Best Citrus Fruit Punch Recipe for the Holidays
Quick & Easy Citrus Punch with Beautiful Floating Fruit Ring
Nov 10, 2009
One of the warmest offerings in holiday entertaining is a party buffet table with a bowl of holiday punch to welcome guests. A fruit punch recipe that appeals to all, this holiday punch is fresh tasting with citrus flavors and has a slightly sparkling effect. Children will enjoy this punch recipe and not even realize that it's made with real juice.
When planning any holiday entertaining, keep in mind how the combination of citrus flavors and ginger ale in this party drink will appeal to those adults who enjoy punch with the addition of gin or vodka.
Citrus Holiday Fruit Punch Recipe
- 4 quarts / 4 litres prepared lemonade
- 2 1/2 cups / 625 ml pulp free orange juice
- 3 - 355ml cans of ginger ale
- 1 fresh orange
- 1 fresh lemon
The night before: Prepare lemonade. Fill 2 - 3 ice cube trays with lemonade and freeze. Refrigerate all other ingredients.
Immediately before serving: Pour the remainder of the 4 quarts of lemonade and the 2 1/2 cups of orange juice into a large punch bowl. Stir to combine. Hold the cans of ginger ale close to the surface of the punch and empty slowly in order to save as much of the carbonate as possible. Stir gently once or twice.
Simple garnish: Cut thin, even slices of the orange and lemon to float on the surface. Add one tray of lemonade ice cubes to keep the punch cold; add more when necessary.
Makes about 45 punch-glass sized servings.
Beautiful Floating Fruit Ring
This fruit punch recipe is very attractive with just the simple garnish (above). However, if fancy is what this party drink needs, try making a beautiful ring of frozen fruit as a spectacular garnish to impress everyone on the guest list.
- 1 tray of plain ice cubes
- 1 star fruit, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, cut in wedges
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup seedless green grapes, cut in halves
- 2 cups / 500 ml prepared lemonade
Remember that how the ring is assembled is how it will look when it is ready to put in the punch bowl.
- As early as possible in the day or the night before: Making the ring will require the use of a large (approx. 12 cup) bundt pan. Before beginning to assemble your fruit ring, ensure that the bottom of the pan is at least slightly smaller than the opening of the punch bowl or the ring won't fit.
- Add the ice cubes to the bundt pan, slightly crushed and spread evenly over the bottom. Start with the star fruit and the orange slices. Push them down at even intervals into the crushed ice to bond the ice to the fruit.
- Add the remaining fruit in an attractive pattern. Keep in mind this is a suggested list of fruit additions; some fruits can be omitted and others increased if desired. Once completely assembled, put in the freezer for one hour.
Finishing Your Floating Fruit Ring
- After one hour, pour the lemonade slowly into the pan from a liquid measuring cup. Pour slowly but continuously into the same spot. For the most attractive display, do not completely cover the fruit; allow it to show above the liquid. Too much liquid will make the fruit float.
- Freeze again, being sure to keep the pan perfectly level, for a minimum 8 hours. When ready to place the fruit ring in the punch bowl, dip the bottom of the pan in a sink of very warm to hot water for a few seconds. Carefully loosen ring from pan and gently place in punch.
Holiday entertaining will be that much more enjoyable with this wonderful fruit punch recipe. Happy holidays!
HOL101
Other articles of interest about holidays and entertaining:
Holiday Traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Special Finishes for Your Party Table or Buffet
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