9 Must-Have Punch Bowls for Your Next Gathering
Punch is a party pleaser, and we're sharing the best bowls (and tips!) for all your serving needs.
Everything old is new again, as the saying goes, and punch bowls are a great example. Punch bowls gained popularity in the 1950s (although they were introduced in the 17th century), when home entertaining became more common. These vessels became a centerpiece for people to gather and converse around.
Today, we are seeing a resurgence of punch bowls as people are hosting at home again, and these dishes are a great way to serve a large-format or batched cocktail. You can even make a non-alcoholic fruit punch for the kiddos and their friends.
Punch bowls can be especially festive during the holidays. Add thematic elements like floating candy eyeballs for Halloween or cranberries and sprigs of rosemary for Christmas. Here are nine punch bowls we love, plus a few tips to get the perfect punch.
Tips on How Not to Water Down Punch
When serving punch to a crowd, you want to make sure it's cold and flavorful. Instead of pouring in a bunch of ice, which will inevitably water down your punch, here are a few other ways to keep your punch cold without the pellets.
Frozen Fruit: Using frozen fruit instead of ice not only keeps your punch cold without watering it down, but it also adds a fun decorative item to your punch. And when it thaws, it will be a nice treat to snack on.
Bundt Ice Ring: Craft a Bundt ice ring like Valerie Bertinelli does for her cranberry-orange holiday punch. Fill the bottom of a bundt pan with an inch of water, plus herbs and fruit (in her case, cranberries, thyme and rosemary), and freeze for at least four hours. The result is a wreath-shaped ice ring.
Frozen Punch Cubes: Freeze some of the punch you make in ice cube trays (before you add any alcohol) to use later as ice cubes for your punch. As they melt, they'll add more punch to the bowl. Alternatively, you can freeze berries or juice; just make sure they complement the flavors of your punch.
Reusable Ice Cubes: Another handy solution? Reusable ice cubes. There are many material choices, like plastic or stainless steel, that you can refreeze. Add these to your punch to keep them cold — just make sure your guests know they aren't edible.
50 Punch Recipes
Get dozens of punch-bowl recipes for your next big bash, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties.
The Hatch Punch Bowl features a classic diamond-patterned design that never goes out of style. At just over a two-gallon capacity, the glass beverage vessel is perfect for any style of punch recipe year-round. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe and makes a great place to chill champagne on ice, too.
If there's a punch bowl that can be most things to most people, this is it. The six-in-one bowl makes a great sturdy punch bowl with a decorative stand you can fill with fruit or flowers, and a divided tray for accoutrements, like fruit or herbs to go into the punch. When it's not serving its purpose as a glass punch bowl, it can be reconfigured as a salad bowl, a cake platter, a dip bowl and more.
Perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any fall fête, this pumpkin-shaped punch bowl is beautifully crafted from mouth-blown glass. The clear glass punch bowl boasts a gold-plaited pumpkin stem and holds about 2.25 gallons of your chosen beverage, like an apple cider-inspired punch or Halloween-inspired brew. Even better? The bowl comes with six pumpkin glasses and a ladle to match.
Sometimes, simpler is better. That's the case with the Britta Optic 3-Gallon Punch Bowl. The clear bowl is crafted from handmade glass, with a hand-cut and polished rim. The large-capacity vessel boasts faceted sides to create its low, round shape. Make sure to snag the matching glass ladle and punch cup, too.
If a punch isn't a regular occurrence or you're just looking for something durable to serve outdoors, this inexpensive, thick plastic punch bowl is a great option. The three-gallon bowl has a decorative design to give it that glass-like, antique appearance and comes with a matching ladle for simple serving. As a bonus, it's BPA-free, so you can feel safe serving out of it.
This modern, angled glass punch bowl is a great reason to gather 'round the punch bowl year-round. It's the perfect vessel for a colorful, festive punch as it's entirely clear, even the base. This hand-wash-only, two-and-a-half-gallon punch bowl is perfect to put on display even sans punch.
This three-gallon stainless steel hammered punch bowl pulls double duty. It's not only a beautiful punch bowl, but it also has a double-wall insulated design to help keep punch cooler than your average glass bowl. The hand-hammered detail on the exterior adds a fun artisan look. When not making punch, the bowl is perfect for chilling wine or champagne for a crowd. When done, simply wipe down or hand-wash.
This nine-piece set, complete with a punch bowl and eight coordinating glasses, is a nod to classic antique punch bowls. This is the type of piece that can become a family heirloom and be passed down through generations. The 2.5-gallon bowl, made of heavy crystal with a traditional pattern, is the perfect centerpiece for any gathering and ideal to fill with any Christmas punch.
Nothing says "let's party" like a pastel pink flamingo punch bowl. Complete with a ladle, this ceramic punch bowl has serious Palm Springs vibes. The small one-liter capacity makes it perfect for a smaller crew, whether poolside or just trying to channel beach vibes.
