Nothing ushers in the warmer weather quite like fresh summer punch! When it’s time to have the friends or family over to celebrate all that’s fresh and sunny about the spring and summer in Burlington, why not mix up the perfect drink to go alongside those sunny vibes? Here are five tasty punch recipes with a twist!
Fizzy Cranberry Pineapple Punch
This punch is so refreshing, you may want to keep a batch in the fridge all summer long. Combine equal parts pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and ginger ale. Stir in ice cubes, ½ cup of frozen cranberries, and one lime, thinly sliced. Delicious!
Sparkling Citrus Punch
If guests show up unexpectedly, you can whip this punch up in a snap. The perfect mix of tart and sweet, you can’t go wrong with this three-ingredient citrus punch. Combine one bottle of lemonade with one bottle of limeade and one bottle of Sprite or 7-Up to take the fizzy factor to the next level. Garnish with lemon or lime. It doesn’t get easier than this!
Melon Ball Punch
Take your punch game to the next level with this unforgettable concoction. First, scoop out the fruit from a small cantaloupe, honeydew, and personal-sized watermelon using a melon baller. Place the balls on a tray and freeze for at least 3 hours. Meanwhile, combine one litre of sparkling white grape juice with two cups of Sprite or Ginger Ale and one cup of lemonade. When the melon balls are frozen, remove from freezer and place in the punch. Stir in mint leaves and two sliced limes. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavours to come together.
Mock Sangria
What’s great about mock sangria recipes is you can personalize them to your taste, or just the mood of the day. Go classic with chopped apples, oranges, and lemons. Make it a berry affair with strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Try melon mania with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew – you can even use leftovers from the last recipe. Or go exotic with lychees, star fruit, and mango. No matter your fruit of choice, chop and combine with ½ cup of red grape juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, and 1 ½ cups of soda water. Perfection every time!
Spiced Sangria
You know all that delicious spice and flavour that goes into the perfect wintery mulled wine? Well you can have all of those flavours and more to enjoy during the warmer weather too. Combine one bottle of chilled red wine with half a can of white grape cocktail concentrate and the juice of four clementines and two oranges. Add lemon and clementine slices. Now comes the spice – stir in one stick of cinnamon and a pinch of ground nutmeg. Serve with fresh cherries on ice.
When it’s time to stir up some summer punch, try out some of these recipes that add a special twist to the standards. You might just find your new favourite drink for the summer to sip as you relax on the patio of your Burlington apartment.
