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!
Also, 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! Looking for punch recipe for Thanksgiving? This apple cider punch is very popular too!
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!
Non-Alcoholic Punch Recipe
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
Fruit 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 gatherings, holiday parties, play dates, summertime picnics, potlucks and so much more!)
See the full recipe card below for ingredient amounts and instructions!
- Sprite (or lemon-lime soda)
- Pineapple Juice
- Packets of Kool-aid (Orange, lemon, strawberry, and cherry)
- Sugar
- Water
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 fruit punch recipe in a drink dispenser; for a party or just to have at home!
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.
Expert Tip
- Freeze punch ice cubes: 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!
However, it can be served over regular or fruity ice cubes, so if placing in a punch bowl before the party is more your style, that’s absolutely ok!
This way it will keep it cold, and still flavorful!
Substitutions
YES! This fruit punch 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 Punch and Drink Recipes You’ll Love:
Did You Make This?
Snap a pic and hashtag it #Fantabulosity — I love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook.
Recipe
The BEST Fruit Punch Recipe
Video
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
- 46 ounce can of pineapple juice
- 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients EXCEPT lemon-lime soda.
- Right before serving, add in the lemon-lime soda and stir.
- Serve chilled or over ice.
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.
Christine says
My family loves this recipe.
Jessica says
Oh good, I’m so glad! It looks like the star-rating may be incorrect then?
Shannon Marshall says
Has anyone used Ginger Ale instead of lemon-lime soda?
Jessica says
I haven’t tried that but I’m sure it would be delicious too!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!?
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!