Name: Watermelon Citrus Punch
Yield: Serves 8 to 10
Ingredients: 1/2 large seedless watermelon; 1 (12-ounce) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate; 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate; 5 cups chilled seltzer; 1 lemon or lime, sliced thin; 1 pint lemon sherbet or lime sherbet

Why This Recipe Works

Our Watermelon Citrus Punch is a classic summertime beverage that combines lemonade, seltzer, sherbet, and watermelon. Wanting to make the watermelon itself a serving bowl, we used a spoon to scrape all the flesh out of the shell, then refrigerated the shell so it would keep the punch cool. We combined frozen pink lemonade and limeade concentrates with pureed watermelon to serve as the base for the punch. Adding the seltzer at the last minute preserved its effervescence.

Before You Begin

If necessary, trim the bottom of the melon half so it can rest on a flat base. To keep the punch ice-cold, refrigerate the hollowed-out watermelon for at least one hour prior to serving.

Instructions

Hollow out melon: Scoop out watermelon until only pale green interior shows; refrigerate shell.

Make punch: Puree 4 cups watermelon pulp in batches in blender until smooth and transfer to large bowl. Stir lemonade and limeade concentrates into bowl with melon puree until completely melted. (Mixture can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.)

Add fizz and garnish: When ready to serve, gently stir seltzer into punch. Pour punch into watermelon shell (refrigerating any excess) and float lemon or lime slices on top.

Serve with sherbet: Ladle punch into glasses, then float small scoop of sherbet on top of each glass. Serve.