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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drinks (Non-Alcoholic) ยป Firecracker Punch: A Fruity Fizzy Punch with a Bang!

    LAST UPDATED: May 9, 2021 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: June 28, 2019 By Toni Dash 59 Comments

    Firecracker Punch: A Fruity Fizzy Punch with a Bang!

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Firecracker Punch title image

    Punch recipes make any occasion feel like a celebration. Firecracker Punch celebrates summer and Fourth of July with fruity flavors and a bang (from a secret ingredient)! 

    Firecracker Punch title image
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    Firecracker Punch title image

    There is simplicity about Fourth of July. Watching fireworks on a picnic blanket in your city park or backyard; it’s a relaxed holiday celebration.

    Firecracker Punch is an easy punch recipe that can be made as a non-alcoholic punch or an alcoholic party punch!

    Jump to:
    • What is a Punch Recipe?
    • How to Make a Punchย 
    • Firecracker Punch โ€“ A Easy Punch Recipe for Summer
    • Firecracker Punch Ingredients
    • The Secret Ingredient
    • Tips for Making Firecracker Punch
    • A Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic Punch recipe
    • PRO TIPs on Adding Ice to Punchย 
    • How to Make an Alcoholic Party Punchย 
    • Making a Larger Batch Punch Recipe
    • Fourth of July Party Serving Tips
    • The Only 5 Punch Recipes You Need โ€“ Free Printable
    • Recipe
    Six blue jars filled with Firecracker Punch recipe for Fourth of July

    What is a Punch Recipe?

    Punch is a larger batch drink which can be made from an assortment of drink ingredients.

    Usually fruit juices are used along with soft drinks and sometimes alcohol if making an alcoholic punch for a party.

    Examples of holiday punch are:

    Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch is a simple alcoholic party punch recipe with fruit juice, vodka and soda.

    Slow Cooker Vampire Punch is a non-alcoholic punch recipe. It can be served warm or cold for Halloween.

    How to Make a Punch 

    Punch is perfect for parties or larger gatherings since all the ingredients are mixed together and served in one batch.

    It takes about five minutes to make.

    This allows the host not be stuck pouring individual drinks all night.

    The punch recipe can be served in a:

    • punch bowl with a ladle
    • pitcher for pouring 
    • glass drink dispenser with spigot for self-serving.
    Blue jars of Firecracker Punch recipe for Fourth of July

    Firecracker Punch – A Easy Punch Recipe for Summer

    Though I created this recipe as a Fourth of July recipe, it’s truly a celebration of summer.

    Seasonal flavors of cherry, peach and lime create a refreshing combination to take the edge off steamy summer days.

    Firecracker Punch Ingredients

    These ingredients are simple, easy to find and taste like summer….with a bang!

    • Cherry Cider 
    • Peach Nectar 
    • fresh Lime Juice 
    • Ginger Ale 
    • Baking Cinnamon Imperials or Red Hots candies
    • OPTIONAL: Lemon-Infused Vodka

    The Secret Ingredient

    To make this holiday punch match its name, Firecracker Punch, it has a few spicy ingredients.

    Ginger ale gives some zip and fizz.

    The true secret ingredients are cinnamon candies! Either Red Hots or cinnamon imperials used for baking may be used.

    Once dissolved in the punch recipe they add a perfect sweet, spicy ka-pow to this party punch recipe.

    clear bowl of Red Hots candy

    Using Cinnamon Red Hots for True Cinnamon Flavor

    Red Hots or cinnamon imperials are a fantastic way to add true sweet cinnamon flavor to recipes.

    They are sweet and fiery!

    This vintage recipe for Wassail, a classic Christmas holiday drink, uses them too.

    Tips for Making Firecracker Punch

    Time saving Tip: pre-chill all the ingredients so the punch will not need to be chilled after it is made.

    Tip for lime juice: place the lime in the microwave for 10 seconds before juicing to extract more juice!

    A Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic Punch recipe

    I love a flexible punch recipe when I’m hosting a crowd.

    The base recipe for Firecracker Punch is a non-alcoholic punch recipe.

    It’s a well balanced fruity punch recipe with some zip on its own.

    PRO TIP: when serving a mixed group, add the liquor by the serving rather than in the punch. This streamlines the process of serving mixed groups.

    overhead view of Firecracker Punch with patriotic prize crackers

    PRO TIPs on Adding Ice to Punch 

    If serving in a punch bowl an ice ring may be made.

    Novelty molds can be used to freeze ice too. The ice for this Halloween punch recipe was made in a medical glove for an eerie effect.

    How to Stop Melting Ice from Diluting Punch?

    Ice cubes can be made of juice so they will keep the punch cold and add flavor as they melt.

    Also plastic freezeable ice cubes can be frozen and added to the punch.

    As they melt they won’t add water to the punch.

    They also come in fun colors and shapes.

    How to Make an Alcoholic Party Punch 

    There are two ways to change up Firecracker Punch to make it an adult-only punch recipe.

    1. Add 1 ½ cups of Lemon-Flavored Vodka (homemade or store bought) to one batch of Firecracker Punch, or
    2. Have adult drinkers self-serve the liquor to spike their cup of punch:
      • add 1 ½-2 ounces of Lemon-Flavored Vodka to a 1 cup serving of the Firecracker Punch.
      • This option provides those desiring non-alcoholic punch can share the base recipe making it easier for you!

    Making a Larger Batch Punch Recipe

    Firecracker Punch can be doubled or tripled keeping the proportions the same.

    PRO SERVING TIP. Use a glass drink dispenser with a spigot so guests can serve themselves. I love this blue one.

    Basket of blue jars filled with Firecracker Punch

    Fourth of July Party Serving Tips

    It’s very easy to make drinks fun for July 4th and this punch recipe is no different. Here are some suggestions:

    • Serve in blue glass canning jars instead of glasses
    • Use daisy lid inserts(shown in the photos here) for Mason jars. Insert them in the outer lid ring for a fun detail. They hold a straw (available in wide mouth size too).
    • There are star shaped inserts also in galvanized metal; love that for a rustic feel).
    • Using patriotic paper straws is an easy and inexpensive way to celebrate. There are stripes and straws with patriotic symbols.

    The Only 5 Punch Recipes You Need – Free Printable

    Punch recipes are a ‘must have’ for hosting friends and family.

    Five of my favorite punch recipes have been combined onto one handy CHEAT SHEET you can print!

    These punch recipes will work all year long!

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK , TWITTER , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST !

    Check out my July 4th Pinterest board for patriotic recipes, décor, projects and inspiration to make your holiday the best!

    Recipe

    Firecracker Punch (Fourth of July punch recipe) in blue jars with straws

    Firecracker Punch

    Firecracker Punch is a fruity punch with a bang thanks to cinnamon imperial candies. Instructions to spike the punch for adult-only enjoyment. Have all ingredients pre-chilled for fast assembly and serving.  Recipe can be multiplied keeping the proportions the same.
    5 from 65 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 cups (may be multiplied using same ingredient proportions)
    Calories: 134kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups Cherry Cider , naturally-flavored*
    • 1 cup Peach Nectar , naturally-flavored*
    • ½ cup Lime Juice , freshly squeezed (approximately 4 limes)+
    • 12 ounces Ginger Ale (1 can), chilled
    • 50 Baking Cinnamon Imperials** (about ¾ of a bottle; found with the baking supplies)
    • OPTIONAL: Lemon-Infused Vodka

    Instructions

    • Combine the juice and cinnamon imperials. Stir until the imperials have fully dissolved.
    • Add the Ginger Ale before serving.

    To Make ‘Adult-Only’: Add 1 1/2 cups Lemon-flavored vodka (homemade or purchased). One and one half ounce to two ounces per 1 cup serving.

      Notes

      *I used Knudsen brand all natural juices finding them to the have the most authentic flavor with no added unnatural ingredients.
      +*Tip*: to extract more juice from citrus fruit, put them in the microwave at high for 10 seconds before juicing them.
      **Red Hots candy could also be substituted though they may be stronger in heat. I would suggest starting at about half the quantity, stirring until dissolved then adding more if desired. My kids also suggested Atomic Bombs or Fireballs but I fear that would blow the roof off the heat!
      Note: to speed up punch readiness, have juices chilled before combining with the rest of the ingredients

      Nutrition

      Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.9mg
      Firecracker Punch title image
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      Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

      Originally published: June 30. 2013

      « 4th of July Desserts: Easy Red, White & Blue Trifles
      Best U.S. Cities for Fourth of July Fireworks »

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Sarah says

        July 03, 2024 at 11:10 am

        Hi! Is cherry cider the same as cherry juice? I cannot find cherry cider

        Reply
        • Toni Dash says

          July 03, 2024 at 3:21 pm

          Cherry cider is not the same as cherry juice. If you want to try to substitute I would probably use 1/4 cherry juice to 3/4 apple cider (these are proportions). This is just a guess; Iโ€™ve only made it as in the recipe. You can adjust to your taste.

          Reply
      2. Connie says

        June 27, 2023 at 6:38 am

        5 stars
        Made these for Fourth of July and it was delicious. Great flavors and my crew loved the zippy flavor from โ€˜the secret ingredientโ€™. An unexpected surprise.

        Reply
      3. Courtney O'Dell says

        June 28, 2019 at 11:25 am

        5 stars
        Such a fun and delicious way to celebrate! Cant wait to make again.

        Reply
      4. Lyn says

        June 28, 2019 at 10:42 am

        5 stars
        Such a fun drink idea! I’ll be making this for our family BBQ on the 4th, without the secret ingredient for the kids.:)

        Reply
      5. Erin says

        June 28, 2019 at 9:50 am

        5 stars
        Such a fun recipe – so refreshing and delicious for 4th of July get togethers!

        Reply
      6. Katerina @ diethood .com says

        June 28, 2019 at 8:44 am

        5 stars
        YES, PLEASE!! Such a faaantastic idea!! A must make!

        Reply
      7. Emma says

        June 28, 2019 at 7:38 am

        5 stars
        Must make for 4th of July week!

        Reply
      8. Jen says

        June 28, 2019 at 7:13 am

        5 stars
        Love that addition of the cinnamon imperials. Gives it such a burst of flavor.

        Reply
      « Older Comments
      5 from 65 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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