, easy and not too sweet — make it as a cooler for everyone, or spike individual glasses.

Serves: 1 (multiply by 6 for a pitcher) | Prep: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• ½ cup orange juice, chilled
• ½ cup sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
• Ice
• Orange slice and fresh cranberries, to garnish
• Optional: 1½ oz vodka

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add the cranberry juice and orange juice (and vodka, if using) and stir.
3. Top with sparkling water, garnish, and serve.

5. Apple Cider Margarita

The fall margarita — crisp cider, warm cinnamon, and a rim worth licking.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 3 oz apple cider
• ½ oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec)
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• Cinnamon sugar, for the rim
• Apple slice and cinnamon stick, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass and dip it in cinnamon sugar.
2. Add the tequila, cider, orange liqueur and lime juice to a shaker with ice.
3. Shake for 15 seconds, strain over fresh ice, and garnish.

6. Apple Cider Mule

A Moscow mule dressed for fall — spicy ginger beer meets sweet cider.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 3 oz apple cider
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz ginger beer
• Apple slices and a mint sprig (or cinnamon stick), to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Fill a copper mug (or glass) with ice.
2. Add the vodka, cider and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer, stir once, and garnish.

7. Apple Cider Sangria

Make it in the morning, forget about it, and pour all afternoon.

Serves: 6–8 | Prep: 10 minutes + at least 2 hours chilling

Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750 ml) Pinot Grigio or other dry white wine
• 2½ cups apple cider
• ½ cup brandy (optional)
• 1 cup club soda, added before serving
• 2 apples, cored and diced
• 1 pear, cored and diced
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Method

1. Add the wine, cider, brandy, fruit and cinnamon sticks to a large pitcher and stir.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Stir in the club soda just before serving and pour over ice.

8. Pumpkin Pie Martini

Dessert and cocktail in one glass — save stomach room accordingly.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 Tbsp pumpkin purée
• 1 oz half-and-half (or Irish cream)
• ½ oz maple syrup
• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice, plus extra to dust
• Crushed graham crackers, for the rim
• Whipped cream, to top
• Ice

Method

1. Dip the rim of a martini glass in maple syrup, then in crushed graham crackers.
2. Add everything else to a shaker with ice.
3. Shake hard for 20 seconds, strain into the glass, top with whipped cream and a dusting of spice.

9. Pecan Pie Vodka Drink

Sweet, nutty and dangerously smooth — like pecan pie filling with a kick.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 oz pecan or praline vodka (or bourbon plus ½ oz pecan syrup)
• 1 oz Irish cream or RumChata
• ½ oz maple syrup
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• Candied pecan or a cinnamon stick, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add everything to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for 15 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish.

10. Spiked Caramel Apple Cider

A warm mug for the cook’s break — or for watching the game after dinner.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 oz apple cider
• 1½ oz Baileys Irish Cream or caramel vodka
• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce, to drizzle
• Cinnamon stick

Method

1. Heat the apple cider in a small pan or microwave until steaming (not boiling).
2. Pour into a mug and stir in the Baileys or caramel vodka.
3. Top with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle and the cinnamon stick.

11. Maple Bourbon Sour

For the guest who “doesn’t do sweet drinks” — balanced, smooth, quietly festive.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz maple syrup
• 1–2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Orange twist and a cocktail cherry, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup and bitters to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for 15 seconds.
3. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and garnish.

Non-Alcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks & Mocktails

12. Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail

All the holiday sparkle, none of the alcohol — the prettiest glass on the table.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• ¾ cup cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• ¼ cup orange juice, chilled
• ½ cup sparkling water, chilled
• 1 sprig of rosemary and a few cranberries, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Fill a wine glass or flute with ice.
2. Add the juices, then top with sparkling water.
3. Stir gently, garnish with rosemary and cranberries, and serve right away.

13. Apple Cider Float

Two ingredients, endless refills — the kids’ table MVP.

Serves: 1 | Prep: 2 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup chilled apple cider (still or sparkling)
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
• Caramel sauce, to drizzle
• Pinch of ground cinnamon

Method

1. Pour the cider into a tall glass, leaving room at the top.
2. Add the scoop of ice cream.
3. Drizzle with caramel, dust with cinnamon, and serve with a spoon and a straw.

5 Tips for an Easy Thanksgiving Drink Station

1. Batch one punch (recipes 1–3) so guests can serve themselves — you cook, they pour.
2. Chill everything the night before, including glasses if you have fridge space. Warm mixers are the #1 punch killer.
3. Use one big ice block (freeze water in a Bundt pan or loaf tin) in punches instead of cubes — it melts slowly and doesn’t water the punch down.
4. Label the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A small tent card saves every guest from asking.
5. Set out garnishes in small bowls — cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, rosemary — and let guests finish their own glasses.

FAQs

What is the most popular Thanksgiving drink?

Apple cider in every form — punches, sangria, mules and margaritas — followed closely by cranberry drinks. That’s why 8 of the 13 recipes here use one or the other.

What non-alcoholic drinks can I serve at Thanksgiving?

The Thanksgiving Punch, Caramel Apple Punch (without the optional rum), Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail and Apple Cider Float are all alcohol-free and festive enough for the adult table too.

Can I make Thanksgiving drinks ahead of time?

Yes. Mix the punches (without the fizzy part) up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate; add ginger ale, sparkling water or club soda right before serving. The sangria actually improves overnight.

What drinks go with turkey dinner?

Crisp, not-too-sweet drinks cut through rich food best: the Apple Cider Sangria, Cranberry Orange Cooler and Maple Bourbon Sour are all dinner-friendly.

That’s your Thanksgiving drinks menu sorted — one punch for the crowd, a few cocktails for the adults, and mocktails nobody has to miss out on. For the next holiday, keep going with our 13 Christmas Drink Recipes, and read more about how we test and share drinks on our About page.