Mermaid Punch
10 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
lactose-free,
low-fat
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This mermaid punch is a vibrant ocean-blue, fizzy tropical cooler that tastes like pineapple lemonade with a crisp kiss of coconut, not sugary sludge.
Perfect for pool parties, baby showers, and backyard cookouts; chill it hard and add the lemon-lime soda at the last second for sparkle, and if the grown-ups want extra fun, spike individual glasses with white rum.
Ingredients (6 servings)
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Ingredients
- 2 cups pure pineapple juice (chilled) pure pineapple juice 16 fl oz
- 1½ cups lemonade (chilled) lemonade 12 fl oz
- 1 cup Hawaiian Punch Berry Blue Typhoon Hawaiian Punch Berry Blue Typhoon 8 fl oz
- 1½ cups lemon-lime soda (Sprite or 7UP, for fizz) lemon-lime soda 0.18 bottle
- ½ cup coconut water coconut water 4 fl oz
- ice ice
How to Make Mermaid Punch
-
Chill everything hard
Pop all liquids and your serving pitcher in the fridge for at least 4 hours so you start ice-cold and do not rely on melting ice to cool it down.
-
Prep garnish and ice
Slice a lemon and a few pineapple spears, and freeze extra pineapple juice in an ice cube tray so the punch never waters down.
-
Build the base
In a large clear pitcher, combine pineapple juice, lemonade, and coconut water, then whisk or stir until fully blended.
-
Tint and taste
Stir in the blue Hawaiian Punch until the color lands where you want it, then taste and balance with a squeeze of fresh lemon if it feels too sweet.
-
Finish with fizz and serve
Right before serving, add the lemon-lime soda and a heap of ice or your frozen juice cubes, then give it one gentle stir to keep the bubbles lively.
-
Optional ombre effect
For a dramatic lagoon look, add the blue component last by pouring it slowly over the back of a spoon so it ribbons through without fully blending.
Substitutions
- Swap blue Hawaiian Punch with white grape juice + a few drops natural blue coloring
- This keeps the ocean-blue vibe but tastes cleaner and less sugary, letting the pineapple pop while still reading mermaid at first glance.
- Swap lemon-lime soda with club soda plus 1 to 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- You keep the sparkle and gain control over sweetness, which sharpens the citrus and makes the punch feel more refreshing instead of sticky.
- Swap coconut water with pineapple coconut sparkling water
- You get a brighter coconut aroma and extra bubbles without clouding the color, keeping the lagoon crystal-clear and tropical.
Tips
- Use big ice so you control dilution
- Freeze pineapple juice or filtered water in muffin tins or silicone molds for slow-melting cubes that keep flavor tight.
- Balance like a pro
- A tiny pinch of kosher salt makes fruit flavors pop and tamps down any syrupy edge without making it taste salty.
- Layer densities for that mermaid swirl
- Liquids with more sugar are heavier, so pour the blue element in slowly to create ribbons that hold without muddying the color.
- Keep the fizz fierce
- Open the soda last, tilt the pitcher, and pour along the side to avoid knocking out bubbles before guests even touch a glass.
- Make it shimmer
- A small pinch of edible luster dust stirred in right before serving gives a pearly ocean glow that looks wild but tastes neutral.
- Glass beats plastic
- Mix and serve in glass to avoid off-flavors and keep your color pristine, then use a wooden spoon so you do not scar your pitcher.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 76 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- How do I keep the punch from getting too sweet?
- Cut the blue component by 1 to 2 ounces and add an extra squeeze of lemon, or swap the lemon-lime soda for club soda plus a teaspoon of simple syrup at a time until it lands right.
- My color turned teal or green, what happened?
- Yellow pineapple plus blue tint can skew green, so add the blue gradually and stop when you hit bright lagoon, or start with a paler base by using more lemonade and a splash less pineapple.
- Can I make this ahead?
- Yes, mix everything except the soda and ice up to 24 hours in advance, keep it chilled, then add soda and ice right before serving to protect the bubbles and brightness.
- How do I keep it cold for a party without watering it down?
- Use frozen pineapple juice cubes or an ice ring made from diluted pineapple juice so melting only reinforces flavor.
- Can I make a dye-free version for kids?
- Use white grape juice in place of the blue component and add a tiny amount of butterfly pea tea concentrate; keep it lightly acidic so it stays blue-purple rather than turning pink.
- Can I blend it into a slush?
- Yes, blend equal parts punch base and ice until slushy, then fold in the soda by hand so you do not lose all the fizz.
Serving Suggestions
For a snacky New York moment, serve with salty plantain chips or grilled pineapple spears so the sweet-tart punch has something crisp to flirt with.
If you want a sunset vibe, float a spoonful of passion fruit puree on top of each glass and let guests swirl it in for tropical perfume and a streaky ombre.
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