Once you try this, you’ll never go back to another punch. This recipe has become a non-negotiable at my family gatherings—my kids ask for it every single time. Around here we call it “crack punch,” but don’t worry, it’s 100% legal and alcohol-free. Just fresh, fizzy, citrusy goodness in every sip.

The Backstory

Many moons ago, a foodie friend shared her grandma’s citrus punch recipe with me. My kids quickly renamed it, and the name stuck. Over the years I’ve tweaked it, but no matter how you spin it, it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

One of my favorite upgrades is adding a 2-liter of caffeine-free Squirt for the perfect citrus trifecta: orange, lemon, and grapefruit. DELISH! Cherry 7UP is also fantastic if you can find it. Really, any bubbly, neutral soda will play nice—Sprite, Ginger Ale, you name it.

Shameless Shortcut

Fresh-squeezed OJ is always best, but I’ll be real: I usually grab the no-pulp store-bought version and squeeze fresh lemon juice instead. It flows through my drink dispenser better, and no one ever complains.

Serving Tips

Serve over Sonic ice (trust me, it makes everything better!).
Skip the extra water if you like your punch a little stronger. (We NEVER make it with the extra water!)
Make ahead and freeze in gallon-sized zip bags for easy serving. (Just allow plenty of time to thaw. Add in your 2L of soda and stir or mash it up into slushy goodness.
Make more than you think you’ll need—because everyone will come back for seconds (and thirds).

Optional: The original recipe suggests a few drops of green food coloring to make it more festive but I have never felt that need. The original recipe also had 1/2 the orange juice. Once I made it wrong but we loved it so much, the recipe you now have reflects the “oops” that we find extra YUM

Once you try this, you’ll see why it’s earned its name. This is the punch that disappears at every party—fresh, fizzy, and totally addictive. Real drinks. Real kitchens. Real love. –The Food Civilian

Crack punch

This citrusy, bubbly punch is so good, my kids dubbed it “crack punch.” Fresh, fizzy, and totally addictive—no alcohol, just clean, sippable fun for any gathering.

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Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

Boil together for 5 minutes:

2 cup water
2 cup granulated sugar

Once simple syrup has boiled, add in:

2 qts water (We NEVER do this!)
4 cup orange juice (no pulp–this is doubled from the original recipe)
¾ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed is best
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBS almond extract can omit, but it really makes the punch pop!

Instructions

Pour into drink dispenser or punch bowl

Add lots of Sonic ice.
Add 2L of a neutral soda (Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale; our fave is Squirt, if you can find it but cherry 7-Up is a good one too)
Stir & enjoy!

Notes

Fresh squeezed juices are always better for taste but for the sake of convenience, store bought works too. Just get low or no pulp. If you do juice your own citrus, remove as much of the pulp as possible to make it flow through the drink dispenser better. If you use a standard punch bowl, it won’t matter.

Crack Punch