Marry Thompson This Cherry Punch is an easy and sparkling recipe, which is made with maraschino cherries and spiced hibiscus tea. It’s the perfect party punch, ready in about 15 minutes, plus chilling time.
Jump to RecipeCherry Punch Recipe Ingredients
- 1 (16-oz.) jar maraschino cherries
- 3 limes, thinly sliced
- 1 orange, halved and thinly sliced
- 6 spiced hibiscus tea bags (such as Red Zinger)
- 1 (12-oz.) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 2 L ginger ale, chilled
- 2 (12-oz.) cans seltzer, chilled
- 1/4 cup grenadine
How To Make Cherry Punch
- Freeze the Fruit: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Drain the maraschino cherries, reserving all of the juice in a container in the refrigerator. Spread the drained cherries, lime slices, and orange slices on the baking sheets and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until solid.
- Brew and Chill the Tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and let them steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags, let the tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely cold.
- Assemble the Punch: When you are ready to serve, pour the chilled tea and the reserved maraschino cherry juice into a large punchbowl. Add the thawed orange juice concentrate and stir to combine.
- Add Bubbles and Serve: Gently pour in the chilled ginger ale, seltzer, and grenadine. Add the frozen cherries, limes, and oranges to the punchbowl just before serving to act as flavorful ice cubes.
Recipe Tips
- How do you keep the punch cold without watering it down? The recipe’s trick of freezing the fruit garnishes is the secret! The frozen cherries and citrus slices act as beautiful, flavorful ice cubes that chill the punch without diluting it.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, this is a perfect party punch to prep in advance. You can freeze the fruit and brew the tea up to a day ahead. For the best result, do not add the ginger ale and seltzer until the moment you are ready to serve, to ensure it’s perfectly fizzy.
- What is spiced hibiscus tea? This refers to a tart, herbal tea like Celestial Seasonings’ Red Zinger, which often includes hibiscus, rosehips, and citrus peel. A simple hibiscus tea or another spiced herbal tea (like a cinnamon or orange spice tea) would also work.
- Can I make this a boozy punch? Absolutely. For a simple and delicious spiked version, add about 2 to 3 cups of a light rum, vodka, or even a sparkling rosé wine to the punchbowl along with the ginger ale.
What To Serve With Cherry Punch
This festive and refreshing punch is the perfect centerpiece for any party, from a holiday gathering to a summer barbecue. It pairs wonderfully with classic party foods like:
- Salty snacks like pretzels and potato chips
- A simple cheese and cracker platter
- Mini pigs in a blanket
- A fresh fruit platter
How To Store Cherry Punch
- Best Served Fresh: This punch is at its best when it is freshly made and bubbly.
- Refrigerate: If you have leftovers, they can be stored in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, be aware that the punch will lose all of its carbonation and fizz.
Cherry Punch Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 42g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
No. If you’re not a fan of ginger ale, you can substitute it with a lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up), or use all seltzer for a less sweet, more fruit-forward punch.
Grenadine is a very common, non-alcoholic bar syrup that is traditionally made from pomegranates. It has a sweet and slightly tart flavor and is primarily used to add a beautiful, vibrant red color to drinks.
You can, but it will significantly change the flavor and color of the punch. The juice from the maraschino cherry jar is a key flavoring component that gives this punch its signature sweet, cherry candy taste.
Try More Recipes:
- Apple, Pecan, and Blue Cheese Salad with Dried Cherries Recipe
- Red Cherry Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
- Double Cherry-Almond Slab Pie Recipe
Cherry Punch Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy20
servings15
minutes5
minutes180
kcalA festive and sparkling non-alcoholic punch featuring the sweet flavor of maraschino cherries, spiced hibiscus tea, and bubbly ginger ale, with frozen fruit for a beautiful garnish.
Ingredients
1 (16-oz.) jar maraschino cherries
3 limes & 1 orange, thinly sliced
6 spiced hibiscus tea bags
1 (12-oz.) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 L ginger ale, chilled
2 (12-oz.) cans seltzer, chilled
1/4 cup grenadine
Directions
- Drain the maraschino cherries, reserving all the juice.
- Spread the drained cherries, lime slices, and orange slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours until solid.
- Steep the tea bags in 4 cups of hot water for 5 minutes. Discard the bags and chill the tea completely.
- When ready to serve, combine the chilled tea, reserved cherry juice, and orange juice concentrate in a large punchbowl.
- Gently stir in the chilled ginger ale, seltzer, and grenadine.
- Add the frozen fruit to the punchbowl and serve immediately.
Notes
- The most important tip for this recipe is to not add the ginger ale and seltzer until the moment you are ready to serve to ensure the punch is perfectly bubbly.
- Freezing the fruit is the secret to keeping the punch cold without diluting it with regular ice cubes.
- For the best results, make sure the tea and juices are completely cold before adding the fizzy drinks to preserve the carbonation.
- For an easy adult version, add 2-3 cups of light rum or vodka to the finished punch.