Grinch Punch

Name: Grinch Punch (Neon Green Holiday Punch)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar; 3 tablespoons water; 1/3 cup evaporated milk; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 12 drops neon green food coloring; 1 bottle (2 liters) lemon-lime soda, chilled; 2 pints vanilla ice cream

CookOS may earn a commission from Instacart orders.

Grinch Punch is a vibrant neon-green holiday beverage made with a chilled milk syrup base, lemon-lime soda, and vanilla ice cream that turns any gathering into a Who-themed celebration.

Total

20 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Tasteofhome

Ingredients

Check what you already have. We'll leave it off your shopping list.

7 Ingredients

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

CookOS may earn a commission from Instacart orders.

Instructions

1
In a large saucepan, whisk together the sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
2
Stir in the evaporated milk and almond extract. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and cool the mixture to room temperature. Cover the bowl with storage wrap, and refrigerate the mixture until it’s chilled.
3
Just before serving, transfer the milk mixture to a punch bowl. Stir in the food coloring and lemon-lime soda until combined.
4
Top the punch with scoops of vanilla ice cream, and serve. Editor’s Tip: Keep your ice cream scoops small so they are easy to ladle into punch cups or glasses. When the first little Who requests a cup of punch, ladle the drink into a glass and be sure to top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Written automatically by CookOS, not by the creator.

Pro tips

Cool the sugar syrup to room temperature before refrigerating; this prevents curdling when you add the evaporated milk.
Chill the milk mixture fully (at least 2 hours) before combining with soda to keep the punch cold without diluting it as quickly.
Use small ice cream scoops as the recipe notes; they're easier to ladle and won't overwhelm individual punch cups.
Add the soda and food coloring immediately before serving to preserve carbonation and bright color.

Substitutions

Lemon-lime soda → Sprite or other citrus soda (flavor will be identical)
Almond extract → Vanilla extract (milder flavor, less distinctive)
Evaporated milk → Heavy cream or whole milk (thinner texture but similar taste)
Vanilla ice cream → Mint or pistachio ice cream (festive color variation)

Storage & make-ahead

Make the milk mixture up to 1 day ahead in a covered bowl in the refrigerator; assemble the full punch no more than 30 minutes before serving to retain carbonation.

Equipment

punch bowl · large saucepan · whisk

Common Questions

Written automatically by CookOS, not by the creator.

Can I make the milk mixture ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the sugar-water syrup, stir in evaporated milk and almond extract, then refrigerate in a covered bowl until chilled. Add soda and food coloring just before serving.

How do I get the neon green color right?

Use neon green food coloring as listed; 12 drops mixed into the chilled milk base before adding soda will yield the bright Grinch-green hue.

Can I substitute the almond extract?

Yes, vanilla extract works as a mild substitute, though it will reduce the distinctive almond flavor. Use the same amount (1/2 teaspoon).

How far ahead can I serve this punch?

Assemble the punch (milk mixture, soda, food coloring) no more than 30 minutes before serving to keep carbonation. Add ice cream scoops as guests pour drinks.