Cranberry sherbet punch is a beautiful and refreshing drink perfect for any festive occasion. With its pink hue and sweet flavor, it’s sure to be a hit with your guests at gatherings like birthdays, baby showers, or holiday celebrations.
Quick and Festive Pink Cranberry Sherbet Punch
Give this easy punch a try for your next special occasion. Not only does it take just five minutes to prepare, but it also boasts a lovely pink color that catches the eye. Additionally, it’s perfect for holiday celebrations such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, birthdays, patriotic events, and baby showers, making it suitable for any festive gathering. Whether enjoyed in summer or winter, this punch is sure to delight everyone!
Three Ingredients in Cranberry Sherbet Punch
It takes only three ingredients-sherbet, pineapple juice, and sparkling cranberry juice to make this punch. For the best results, refrigerate both the pineapple juice and sparkling cranberry juice. Remove the sherbet from the freezer about 20 minutes ahead of time so that it has time to soften before putting it in the punch.
Substitution for Sparkling Cranberry Juice
Sparkling cranberry juice (such as Trader Joe’s, Welch’s, or Ocean Spray) is easiest to find in the fall when cranberries are in season. However, you can easily substitute a mix of cranberry juice (Simply Cranberry Cocktail), available year-round, and sparkling water (Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water) to make this punch. Instructions are included in the recipe notes.
Use a Large Punch Bowl
For the most effortless preparation, prepare this punch in a large punch bowl, as it yields approximately 12 eight-ounce servings. For larger gatherings, feel free to double the ingredients. Begin by adding the softened sherbet to the bowl. Use a potato masher to help break down the sherbet more easily. If the sherbet is soft, use a fork to break it apart and then pour in the pineapple juice, followed by the sparkling cranberry juice. Be careful not to overmix to keep some lumps of sherbet floating on top.
Garnishes for Cranberry Sherbet Punch
It is pretty if you garnish this punch with a handful of fresh cranberries. If they are out of season, use frozen cranberries. You can also use maraschino cherries, raspberries, pomegranate arils, and pineapple chunks. It is pretty with a sprig of greenery if you serve it for a special occasion. Add a skewer with fruit in each glass for a beautiful presentation.
Spiking Cranberry Sherbet Punch
I am often asked if you can spike this punch. Yes, you can! Vodka will work well with this punch. However, when serving this punch to both children and adults, it is best to spike individual glasses instead of the entire punch bowl. Use 1 or 2 parts vodka to 3 parts punch, adjusting to your taste.
Make Taste Adjustments
This punch is forgiving if you add too little or too much of each ingredient. Sometimes, I add extra sherbet or sparkling cranberry juice with good results. Additionally, you can substitute cranberry juice with sparkling water if you don’t have sparkling cranberry juice. The recipe notes list amounts for making this substitution. However, you can always adjust the amount of each substitution ingredient to suit your taste. Enjoy!
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Cranberry Sherbet Punch
Equipment
- large punch bowl
Ingredients
- 46 ounces (1.36 L) pineapple juice
- 32-ounce container (946 ml) raspberry sherbet
- 25 ounces (750 ml) sparkling cranberry juice (see the note below for a substitution)
- fresh cranberries for garnish
- maraschino cherries for garnish
- sprigs of edible greenery such as mint for garnish
- cranberry vodka for spiking (optional) (see notes)
Instructions
- Remove the sherbet from the freezer and let it thaw for about 20-30 minutes to soften.
- Add the sherbet to a large punch bowl. Use a potato masher or fork to coarsely mash the sherbet before mixing it with the other liquids.
- Pour in the pineapple juice and cranberry juice. Stir. If using alcohol, add it at this point. See note below.
- Add a handful of fresh cranberries to the punch for garnish. Place cranberries and maraschino cherries on skewers and add to each glass for garnish. Add a sprig of edible greenery to each glass.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Yield
This recipe makes about (12) 8-ounce cups or (12) 237-ml servings.Source for Sparkling Cranberry Juice
Brands of bottled sparkling cranberry juice you can use in this recipe are Trader Joe’s Sparkling Cranberry Flavored Juice Blend, Welch’s Sparkling Cranberry Juice, or Ocean Spray Sparkling Cranberry.ÂSubstitutionsÂ
If you can’t find bottled sparkling cranberry juice, substitute this mix of cranberry juice and sparkling water:- 15 ounces of cranberry juice
- 10 ounces of sparkling water