Punch Recipe, the BEST of all punch recipes: 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!
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It’s quite fun to be sharing one of the BEST punch recipes with you all today.
Perhaps it’s because:
- this recipe has went 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!
The BEST Holiday Punch Recipe
Each year during the holidays and at Christmas on the farm, my grandparents would make the traditional punch, in a 5-gallon bucket.
I kid you not. A big white bucket, a ladle, and serve it in solo cups. (Sometimes I think that added to the nostalgia of the punch, but I figured I better spruce up the serving container for it to be a little more “Pinterest,” worthy for you!)
More Drink Recipes You’ll Love:
- Peppermint Vanilla Latte (for those holiday beverages)
- Summer Cocktails for a Crowd
- 2 Ingredient Cran-Apple Martini (If you’d like an alcoholic option.)
Punch Ingredients:
Using a handful of ingredients, and AFFORDABLE ingredients at that… it’s easy to whip up this punch recipe for a crowd. (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
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
This recipe fits in a 2-gallon drink dispenser and can fit inside my refrigerator to keep chilled.
However, it can be served over ice, so if placing in a punch bowl before the party is more your style, that’s completely doable.
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!
Party Punch 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!
Like Easy Punch Recipes? You’re in Luck!
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.
Alcoholic?
Not this version. But although I’m no bartender, feel free to experiment with adding a bit of liquor like vodka, or wine to kick things up a bit!
If Making This Punch for a Party…
Then I can’t help but share my favorite party appetizers with you, ESPECIALLY my ever so popular for parties, guacamole recipe in case you need easy recipes to feed your guests!
BEST 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.
Notes
Nutrition
LOVE THIS RECIPE?
I’d love for you to give it a star-rating to let others know how you liked it!
I so hope you enjoy this recipe, and it becomes a tradition every year for you too!
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Pin it to remember…
Why is it red? You have listed nothing red in recipe. Sprite sugar lemonade?
Hi Davina!The kool-aid packets make it red.
Because it has orange, lemon, cherry and strawberry Kool-aid cherry and strawberry make it red. This is a very very good Punch!
Oh I’m so happy that you liked Marlene! Thank you!
How much alcohol would you add
Hi Erica! Well I’m not really sure. It would depend on which type, and how strong you like it I suppose! Or you can add a shot of your preferred alcohol in to a glass and mix it by the glass instead of making the whole batch alcoholic! That way you can taste test and try what you think works best!
Love the presentation with the bottle of wine. I have a friend who loves to make her own Sangria so this would be an awesome Christmas for her. Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome!!! Have so much fun making, and most importantly, giving it! 🙂 Thanks for coming by! XO
I somehow missed the yield. How many 9oz cups will this recipe make?
Hi Shelly! Sorry about that! It should make close to 2 gallons! I hope that helps!
hello I have this same exact pitcher do you have anymore non alcoholic 2 gallon recipes I could try
Hi Corbie! I don’t actually… but I do have other drink recipes in the drinks category from the drop down menu, if that helps!!!
I would add a 750ml or 1l of rum personally to taste/strength– you could do vodka instead. But probably add it slowly to the batch till it tastes right.
Hey! The fruit in the punch is that grapes or cranberries? I can tell lemon and limes, but uncertain on the other. Thanks!
Hi Shaunte! We used cranberries, but you sure don’t have to! We just used those for garnish! 🙂 So feel free to use what you like!
I can’t seem to find the actual recipe, with measurements…
I’m sorry Jennifer! The recipe is towards the bottom of the blog post! It’s a recipe card that lists all of the ingredients and amounts all together, and where you can even print it off if you like! Let me know if you can’t find it and I’ll see how I can help! Thank you for letting me know!
The ingredients list states “1 pkg of each kool-aid mix: Orange Lemon, Cherry & Strawberry (the small packets)”. Is Orange Lemon just one pack or was it supposed to have a comma between them making “Orange, Lemon” two packs of Kool-Aid? I’m confused on whether I need three or four packs of Kool-Aid. Thank for your help.
Hi Tom! So sorry for the confusion! I just switched a technical program around on my blog, and it didn’t copy over the punctuations the best! You’re right, it’s supposed to be one package of each! An orange, a lemon, cherry, and strawberry. 🙂 I hope that helps, and thank you for letting me know about that. I’ll go in and fix that asap!
When you say small packs of kool-aid are you referring to the ones that make a 16 ounce bottle or the 1 gallon ones?
Hi Tracy! It’s the packets that makes 2 quarts! I hope that helps! 🙂 Thank you for asking!
What can you use instead of the lemon line soda? Any suggestions would be great.
I don’t want it to be carbonated.
Hi Tina! I haven’t actually used anything but lemon-lime soda.Lemonade may be a good option! But I’m not sure!
you can use ginger ale, if that help you
What about ginger ale?
Feel free to try it! We never have, but I’m sure it would be just fine!
Could I use all orange koolaid if I needed the punch to be orange for a school retirement party or do you think the flavor would be off?
Hi Jennifer! I’m sure it would taste different than using the other flavors, but I don’t think it would taste bad! It’s worth a shot! Good luck!!
Such a fun recipe! Perfect for all of the fall holidays and festivities coming our way!
Thank you Krissy! Yes it for sure is!
I am adding this to my holiday party recipe list.
Yay! I hope you all love it as much as we do!
This looks delicious!
Thank you Kristyn!!
What a pretty presentation! Love your jug that you’re using for this!
Thank you so much Sarah!
This was my mom’s recipe back in the sixties, but she added ginger ale also.
Oh fun!!! I may have to try it with ginger sometime!
I made this for Hollywood Game Night I hosted for my family! It was a huge hit. I doubled the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Yay!!! I’m so glad that you loved it! Thank you so much for letting me know and leaving a review! XO
Hello, this is great punch I make it all the time adding rainbow sherbet to it… Guest bring jugs and bottles just to take some home with them.
Yay!!! I’m so glad that you love it, and I’ll have to try adding sherbet to it sometime! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂
Love this! I am adding it to my list of frugal entertaining ideas as nothing in this recipe costs too much. I can’t wait to make it!
Aw thank you so much!!!