Grandma Betty swore by this 2 ingredient refresher for all our warm weather get-togethers. I never realized how incredibly simple it was until I caught her making it in the kitchen.

Slowly pour in the remaining ginger ale around the edges of the bowl, not directly on top of the sherbet scoops, so you keep those pretty yellow mounds floating and the punch stays nice and frothy.

Let the punch sit for 3–5 minutes so the sherbet begins to melt slightly into the ginger ale, creating a creamy, golden yellow mixture with some soft scoops still visible.

Give the punch a very gentle stir just once or twice to mix in a little of the melted sherbet while still leaving some chunks and foam on top. Taste and adjust by adding a bit more sherbet for sweetness or more ginger ale for a lighter flavor if desired.

Set out a ladle and cups next to the bowl. Stir lightly every so often during your gathering to keep the sherbet evenly distributed, and serve immediately while the punch is cold and frothy.

Variations & Tips

For a slightly lighter version, use diet or zero-sugar ginger ale and keep the full amount of pineapple sherbet for flavor. If you’d like a stronger pineapple taste, stir in a cup or two of chilled 100% pineapple juice before you add the sherbet. For a party with adults only, you can replace 1–2 cups of the ginger ale with chilled sparkling wine or prosecco, but always label clearly so kids don’t accidentally drink it. Picky kids who don’t love fizz can be served mostly melted sherbet from the punch bowl with just a splash of ginger ale in their cups. To make it extra fun, freeze small pineapple chunks or maraschino cherries in ice cube trays with a little ginger ale and float those in the bowl. For smaller gatherings, halve the recipe and mix it up in a clear glass pitcher instead of a big bowl. Food safety tips: Keep the punch cold by setting the bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice, and don’t leave it out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, especially on hot days. If it’s very warm, aim for closer to 1 hour and then move any leftovers to the fridge. Discard any punch that has been sitting out too long, and avoid refreezing melted sherbet from the bowl. Always use clean utensils and a clean serving bowl, and keep the ladle handle out of the liquid to minimize contamination from many hands during a party.