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)!
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 Punch
- Firecracker Punch – 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 Punch
- How to Make an Alcoholic Party Punch
- Making a Larger Batch Punch Recipe
- Fourth of July Party Serving Tips
- The Only 5 Punch Recipes You Need – Free Printable
- Recipe
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Add 1 ½ cups of Lemon-Flavored Vodka (homemade or store bought) to one batch of Firecracker Punch, or
- 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.
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!
Check out my July 4th Pinterest board for patriotic recipes, décor, projects and inspiration to make your holiday the best!
Recipe
Firecracker Punch
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
Nutrition
Originally published: June 30. 2013
Courtney O'Dell says
Such a fun and delicious way to celebrate! Cant wait to make again.
Lyn says
Such a fun drink idea! I’ll be making this for our family BBQ on the 4th, without the secret ingredient for the kids.:)
Erin says
Such a fun recipe – so refreshing and delicious for 4th of July get togethers!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
YES, PLEASE!! Such a faaantastic idea!! A must make!
Emma says
Must make for 4th of July week!
Jen says
Love that addition of the cinnamon imperials. Gives it such a burst of flavor.