Rainbow sherbet punch is one of those retro party drinks that has never stopped being iconic. It’s cold, fizzy, creamy, and impossibly fun to serve.
The real magic is the contrast: icy scoops of sherbet melting into citrus soda and fruit juice create those swirly pastels everyone remembers from childhood.
How to Make Your Punch Look (And Taste) Amazing
Freeze the serving bowl if you can. A cold punch bowl slows the melt and keeps the sherbet from collapsing too fast once you pour in the soda.
Mix the liquids first — always. The limeade, Hawaiian Punch, and soda need to be combined and settled before adding sherbet. Otherwise, the fizz reacts too aggressively and you lose carbonation instantly.
Add sherbet at the last possible moment. Sherbet melts fast and creates the visual “cloud” effect. Adding it early just turns the whole bowl orange.
Serve immediately. This punch looks its best in the first 20–30 minutes—after that, the colors become more uniform. Still delicious, just less dramatic.
Make-Ahead Instructions
This punch is best enjoyed the day of. It doesn’t “hold” the way baked goods do. If you want to make it ahead, to help with your party prep, here’s how you do it:
- Chill the soda and juice thoroughly — cold liquids foam less and keep the sherbet cold longer.
- Pre-scoop the sherbet onto a sheet pan and freeze. It makes assembly fast and keeps your hands clean.
- If serving for a long party: Keep a second batch of liquids chilled so you can top up the bowl without diluting flavor.
Pro Tip: To keep your punch cold for an extended period of time, you could freeze some orange juice or even Hawaiian Punch into ice cubes so that as it melts, the punch doesn’t get watered down.
Variations Of Sherbet Punch That Actually Work
- Soda: Lemon-lime soda (think Sprite, Sierra Mist, or 7UP), orange soda, or pineapple soda all work. Avoid colas or anything dark, which muddies the color. You could also try club soda to cut down the sweetness.
- Sherbet: You can substitute strawberry or raspberry sherbets for the rainbow sherbet. You could use our homemade orange sherbet or strawberry sorbet recipes. Our orange sherbet punch also tastes great.
- Juice: Pineapple juice adds the most brightness; fruit punch makes it sweeter and pinker.
- Grown-up option: ½–1 cup vodka or white rum for a boozy party version. Champagne will also add a festive touch. (Always add right before serving.)
Rainbow Sherbet Punch
Ingredients
- 6 ounces frozen limeade, thawed (½ can)
- 64 ounces Hawaiian fruit punch (½ gallon)
- 2 liters lemon-lime soda
- 2 quarts rainbow sherbet (½ gallon)
Instructions
- Using a large punch bowl, add the 6 ounces of thawed limeade, Hawaiian punch, and lemon-lime soda.
- Just before serving, spoon the rainbow sherbet into the punch. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you have a smaller punch bowl or smaller number of guests, you can cut this recipe in half for a smaller batch.
- To keep your punch cold for an extended period of time, you could freeze some orange juice or even Hawaiian Punch into ice cubes so that as it melts, the punch doesn’t get watered down.
- Set up a tray of punch cups with fun and colorful rainbow straws to make your delicious drink extra fun.
Nutrition
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Comments
Gloria says
This is a gorgeous punch that is a must-have at any gathering or party.