Friday, August 19, 2011

Jazz Up Fruit Punch Drinks

Jazz up your fruit punch for a garden party.


Fruit punch is the perfect base drink for many different occasions. Punch is a part of just about any special event, such as weddings, birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, graduation parties and anniversary get togethers.


There are some simple ways fruit punch can be jazzed up and made unique. Whether you are entertaining a handful of friends or putting on a wedding receptions for 300 people, these simple fruit punch additives will do the trick.


Instructions


1. Use a punch bowl for larger get togethers.


Get a punch bowl or drink pitcher. If you are making the punch for a large event like a birthday party, you'll want to use a bowl. However, if you are making for a small get together, go with the pitcher instead. For really large events, such as wedding receptions, you may want to rent a drink fountain from your local bakery.








2. Mix or pour the punch into the container you've chosen. The easiest thing to do is to purchase cans of Hawaiian Punch or the generic equivalent. Since this type of punch is often available in a rainbow of colors, you can coordinate the color of the punch with the color theme of the party. You can also purchase powdered punches, follow the directions for how much water to mix with the powder and mix thoroughly.


3. Add half as much ginger ale as punch. If you added six cups of punch, you will add three cups of ginger ale. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix together completely. The ginger ale gives the drink some fizz and just a hint of spice.


4. Add ice, sherbet or ice cream. You have a couple of options for adding ice to your punch. You can simply add plain ice cubes.


Another option is fruit in the middle fruit cubes. If you make these, you will want to use the same punch you are using to make the drink so that the ice cubes do not water the punch down. First, place a piece of fruit, such as a raspberry in each cube tray. Next, add the fruit punch to within about an inch of the top of the tray. Freeze overnight. If you are making a lot of punch, you'll need enough trays for each batch of punch you plan to make.


If you want a punch that is smooth and creamy, you can add sherbet or ice cream. Sherbet can be purchased in rainbow, lime or orange. If your party colors are green, you would use green punch and green sherbet, for example. Ice cream will mute the color of the punch and create a cream look.


5. Finish with garnishes. Float some small pieces of strawberries and raspberries in the finished punch. Add some pieces of mint. Throw in some small colored marshmallows or soft candies. You can really use your imagination as you figure out ways to jazz up the fruit punch and impress your guests. You could even float some large rubber duckies (purchase new and clean thoroughly) in pink punch for a baby shower for a little girl.

Tags: fruit punch, color punch, making punch, punch bowl, sherbet cream, some small, wedding receptions