This Banana Pineapple Punch (also known as Banana Slush or Banana Punch) is the best party punch recipe ever! It’s slushy, frosty, and fizzy and amazingly delicious! You’ll fall in love with this magic drink in first sip!
My mom grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming in a little town called Freedom. This town probably had more cows than people. Her family had a farm, which my Uncle Kendall took over when their father died. As kids, we went to visit the farm for reunions with all the cousins. On time, my Aunt Eileen made some punch for our outdoor picnic, and my life was forever changed.
It was the most delicious punch I had ever had. It was frosty and slushy and full of banana and pineapple flavor. I could not get enough.
Since that time, I have been on a life-long quest to find the recipe for this frozen punch. (I don’t know WHY IN THE HECK I didn’t think to ask Aunt Eileen for the recipe! I swear, sometimes I don’t know about myself…. Actually, I think I did ask my mom to ask her, but Aunt Eileen claimed not to have any such recipe. Maybe her memory was just as faulty as mine).
Anyhoo, one day I was looking through my Savoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites cookbook, and I came across this recipe for Banana Slush Punch. I thought I would give it a try.
Once I did, I knew my life-long quest had finally come to an end. It tasted just like the punch I remembered from my childhood.
“Eureka!” I exclaimed. “Now my life is complete.” Actually, I didn’t say either of those things. But I was uncommonly happy 🙂
Here’s the great thing about this recipe. It makes three batches of “banana slush” that you can freeze and just get out whenever you have a party! Then all you do is mix it with Sprite, and it’s ready to go!
It’s perfect for picnics and baby showers and church socials, and any other event you could possibly think of.
I altered the recipe and am calling it Banana Pineapple Punch, because pineapple juice is a great part of this punch. Pineapple is also my favorite fruit, so I thought it deserved top billing.
To further alter this recipe, I took out the lemonade concentrate, and I removed most of the added sugar, because I thought it was plenty sweet without it.
Ingredients for Banana Pineapple Punch
- Water
- Ripe bananas
- Pineapple juice
- Sugar
- Frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
- Sprite (or other lemon-lime soda)
How to Make Banana Pineapple Punch
1.To make this punch, get out a large pot or bowl and set it aside.
2. Then put some bananas, sugar, and water in a blender and puree.
3. Put the thawed orange juice concentrate and pineapple juice in the large pot.
4. Then carefully add the banana mixture from the blender and stir until everything is well blended.
At this point, you could add Sprite and just have the banana punch right away. But if you want it to be Banana Slush Punch, you’ll need to freeze it first.
How to Freeze the Banana Pineapple Punch
Remember that this recipe makes enough for three parties! (With about 20 servings per party).
Even if you want to use all the slush at once (if you’re having a really BIG party), you’ll still want to divide up the mix so that it will thaw out faster after it has been frozen.
1.Get out three airtight containers, or three gallon-size Ziploc bags. Then evenly divide the banana punch into each bag or container.
I used a ladle to scoop the punch into the bags. That way, I could count ladle scoops and make sure each bag was getting the same amount.
(Oh sure, you could also pour it from the pan into a pitcher and then pour it into the bags. But of course, I didn’t think of that until just now).
Before I poured the punch into the bags, I set the bags into a large plastic bowl and just held the bag open as I was pouring. This way, I didn’t have to hold the whole bag in one hand, suspending it above the counter, hoping I wouldn’t drop it. Because I would drop it.
2. Then lay the plastic bags flat in your freezer. This takes up minimal space, and also makes it much easier to thaw when you are ready to use it.
If you put the punch in a square plastic container, for example, you will have a big block to thaw, and the center will take way longer to thaw than the outside.
You’ll want to let your banana punch mixture freeze overnight.
How to Serve Banana Pineapple Punch (Slush)
1.When you are planning to serve the punch, just take your banana punch base out of the freezer a few hours beforehand and set it on your counter.
2. Then let it thaw about half-way. You still want it to be icy–not liquid. (The amount of time it will thaw will vary depending on what shape it is in–either flat, or in a block, and the temperature of your kitchen). Break up any chunks while the banana punch mixture is still in the bag or container. I just squeeze or pound the bag (being careful not to break the bag).
3. Then put the banana slush in your punch bowl and pour 2 liters of ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up) over it.
4. Break up any remaining chunks, add fruit for garnish if you like, and then watch it disappear before your very eyes!
And be sure to offer the recipe to everyone so they won’t have to spend half their life searching for it like I did!
Today’s Freebie!
Looking for more great drink recipes? Check out my collection of 20 Perfect Punch Recipes and Ten Party Ice Cream Punch Recipes!
And be sure to check out all my drinks here!
Banana Pineapple Punch
Ingredients
- 5 cups of water, divided
- 4 very ripe bananas (with brown spots on the outside, but not mushy on the inside)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 6 cups pineapple juice
- 2 (12 ounce) cans orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 6 liters Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, or other lemon-lime soda
Instructions
Peel the bananas and add to a blender with three cups of water, and 1/2 cup of sugar. Blend until smooth.
In a separate large bowl or pan, add the remaining two cups of water, six cups of pineapple juice, and two cans of thawed orange juice concentrate. Stir.
Carefully pour in the banana mixture from the blender. Stir.
Evenly transfer the mixture into three gallon-sized Ziplock bags, or large plastic airtight containers.
Freeze overnight (or longer). (Lay the plastic bags flat in the freezer, as this will speed up thawing when you are ready to serve).
On the day you plan to serve the punch, remove as many bags/containers as desired and let thaw at room temperature for at least two hours. (Time may vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen and shape of the frozen banana slush mixture).
Break up any large chunks of slush, and pour from the bag/container into a punch bowl.
For each bag/container used, add two liters of Sprite or other lemon-lime soda.
Notes
A typical punch bowl will hold one bag of banana slush with two liters of Sprite. If you need more punch, it's best to just add one bag of slush and two liters of Sprite at a time. You can keep extra thawed slush in the refrigerator until needed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 60 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 83Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g
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That looks so refreshing, that I drooled . Really 😉
Drooling is an entirely appropriate response 🙂