Fruit Punch Recipe: Made with Sprite (or lemon-lime soda), pineapple juice, kool-aid, sugar, and water! So simple and easy and one of the best punch recipes there is!
Quick Overview: Makes 2 gallons; Excellent for a party, kids or to make, and ready in only 5 minutes! The perfect Christmas punch or all-year-around punch!
Why you’ll love this recipe
It’s quite fun to be sharing one of the BEST punch recipes with you all today.
Perhaps it’s because:
- this recipe has gone VIRAL on Pinterest and Google for being one of the favorites.
- it’s one of the most delicious childhood memories that I had as a little girl.
- because it’s literally is the best punch I’ve ever had.
- or because it’s SO SIMPLE!
We’ll go with all four and roll with it!
More Punch and Drink Recipes You’ll Love:
Hawaiian Fruit Punch
If you loved Hawaiian fruit punch as a kid, I think you’re really going to love this one too! Not only does it have a similar flavor but it conquers that sweet-tooth craving if you’re wanting something for the kids at snack time or to serve at a birthday party!
How to Make this Fruit Punch Recipe
As always, there’s a full, printable, recipe card at the bottom of this post, but I’d love to walk you through the recipe with photos and extra tips to help you make the punch recipe that so many have made and given 5 stars to!
Punch Recipe Non-Alcoholic
This recipe is for a non-alcoholic version but if you’re looking to make it alcoholic, it can be done easily!
Here are some suggestions to make it a cocktail:
- add vodka (coconut, coconut rum for rum punch, etc.)
- combine wine/fruit for a sangria
- mix with sparkling champagne
Punch Ingredients:
Using a handful of ingredients, and AFFORDABLE ingredients at that… it’s easy to whip up this punch recipe for a crowd and double, triple, or quadruple it. (Think family gathering, holiday parties, play dates, summer time picnics, potlucks and so much more!)
This Fruit Punch Recipe Uses:
- Sprite (or lemon-lime soda)
- Pineapple Juice
- Packets of Kool-aid (Orange, lemon, strawberry and cherry)
- Sugar
- Water
Sweet Fruit Punch
It. Is. Sweet.
With sugar in the soda, sugar in the pineapple juice, and the added sugar in the recipe, you can count on any sweet tooth loving this punch recipe, and it’s a fruit punch recipe that your guests (kids and adults) will LOVE.
But if you want to cut back on the sugar a bit (I sure as heck wouldn’t recommend it), you always can. Give it a whirl the way we have it first, and then adjust it the next time.
With packets of kool-aid, lemon-lime soda (I use Sprite), and pineapple juice, this recipe combines some of the tastiest flavors around.
Tips for How to Serve Punch:
If you’re serving this for a large crowd, making it ahead of time is ideal! However, here are some tips to make it the BEST…
Add Sprite Just Before Serving:
Don’t add the lemon-lime soda, or Sprite until right before serving. This is to retain the carbonation of the soda, to give the punch a little “fizz.”
Serve in a Pretty Drink Dispenser
If you’re like me, then you may love to serve this in a drink dispenser; for a party or just to have at home!
However, it can be served over ice, so if placing in a punch bowl before the party is more your style, that’s absolutely ok!
Garnish Your Punch
For each serving, it’s fun to garnish with a cute drink stirrer or actually, a sprig of rosemary looks FABULOUS for the holidays. OR rim the glass like I did for the Red Apple Martini’s here.
If serving in the Summer, easily garnish with mint, or additional fruit/leafy garnish like I did at our Favorite Things party HERE!
Expert Tip
If you plan to make your punch ahead of time, freeze some of it into ice cube trays (I’d say 1-2 trays) and before the party starts, empty the punch cubes into the punch so when they melt… it won’t water down your punch!
This way it will keep it cold, and still flavorful!
Substitutions
YES! This recipe is incredibly easy, and “forgiving,” in case you’re short an ingredient, or want to change things up a bit. Feel free to experiment a little and add or take away anything you like! Now THAT’S simple.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Did You Make This?
Snap a pic and hashtag it #Fantabulosity — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
The BEST Fruit Punch Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package each Kool-Aid mix: Orange, Lemon, Cherry and Strawberry (small packets of each flavor – and the pkgs. that say it will make 2 quarts)
- 1 Gallon water
- 3.5 cups sugar super fine if possible, but not necessary
- 1 46 oz. can pineapple juice
- 1 2 liter bottle lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients EXCEPT lemon-lime soda.
- Right before serving, add in the lemon-lime soda
- Serve chilled or over ice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Betsy says
So easy and delicious! My kids LOVED this! I loved it too! Refreshing and yet so nicely celebratory! Perfect way to end this school year!
Jessica says
I’m so glad that you liked this fruit punch Betsy! My kids love it so much too! Hmm… I may just have to make another batch for the end of the school year here too!
Diana says
I made the mistake of using black cherry kool-aid. My punch looked like Long Island ice tea. Don’t do it.
Jessica says
Oh no!! So good to know! Thank you so much for letting us know… I hope it still tasted good!?
Mary-Morgan says
Hi! I’m excited to try this recipe for my 40th birthday party next month! What are the substitution rations if you are included alcohol? Less water? I’m sure it’s up to personal taste, but do you have any tips or pointers that you can share?!
Jessica says
Hi Mary! You know, I’ve only added alcohol to each individual serving, so I do a shot in a glass of punch. So as far as how much to add to the batch, I’m not really sure. But there are about 32, 8 oz. servings in 2 gallons of punch. So you could try 32 shots (6 cups) of alcohol??? (If you’re wanting to do the whole batch.) That sounds like a lot though, and would end up being too much liquid for a 2 gallon dispenser. So I’d suggest making the regular punch recipe and then adding a shot of your favorite alcohol to one glass first, to make sure you like that ratio. If you do, then you could add the larger batch of alcohol. 🙂 I hope that helps!
Diane says
Has anyone tried it with unsweetened pineapple juice and diet sprite to cut the sugar?
Cris says
I’m getting ready to make it with the unsweetened generic crystal lite drink mix, Sprite Zero and regular pineapple juice to cut sugar. I may even use unsweetened juice.
Jessica says
Thank you for sharing! I hope it turned out great!
Lynn Cain says
This punch brings back so many memories. This year we have a new family member (our youngest son is engaged). It’s fun to introduce our traditions to a new person. I’ve served this punch since you first posted. It’s our Christmas favorite! Thanks for the great recipe!
Jessica says
Awwwwww, I love hearing this Lynn. Thank you so much for sharing and I’m so glad it became a tradition for your family too. This makes me smile. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Karen says
I made this for my granddaughter’s birthday party and it was a total hit. Everyone loved it and I was even asked to share the recipe. I will be directing them to this page. I look forward to trying out some of your other recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Jessica says
Hi Karen! This makes me so happy. I’m so glad that you (and they) loved this fruit punch recipe too!! Thank you for sharing with them too.
Sherrie says
I add a two-ounce bottle of almond extract. It helps cut the sweetness. I also use ginger ale
Jessica says
Hi Sherrie! Thanks for sharing your spin on this punch recipe! Almond extract sounds great!
Stephanie says
Hoping you are able to respond to this today as I am making this for a party on Sunday. I noticed there are two different kinds of packets. Some of them say unsweetened and some of them don’t say anything. Which one do you use?
Jessica says
Hi Stephanie! Great question! I usually use unsweetened packets! There’s TONS of sugar in the recipe so it definitely makes the unsweetened ok. Haha. I hope that helps!