Typically, when someone plans for a crowd event, that person forgets about the drinks to offer. One may think, "Tea, cola, coffee — that's it, plain and simple." However, with just a little effort, you can make one of these three delicious fruit punches that will surely create smiles. Punches are usually very easy to make because they typically combine other products, such as juice and carbonated beverages.
An attention-getting garnish: The ice ring
 | Punches are best served very cold. To help keep your punches cold, you can make either flavored ice cubes or an ice ring. Flavored ice cubes are easy — just fill ice cube trays with either the punch itself or one of the fruit juices from the punch. If you want to make your punch extra special, take a little bit of extra time to make an ice ring. Ice rings are easy to make, keep your punch cold, and are nice to look at as well. Here's how to make one: |
1. Fill a Bundt pan, a ring-shaped cake pan, or a gelatin mold halfway with whatever type of soft drink or fruit juice the recipe calls for, and then allow it to partially freeze.
2. After the ring is partially frozen, add edible flowers or fruit and then fill the mold with additional soft drink or fruit juice.
Edible flowers are sometimes available from the supermarket. Do not use garden flowers if they've been sprayed or treated with pesticides.
3. Freeze the mold completely. Just before you're ready to serve the punch, put the ice ring in it.
Your guests will think you deserve a creativity award! Of course, you can make an ice ring without adding the flowers or fruit; simply fill the mold all at once and freeze it.
Fruity Punch
So many fruit punch recipes are available that you may have trouble deciding which one is the best. This fruit punch, an all-time standby, always generates requests for the recipe. The combination of the cranberry, lemonade, and orange flavors gives it a distinctive flavor.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 3 hours
Yield:20 servings (1 cup each)
4 cups cranberry cocktail juice
1/2 gallon prepared lemonade
2 cups orange juice
4-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained
2 liters ginger ale, chilled
1. In a gallon-size pitcher, combine the cranberry juice, lemonade, and orange juice.
2. Stir in the cherries, cover the pitcher, and refrigerate it for 3 hours.
3. Pour the juice and the cherries into a punch bowl.
4. Add the ginger ale, stir, and serve.
Be sure to allow this punch to cure for 3 hours. If you want to save some time, make the base (fruit juices) up to 2 days in advance. Just make sure you keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator — you don't want your punch tasting like the onion dip you also made in advance!
Per serving: Calories 120 (From Fat 1); Fat 0g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 12mg; Carbohydrate 30g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 0g.
Sunshine Fruit Punch
This tangy, refreshing punch is a wonderful choice for any occasion. The chunks of fruit make this punch a more filling choice.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Yield: 25 to 30 servings (1 cup each)
46 ounces pineapple juice
12 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup water, divided
3 large, ripe bananas
20-ounce package frozen, sweetened, sliced or whole strawberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
2 liters ginger ale, chilled
1. In a large punch bowl, combine the pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and 1/2 cup of water.
2. Place the bananas, strawberries, 1/2 cup of water, and sugar in a blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Stir the banana and strawberry mixture into the juice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Right before serving, stir in the ginger ale.
Per serving: Calories 127 (From Fat 2); Fat 0g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 7mg; Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 1g.
Society Punch
This standard punch works for any event, although you typically see it at weddings and other formal crowd affairs. It's quick and easy, so put it to work when you need it.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Yield: 40 servings (1 cup each)
2 liters ginger ale, chilled
46 ounces pineapple juice, chilled
64 ounces white grape juice, chilled
Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl and stir; serve immediately.
Per serving: Calories 65 (From Fat 0); Fat 0g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 8mg; Carbohydrate 16g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 0g.
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