How to Make Grinch Punch (Easy Christmas Drink for Kids)

Every Christmas, I try to add one simple tradition that gets everyone excited. Sometimes it’s decorating cookies, sometimes it’s a Christmas movie marathon, and sometimes it’s something as simple as serving a bright green Grinch Punch in funny Grinch cups. It’s amazing how little moments like these become the memories kids look forward to year after year.

I love this Grinch Punch because it doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or hours in the kitchen. In just a few minutes, you can make a festive Christmas drink that’s perfect for holiday parties, classroom celebrations, Grinch movie nights, or Christmas Eve with the family. The bright green color, creamy sherbet, and sparkling lemon-lime soda always make it one of the first things everyone talks about.

I’ve made this punch enough times to know a few tricks that make it even better. Chilling the ingredients ahead of time, adding the soda and sherbet just before serving, and decorating the cups with Grinch stickers and colorful sugar rims make this recipe feel extra special without adding much work. Those little details are what turn a simple holiday drink into a tradition everyone remembers.

Here’s What You’ll Love about this Grinch Punch

• It’s a festive holiday punch that all ages will enjoy
• This Christmas punch is easy to make

What Is Grinch Juice?

Grinch Juice is another name for Grinch Punch, a bright green holiday drink that’s popular at Christmas parties, Grinch movie nights, and classroom celebrations. Most kid-friendly versions are made with lemon-lime soda, green fruit punch, limeade concentrate, and green sherbet for a sweet, fizzy treat everyone loves.

Some adult versions of Grinch Juice include alcohol, but this Grinch Punch recipe is completely family-friendly and perfect for kids and holiday gatherings.

Grinch Punch Ingredients

Fresh Limes – This is a great way to get the sugar crystals to stick to the edge of the cups

Green sugar crystals (also called sanding sugar) – I’ve seen lots of Grinch punch drinks with red crystals which is also a cute idea.

7 Up or Sprite – Use any form of lemon-lime soda for this fun punch

Green Hawaiian Punch – Luckily, Hawaiian Punch makes a green flavor called Green Berry Rush, which is perfect for this drink

Limeade – Frozen Concentrate Limeade

Green Sherbet – Use just enough to cover the surface of your punch bowl. One quart is plenty.

Make this Grinch Punch Even More Festive

Punch Bowl with Ladle

Clear Plastic Cups

Grinch Stickers for the Cups

How to Make Grinch Punch

Prepping the cups

Get cups ready by adding Grinch stickers to the cups

Cut the lime into wedges

Cut a slit into each lime wedge

Place the lime over the rim of a cup and rub it all the way around so the juices stick to the rim.

Pour some sugar crystals (green or red) into a small plate – enough to cover the plate.

Turn the wet rim cup over and spin it around so the sugar crystals adhere to the cup rim. Tilt the cup so the sugars also adhere to the front of the rim.

Repeat for all of the cups.

Making the Punch

Squeeze the limeade concentrate into the punch bowl

Pour the entire 2 liters of lemon-lime soda over the limeade

Add 3 cups of green punch – more if you have room for it

Stir until well mixed, and the concentrate is dissolved

Finally, spoon sherbet onto the top surface of the punch

Set the Grinch cups in front of the punch for your guests to fill up

Melissa’s Tips for Making the Best Grinch Punch for Kids

You can rim your cups in advance. Make them the morning of the party, and your sugar-rimmed cups will be nice and hard by party time.

You can prepare most of the punch in advance and store it in the fridge, but do not add the soda or Sherbet until about 15 minutes before your party.

If you can’t find the punch, use prepared green Kool-Aid.

Storing – Use a kitchen funnel to pour leftovers into the empty soda bottle. Twist the lid on for a tight seal and store in the fridge.

Occasion	Fun Serving Idea
🎬 Grinch Movie Night	Serve in Grinch cups with green sugar rims while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
🎅 Christmas Eve	Set out a punch bowl for kids to enjoy while opening Christmas pajamas or playing holiday games.
🎄 Classroom Holiday Party	Pour into individual cups with festive paper straws for an easy, kid-friendly treat.
🍪 Cookie Exchange	Pair with Christmas cookies, brownies, and holiday snack boards for a colorful drink station.
🎁 Family Christmas Party	Make a large punch bowl and let guests scoop their own sherbet for extra fun.
⭐ Santa Breakfast or Brunch	Serve alongside pancakes, cinnamon rolls, or breakfast casseroles for a festive morning drink.

Fun Variations for Grinch Punch

Add-Ins: You can add pineapple juice to this punch for a fruity flavor

Soda: If you don’t have lemon-lime, try ginger ale instead

More Christmas Drinks You’ll Love

When I’m hosting a Christmas party, I like to set out some fun drink recipes, like this Shirley Temple Drink, Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate, and Mom’s Spiced Wassail drink.

Watch My Movie on Making Grinch Punch

Printable Recipe for Grinch Punch