Charlotte McGuirre’s Punch

I wanted to share this recipe for a crowd-pleasing punch which you may find useful during the upcoming holiday season.  I got the recipe from a friend who served it at her daughter’s wedding and I have served it many times after – most recently at my mother-in-law’s birthday party.  We ran out of punch as so many folks were coming back for seconds!

If you do happen to have any leftover, don’t throw it out! Instead, pour and store it in a pitcher.
Yes, the Sprite will go flat, but it doesn’t really matter as the wonderful fruit flavor is still there.

Charlotte McGuirre’s Punch 

1 12 ounce can of frozen cranberry juice (de-thaw in the refrigerator overnight)

1 12 ounce can of frozen orange juice (de-thaw in the refrigerator overnight)

1 46 ounce can of chilled pineapple juice

2 – 1 liter bottles of chilled Sprite

3 ripe bananas

1 16 ounce bag frozen strawberries

In a blender, puree the bananas and strawberries.

In a large punch bowl combine the juices and pureed fruit. Stir until mixed well together.

Slowly add one liter of Sprite at a time.  The punch will foam – so do this slowly.

Using a punch ladle, gently stir/ mix the punch, reaching down at the very bottom to pull up any
settled fruit

To keep the punch cold while serving, you can either make an ice ring in a Jello mold or tube pan (I
put fresh strawberries and/or cranberries in my rings with a drop of red food coloring) the day before OR use several handfuls of crushed ice or ice cubes.  The ice ring looks nicer and with some advanced planning you can make one. But, if you forget, just use a few handfuls of ice. To unmold an ice ring turn it upside down, holding it with one  hand, while you run the metal part under hot water until it slips out of the mold.