4 Ingredient Grinch Punch Recipe

This 4 ingredient Grinch punch is a bright green, fizzy party drink made with lime sherbet, berry-flavored green fruit punch, pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda. There is no cooking and no fancy equipment. You chill the juices, scoop the sherbet into a big bowl, pour, and ladle it into glasses with red sugar on the rims. It makes a large batch, which is exactly what you want for a holiday get-together.

Why You’ll Like This Grinch Punch

Party drinks should not keep you stuck in the kitchen. This one takes about 10 minutes, and the sherbet does double duty: it keeps the punch cold and melts into a creamy, foamy top as guests help themselves. The red sugar rim adds a Christmas touch that makes the green look even greener.

• Four main ingredients: the rim sugar is the only extra, and it is optional.
• No cooking: everything is poured, scooped and stirred.
• Feeds a crowd: the recipe makes about 24 servings of 8 ounces each.
• Looks festive: the green foam, floating scoops and red rims need no extra decorating.

Ingredients for Grinch Punch

• 2 quarts lime sherbet
• 64 oz green fruit punch (berry-flavored), chilled
• 32 oz pineapple juice, chilled
• 1 liter lemon-lime soda, chilled
• 3.8 oz red sugar crystals, for rimming the glasses

You will also need a large punch bowl (at least 5 quarts), an ice cream scoop, a ladle, a shallow plate, and a small dish of water or corn syrup for the glass rims.

Ingredient Notes

The sherbet: Lime sherbet gives you the color and a tangy, citrus base. Rainbow sherbet will turn the punch a muddy shade, so stick with a solid green if you want the full Grinch look. Keep it frozen until the moment you use it.

The green fruit punch: Look for a green, berry-flavored fruit punch. If you cannot find green, a lime or green apple drink works, though the flavor will shift slightly.

The pineapple juice: It adds a sweet, tropical note that balances the tang of the lime. Use regular pineapple juice that you have chilled well.

The soda: Lemon-lime soda gives the punch its fizz. Open it only when you are ready to pour, or the bubbles will fade before the party starts.

The red sugar: Red sugar crystals are a bit larger than regular sugar and hold their color on the glass. Red sprinkles or crushed red candies can work in a pinch.

How to Make Grinch Punch

Step by Step

1. Chill everything. Put the fruit punch, pineapple juice and soda in the refrigerator for several hours, or overnight. Cold liquids mean the sherbet melts more slowly.
2. Soften the sherbet slightly. Take the sherbet out of the freezer about 5 minutes before you start. It should be scoopable but still firm.
3. Rim the glasses. Pour the red sugar onto a shallow plate. Run a little water or corn syrup around the rim of each glass, then dip the rim into the sugar and turn it until coated. Set the glasses upright to dry for a few minutes.



4. Mix the juices. Pour the green fruit punch and pineapple juice into the punch bowl and stir to combine.
5. Add the sherbet. Scoop about two-thirds of the sherbet into the bowl, saving the rest for topping individual glasses if you like. Some scoops will float and some will break apart, which is fine.



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6. Pour in the soda. Slowly pour the lemon-lime soda over the sherbet. It will foam up right away, so go gently and let the foam settle between pours.
7. Stir lightly and serve. Give the punch one or two slow stirs, just enough to blend. Ladle into the rimmed glasses, getting a scoop of sherbet in each one, and serve right away.

Tips for the Best Grinch Punch

Add the Soda Last

Soda goes in right before serving. If it sits in the bowl for an hour, it goes flat, and you lose the fizz and the foam that make the punch fun to drink.

Keep the Punch Cold

Sherbet melts quickly in a warm room. Chill the bowl in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes before you fill it, and keep it away from ovens, sunny windows and heaters.

Don’t Over-Stir

Stirring too much breaks down the foam and melts the sherbet faster. A light stir is enough, and the scoops will do the rest as people ladle.

Prep the Rims First

Rim the glasses before you make the punch so the sugar has time to set. Corn syrup holds the sugar more firmly than water, but water works fine for a party that will last an hour or two.

Refill in Small Batches

If your party runs long, keep extra juice mix and soda in the refrigerator and sherbet in the freezer. Top up the bowl with fresh scoops and a bit of soda rather than making a whole new batch at once.

Dealing with Foam

The foam is part of the charm, but if it climbs too high, wait a moment and let it sink before pouring more. Tilting the bottle and pouring against the side of the bowl also helps.

Variations

• Non-alcoholic as written: this punch contains no alcohol, so it is ready for everyone as is.
• Adults-only version: if you want a grown-up option, set out a bottle of vodka or white rum next to the bowl so guests can add a splash to their own glass. This keeps the main bowl suitable for all ages.
• Kid-friendly: serve in clear plastic cups with colorful straws and let the kids add their own sherbet scoop on top.
• Make-ahead: mix the fruit punch and pineapple juice a day ahead and refrigerate. Scoop the sherbet onto a lined baking sheet and freeze the scoops, then add them and the soda right before serving.
• Different soda: ginger ale gives a milder, slightly spicier fizz.
• Single-serving glass: fill a glass halfway with the juice mix, add a scoop of sherbet and top with soda.
• Garnish ideas: add a few fresh lime slices or a skewer of lime wedges to the glass for color.

Storage and Make-Ahead

Before serving: The juice mix without sherbet or soda keeps in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir it before using.

Leftover punch: Once the sherbet and soda are mixed in, the punch is best the same day. Leftovers can be covered and refrigerated overnight, but expect them to lose fizz and become thinner and creamier.

Freezing: Do not freeze the finished punch with soda in it. You can freeze extra scoops of sherbet on a baking sheet and store them in a sealed container for later use.

Rimmed glasses: Sugar-rimmed glasses can be prepared a few hours ahead. Keep them in a cool, dry spot so the sugar does not run.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people does this Grinch punch serve?

The recipe makes roughly 24 servings of 8 ounces each. If you are serving in smaller cups, it stretches further. For a smaller gathering, cut every ingredient in half and use a smaller bowl.

Can I make Grinch punch ahead of time?

Partly. Mix the fruit punch and pineapple juice up to 2 days ahead and chill it. Add the sherbet and soda just before serving, since the soda goes flat and the sherbet melts as it sits.

What can I use instead of lime sherbet?

Lime sorbet works if you want a dairy-free punch, and lemon-lime sherbet is another option. Vanilla ice cream will give a creamier, paler punch, so the color will not be as bright.

Why is my punch not bright green?

The color depends on the fruit punch and sherbet you use. Make sure the fruit punch is a green variety and the sherbet is solid lime, not a mixed flavor. A drop of green food coloring in the juice mix can deepen the shade if you need it.