Patriotic punch is a fun kid friendly red white and blue layered drink for Memorial Day & July 4th! You can also have this red white and blue drink with alcohol for adults too! A fun & simple red white and blue patriotic recipe for your summer celebrations.
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Patriotic Punch | Red White and Blue Layered Drink
The kids and I are having a lot of fun testing recipes and whipping up red, white & blue treats the past few days.
We decorated a fun Memorial Day themed treats cart and the kids helped me make all the sweet treats!
We thought it’d be fun to create a patriotic themed drink to go with all of our red, white and blue treats.
I looked around the pantry to see what we already had at the house. My kids LOVE the blue Hawaiian Punch (Polar Blast) so I knew that would be included. We also had some cranberry juice and white colored Gatorade.
All juices and drinks my kids love – sounded like a winner to me!
I started googling how to make a layered drink, and if there were any tips and tricks I needed to know before diving in.
Some people say to layer the drink with the highest sugar content at the bottom, and that will help keep the separation.
Others recommend pouring each juice slowly over an upside down spoon.
And there were some recommendations to pour one liquid, put in the freezer for an hour, then pour another liquid and put it in the freezer for another hour, and so on…
I bet that is actually the best way to keep the layers intact but…whos’s got time for that?
I thought I’d test out some of these theories and share with you the best & kid approved way to make a red, white and blue layered drink – also known as our Patriotic Punch!
Scroll down for my step my step instructions and find my printable recipe card towards the bottom of the page.
How to Make Red White and Layered Drinks?
I first used the options I already had at home:
All of these options were FULL sugar – no diet or sugar free. Cranberry juice had just a little bit more sugar than the Hawaiian Punch, so I started with that first.
I filled the entire glass with ice and then poured in the cranberry juice about a third of the way.
Next, I poured the Gatorade. I tested the theory to pour over an upside down spoon really slowly over the cranberry juice. The Gatorade stayed mostly separated from the Cranberry Juice. I then slowly added the Hawaiian Punch for the third layer, and it mixed a little with the Gatorade.
Even with the blue and white colors mixed, it still has a fun layered look with blue and red! My kids approved on the taste, Cade’s exact words were, “This is EPIC!”
July 4th Layered Drink Tutorial
A few days later I had Bryan pickup Diet Cranberry Pineapple Juice and Diet Gatorade (G2) to see if having varied sugar contents would change any with the layering effect.
With grocery store items being limited lately, he couldn’t find the G2 Glacier Cherry, only the regular. So I decided I’d test it out with just the Diet Cranberry Pineapple.
I started with the Blue Hawaiian Punch first as it had the most sugar this time. Then, slowly poured the Gatorade, and then added the Diet Cranberry Pineapple on top.
Again, the Hawaiian Punch and Cranberry Juice stayed separated when poured very slowly. The Gatorade mixed in, so you mainly see the red and blue layers.
I’ve seen others recommend using Sobe Pina Colada as the white layer – so I might try that next time! With limited options at grocery stores and being picky on how many trips out we make, I think this red and blue layered drink is still a winner!
Maybe with the G2 Gatorade it will stay more separated – either way this combo is delicious – kid and adult approved!
Don’t forget the red white and blue sprinkles, firework picks, and fruit on top for added patriotic pizazz!
Patriotic Punch | Red White and Blue Layered Drink
Patriotic punch is a fun kid friendly red white and blue layered drink for Memorial Day & July 4th! You can also have this red white and blue drink with alcohol for adults too! A fun & simple red white and blue patriotic recipe for your summer celebrations.
Ingredients
- Cranberry or Cranberry-Pineapple Juice (Diet Cranberry Juice for less sugar and easier drink layering)
- Gatorade Frost - Glacier Cherry (G2 for less sugar)
- Hawaiian Punch Polar Blast
- Strawberries or blueberries, for garnish
- Red white and blue sprinkles, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill glass with 2/3 ice.
- Pour in cranberry juice or hawaiian punch a 1/3 of the way (whichever has the highest sugar content try to put on bottom)
- Pour Gatorade 2/3 of the way up the glass. Pour juice very slowly over a backwards spoon to help keep separation.
- Last pour the hawaiian punch or cranberry juice on top. Pour juice very slowly over a backwards spoon to help keep separation.
- Add a patriotic straw or firework pick and pierce with blueberries or strawberry.
- Sprinkle red white and blue star sprinkles on top.
- Enjoy!
*Add 2-3 ounces vodka for adult version of patriotic punch!
Notes
Tips and Suggestions:
- Layer the drink with the highest sugar content at the bottom.
- Pour slowly over backwards spoon to help keep juice separation.
- If adding alcohol, mix with the first juice poured so you can keep layering in tact and avoid stirring at the end.
- Make sure all liquids are chilled beforehand.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Patriotic Punch | Red White and Blue Layered Drink
Patriotic punch is a fun kid friendly red white and blue layered drink for Memorial Day & July 4th! You can also have this red white and blue drink with alcohol for adults too! A fun & simple red white and blue patriotic recipe for your summer celebrations.
Ingredients
- Cranberry or Cranberry-Pineapple Juice (Diet Cranberry Juice for less sugar and easier drink layering)
- Gatorade Frost - Glacier Cherry (G2 for less sugar)
- Hawaiian Punch Polar Blast
- Strawberries or blueberries, for garnish
- Red white and blue sprinkles, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill glass with 2/3 ice.
- Pour in cranberry juice or hawaiian punch a 1/3 of the way (whichever has the highest sugar content try to put on bottom)
- Pour Gatorade 2/3 of the way up the glass. Pour juice very slowly over a backwards spoon to help keep separation.
- Last pour the hawaiian punch or cranberry juice on top. Pour juice very slowly over a backwards spoon to help keep separation.
- Add a patriotic straw or firework pick and pierce with blueberries or strawberry.
- Sprinkle red white and blue star sprinkles on top.
- Enjoy!
*Add 2-3 ounces vodka for adult version of patriotic punch!
Notes
Tips and Suggestions:
- Layer the drink with the highest sugar content at the bottom.
- Pour slowly over backwards spoon to help keep juice separation.
- If adding alcohol, mix with the first juice poured so you can keep layering in tact and avoid stirring at the end.
- Make sure all liquids are chilled beforehand.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Here are a few more red white and blue recipes we think you’ll love –
Quick and Easy Patriotic Recipes
RED WHITE AND BLUE FRUIT SPARKLERS
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