St Patrick's Day Punch Drinks - 2 Great St Patty's Day Party Punches

St Patrick's Day Punch Drinks - 2 Great St Patty's Day Party Punches

A St. Patrick's Day party just isn't complete without a great party punch to serve your guests. You have made sure all your St. Patrick's Day decorations and party supplies are ready. You are all set with a great selection of snacks and hors d' oeuvres, and of course the green beer. But now you need just-the-right St. Patrick's Day punch to add that final Irish touch. These two party punch recipes will get rave reviews from your guests, you just have to decide which one to use. (Or maybe both)

The preparation of these punches can be as simple as mixing them 20 minutes before your guests arrive, to the rainbow punch which requires some ahead-of-time prep. So be sure to consider this when choosing the right punch for your party.

Note: Although none of these recipes call for an ice block, it would be a nice "extra touch" to have 1 or 2 theme shaped ice blocks floating in the punch bowl. You can easily find aluminum foil shamrock-shaped cupcake molds at your local grocery or party supply store. Fill them with water, then add a few drops of green food coloring, pop them in your freezer, and voila' you will have green shamrock ice blocks.

*These non-alcoholic punch recipes may be converted with 1 bottle of one additional ingrdient.

Traditional St. Paddy's Day Party Punch

Prep time: easy - just 15 minutes, anytime before your guests arrive

Serves approximately 24 guests (50 - 4oz. cups)

Ingredients:

2 ea. - 2-litre bottles of any lemon-lime flavor soda

2 ea. - 12oz. cans frozen lemonade concentrate*

2 ea. - 12 oz. cans frozen limeade concentrate*

2 ea. - Qts. Lime Sherbet*

*put these items in the refrigerator instead of the freezer so they will be thawed/softened when you are ready to use them

Pour all ingredients into a large pot and mix until thoroughly blended. Fill punch bowl approximately 1/3 full with crushed ice, then add blended punch and serve.

Pot-o-Gold Rainbow Party Punch

Prep time: 4 hours before party for rainbows, 15 minutes just before guests arrive to mix all ingredients.

Serves approximately 24 guests (50 - 4oz. cups)

Ingredients:

3 ea. - 2-litre bottles of 7-Up

2 ea. - 12oz. cans frozen lemonade concentrate*

2 ea. - Qts. Rainbow sherbet*

*put both cans concentrate and I qt. sherbet in the refrigerator instead of the freezer so they will be thawed/softened when you are ready to use them

Floating Rainbow prep: Using a large, sharp, serrated knife, and one round quart container of rainbow sherbet, slice 4 slabs, about 1 ½" thick. Don't bother taking sherbet out of carton, slice through carton and all.

Lay each slab flat and cut in half so you end up with 2 half-moon pieces, Use a round cookie cutter or beverage glass to press out the center of each half-moon piece so you are left with rainbow shapes.

Remove the carton pieces now, wrap the rainbow-shaped pieces in clear wrap and put in the freezer so they can freeze solidly until you need them. Put any leftover sherbet in refrigerator to thaw/soften for later use.

Party prep: Put all ingredients, (except frozen rainbow pieces), and approximately 1 tray of ice cubes, in a large pot and mix until well blended. Ice cubes should melt during mixing, or shortly there after. Pour blended mix into your punch bowl, and just before guests arrive add 1 or 2 of the frozen rainbow sherbet rainbows. (they will float on top like ice blocks)

Either one of these out-of-the-ordinary St. Patrick's Day party punches will be a smash hit with your guests, you just have to decide which one to use.