Create a whimsical Sparkling Citrus Punch for your Alice in Wonderland celebration that even the Mad Hatter would approve of! This enchanting concoction is a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink perfect for summer. You will love the fizzy, fruity flavor! Serve it in a teapot for an authentic Wonderland touch, and watch your guests delight in this magical, effervescent beverage that’s perfect for a topsy-turvy tea party.
If you are looking for a delicious drink for a special occasion, look no further. This sparkling citrus punch is tangy and sweet, and it serves a crowd. The pink color and the lemon and orange slices of cake it as much decoration at a party as a drink.
I love making punches for parties because you can make a huge batch beforehand. Plus, it is much cheaper than buying individual drinks. It’s also more eco-friendly because you aren’t using individual cans and bottles that could end up in the trash.
Sparkling Citrus Punch Ingredients
Grab all the right ingredients that are sweet, tangy, zesty, and sparkling to make this delicious citrus punch recipe! Combine these ingredients and mix them together for one of the best punches. It is a sweet and savory punch that everyone loves!
- Concentrate – Thaw the frozen lemon and orange juice concentrate prior to making the punch. Setting them out to room temperature will be perfect and give them that slushy and thawed appearance. The lemonade will give it a tart and zesty taste whereas the orange concentrate will balance it and add to the sweetness.
- Cranberry juice – Not only is cranberry juice good and healthy for you, but it is also a strong fruity drink that adds a tart flavor to the drink.
- Sugar – Balances all the sweetness while adding in a subtle sweetness of sugar.
- Lemon-lime soda – Chill this ahead of time and have it cold when adding to the punch. You can even use ginger ale if you prefer.
- Fresh lemon and oranges – Thinly slice lemons and oranges to add as a garnish in the citrus punch. It gives it a beautiful presentation too.
- Ice – Add crushed or whole ice to keep it cold. Some ice will go into the cups when serving to keep in mind which type of ice or serving pitchers you use.
How to Make Sparkling Citrus Punch
The best part of this sparkling citrus punch is there are no artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, or preservatives to take away the fun of the punch. Combine the ingredients, chill in the fridge until it is cold, then serve to your family and friends!
- Combine – Stir the lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, water, and sugar together in a bowl or pitcher that has a lid. Make sure all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Refrigerate – Cover and chill the mixture for 1-2 hours.
- Serve – When you are ready to serve the punch, add the mixture to a drink server along with the soda, ice, lemons, and oranges.
Tips for Serving Sparkling Citrus Punch
There are a few ways to serve and garnish this punch. It is a simple punch that can be perfect for any get-together like a bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, graduation party, or any party you are hosting. Choose how and what you will serve with your punch to celebrate!
- Serve for a party – This sparkling citrus punch looks so pretty when served in a punch bowl or a decorative beverage dispenser for guests to serve themselves.
- Small gathering – It is also fun to serve in clear glasses or canning jars (pictured above). A lemon slice fits perfectly on the top and you can poke a hole in the center for a straw. You can find decorative straws in all kinds of colors here.
- Sliced fruit – Lemon and orange slices look really cute either in the individual cups or in the drink dispenser.
- Garnish – For an extra touch, use edible flowers to garnish drinks! You can find edible flowers in the produce section of some grocery stores next to the fresh herbs. They don’t have a strong flavor, but they make the drinks look so pretty and classy!
“We already had our first warm spring day and I gave this try. Everyone loved it!”
-Allison
Sparkling Citrus Punch
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
- 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate thawed
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 liters lemon-lime soda chilled
- fresh lemon and orange slices
- ice
Instructions
- Step 1: Stir the lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, water and sugar together in a bowl or pitcher that has a lid. Make sure all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Step 2: Cover and chill the mixture for 1-2 hours.
- Step 3: When you are ready to serve the punch, add the mixture to a drink server along with the soda, ice, lemons and oranges.
- Step 4: Stir and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What flavor is citrus punch?
This is a mixture and blend of so many juices combined making this a sweet, tart, and zesty flavor with a kick of sparkling punch! The best thing about this homemade sparkling punch recipe is there is no high fructose syrup or any added ingredients.
What makes a juice a punch?
Punch is a fun and popular beverage that is served mostly at parties or celebrations that consist of supplying a beverage for several people. Some punches consist of a few different juices combined and then chilled for a period of time. More are non-alcoholic but some can be if needed.
What is the difference between punch and juice?
Punch is a mixture of several juices, sherbet, and pop mixed together whereas juice is made from the pulp squeezed from a single fruit. Both are delicious and make delicious beverages when chilled.
Storing, Making Ahead, or the Day of
The best part of this punch is how to store it! You can either make it ahead of time, it is quick and easy enough to make it the day of, or drink it for the next few days once it is already made as a leftover drink from the party. The flavors are still rich and stirred together nicely creating a refreshing drink when you need it.
Interested in More Disney Recipes?
From a yummy Dole Whip recipe to a Strawberry Cake recipe for an Alice in Wonderland-themed celebration, these recipes will transport you to the Disney Parks and movies. Check out Disney foodie favorites on our recipe page!
This post originally appeared on Favorite Family Recipes.