Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Grinch Punch

A bright green, fizzy sherbet punch with pineapple and lime, topped with a frothy sherbet “snow.”

Author By Matt Campbell
4.8
A clear glass punch bowl filled with bright green Grinch punch topped with scoops of lime sherbet, with bubbles and frothy foam forming on top, on a cozy kitchen counter with holiday napkins
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Grinch Punch is what happens when you want a party drink that feels festive without turning your kitchen into a sticky science lab. It is bright green, a little creamy, super fizzy, and honestly impossible to ignore. The sherbet melts into the soda and makes that fluffy, foamy top that looks like holiday magic but tastes like pineapple-lime happiness.

I make this when I want something that works for kids, adults, and that one person who “just wants a tiny cup” and then comes back three more times. You can keep it totally family-friendly, or add a splash of something grown up if the vibe is more ugly sweater party than classroom celebration.

Ingredients for Grinch punch arranged on a kitchen counter including lime sherbet, lemon-lime soda, pineapple juice, and clear cups, with a large punch bowl in the background

Why It Works

  • Big flavor with few ingredients: pineapple juice brings tang, sherbet brings creamy sweetness, soda brings the sparkle.
  • That signature frothy top: adding the soda last and using sherbet gives you the “snowy” foam everyone loves.
  • Easy to scale: works in a punch bowl, drink dispenser, or even as single-serve cups.
  • Flexible for any crowd: kid-friendly as written, with a simple spiked option in the FAQ.

Pairs Well With

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Storage Tips

Punch is at its best right after mixing because carbonation and sherbet foam are living on borrowed time. That said, you have options.

How to store

  • Refrigerator: Pour leftovers into a pitcher or jar, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. It will lose fizz and the sherbet will fully melt, but it will still taste like pineapple-lime soda.
  • Revive it: When serving again, pour over fresh ice and top each glass with a splash of fresh lemon-lime soda for bubbles.

Make-ahead timeline

  • Up to 24 hours ahead: Chill pineapple juice, water, and lemon-lime soda. If you can, chill the punch bowl too.
  • 1 to 2 hours ahead: Mix pineapple juice + water in the bowl and refrigerate (no soda yet).
  • Right before serving: Add lemon-lime soda, then scoop in the sherbet so you get maximum fizz and that fluffy foam top.

Common Questions

What makes Grinch Punch green?

Most of the color usually comes from lime (or lemon-lime) sherbet. That said, some brands are a little pale, and pineapple juice can push things more yellow-green. If you want it extra bright, add 1 to 3 drops of green food coloring, but it is optional.

Can I make Grinch Punch without sherbet?

You can, but it will be more like a green soda punch than the classic creamy version. Swap in vanilla ice cream (less green, still creamy) or skip the frozen scoop and add extra ice. If you skip sherbet, consider adding a little green food coloring for the look.

How do I keep it fizzy for a party?

Chill everything hard, and add the soda right before serving. Also, avoid stirring too aggressively. A gentle stir is plenty.

Can I make this in a drink dispenser?

Yes, but the sherbet can clog the spout once it gets slushy. My workaround: put the punch (without sherbet) in the dispenser, then add a scoop of sherbet to each cup as you pour.

How do I make it spiked for adults?

For an adult version, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups chilled vodka, white rum, or coconut rum to the whole batch before the lemon-lime soda. That works out to about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons per cup (mild and party-friendly). Start smaller, taste, then adjust. You want “holiday cheer,” not “who invited the Grinch.”

What can I use instead of lemon-lime soda?

Ginger ale works, and so does sparkling lemonade. For a less sweet version, use half soda, half unflavored sparkling water.

Hands ladling bright green Grinch punch with melted sherbet foam into clear cups on a kitchen counter, with a stack of napkins nearby

I love a recipe that looks like you tried really hard, even when you absolutely did not. Grinch Punch is that. The first time I made it, I added the sherbet and then watched the whole thing start foaming like a tiny, delicious science experiment. Everyone hovered around the bowl like it was the main event. Now I treat it like my holiday party cheat code: chill everything, pour, scoop, and let the punch do the showboating for me.