Most people wouldn’t touch the Grinch with a 39-1/2-foot pole, but this Grinch punch tastes just as sweet as when his heart grew three sizes on Christmas morning. Grinch-colored, lemon-lime flavored, sugary sweet and bobbing with scoops of vanilla ice cream, this is one of our go-to Christmas punch recipes. Ladle Grinch punch out of a pretty punch bowl and your main party drink is all set for serving.
Ingredients for Grinch Punch
- Sugar: Don’t worry, there won’t be tiny, gritty granules of sugar floating at the bottom of your drink. We dissolve the sugar with a bit of water to make a simple syrup that mixes in with the other liquids seamlessly.
- Evaporated milk: We stir 1/3 cup evaporated milk into the punch base for a creamy consistency and rich taste. Use up the rest of the can in one of these delicious recipes using evaporated milk.
- Almond extract: A touch of almond extract adds a nutty, marzipan-like flavor. Feel free to swap in vanilla extract instead if desired.
- Neon green food coloring: For a Grinch-y look, add 12 drops neon green food coloring to the punch base.
- Lemon-lime soda: Buy a 2-liter bottle of your favorite lemon-lime soda and let it chill in the fridge for at least a few hours (or ideally overnight) before you add it to the punch.
- Vanilla ice cream: A high-quality ice cream makes all the difference, so pick up one of the best vanilla ice cream brands from the store.
Directions
Step 1: Make the simple syrup
In a large saucepan, whisk together the sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Step 2: Add the milk and extract
Stir in the evaporated milk and almond extract. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and cool the mixture to room temperature. Cover the bowl with storage wrap, and refrigerate the mixture until it’s chilled.
Step 3: Stir in the food coloring and soda
Just before serving, transfer the milk mixture to a punch bowl. Stir in the food coloring and lemon-lime soda until combined.
Step 4: Serve the punch
Top the punch with scoops of vanilla ice cream, and serve.
Editor’s Tip: Keep your ice cream scoops small so they are easy to ladle into punch cups or glasses. When the first little Who requests a cup of punch, ladle the drink into a glass and be sure to top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Variations
- Create a sugar rim: Run a lemon or lime along the top edge of each glass, then dip it into either red or green sanding sugar. Use red for a festive Christmas look against the green drink or green sanding sugar for even greener Grinchiness.
- Change the ice cream: Add more neon green to this Grinch punch by swapping in lime sherbet for the vanilla ice cream.
- Swap in juice or lemonade: Tropical pineapple juice or sugary lemonade would add sweetness and tang to the punch. Use one of these in place of the simple syrup and evaporated milk.
- Add more green coloring: Pour in a few cups of Hawaiian Punch Green Berry Rush to turn this Grinch punch a bit greener. If you decide to go this route, omit the neon food coloring, evaporated milk and almond extract.
How to Store Grinch Punch
While you technically can store leftover Grinch punch, know that the carbonation will go flat after a few hours in the fridge. To store, cover the bowl with storage wrap or transfer the punch to an airtight container. Grinch punch can be kept in the fridge for up to two days. Store the ice cream in the freezer.
Can you make Grinch punch ahead of time?
You can make the first component of this Grinch punch ahead of time. The first two steps in the recipe are to make a thick simple syrup that’s stirred with evaporated milk and almond extract. This mixture can be made a day in advance and then, once cooled to room temperature, covered and stored in the fridge. Otherwise, everything after that should be stirred in just before serving.
Grinch Punch Tips
How can you turn this into an adult-only cocktail?
Pour 1-1/2 ounces vodka or rum into each cup, top with a ladle of Grinch punch, give it a good stir and finish with a scoop of ice cream. Serving boozy Christmas drinks lets the adults get in on the fun too.
What do you serve with Grinch punch?
Since this is more of a dessert-y drink, it’s best to serve Grinch punch with festive holiday treats and trays of Christmas cookies. We absolutely love the idea of serving this punch at a How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie night with other recipes inspired by the Grinch. On-theme Merry Grinchmas cookies pay homage to the Grinch’s infamous two-sizes-too-small heart, and these holiday reindeer cookies remind us of Max with his fake antlers.
