I first saw these layered patriotic drinks years ago, in an alcoholic version. Since I don’t drink alcohol, I started googling to figure out if that was an integral part of the chemistry involved. Lucky for me, it’s not! The principle here is that liquids with lower sugar contents will layer on top of those with higher ones. So basically you can layer most colored drinks as long as they have different sugar contents. If you pour them in very slowly, the liquids will stay separated.
Ingredient Notes
You can really use any drink products, you just have to take note of the sugar content on the nutrition label. I recommend choosing a sugar free liquid for the top.
- Red Beverage – Reds are pretty easy to find. There’s cranberry juice, cranberry/strawberry/cherry flavored sodas, Hawaiian punch, etc. It’s easiest to use red as your bottom layer because the juices will likely have the highest sugar content of everything you are using.
- Blue Beverage – For blue I did Gatorade; it’s important you look at the labels, it just has to have a little sugar in it. G2 Gatorade had just a few grams which made it perfect for layering between a juice with a higher sugar content and a diet soda with none. You may be able to find blue Hawaiian punch which could work as well, just make sure you have one each of a high, medium, and low sugar content beverage.
- White/Clear Beverage – I used a diet lemon-lime soda. Any sugar-free clear-ish soda would work!
- Ice – You’ll want to fill your cups with ice before adding your drinks. I used cute star shaped ice cube trays. Plan ahead if you want all star shaped ice. You’ll have to freeze several trays to have enough!
How to Assemble Layered Patriotic Punch
- To make the drinks, fill your glass up all the way to the top with ice. If you’re making these for a party, you’ll probably want to stick with short glasses.
- Start with your red (or whichever has the highest sugar content) and fill up the glass 1/3 of the way.
- Next pour your blue or medium sugar-content beverage. When you pour, pour slowly, right over an ice cube, down the side of the glass. This will help keep the layers separated.
- Finish off with your top layer, again pouring slowly, over and ice cube, right down the side of the glass. That’s it. They’re ready to serve!
Fun Serving Ideas
- I like to serve these with straws, because they taste best (I think) once they’re mixed up.
- If you can find them, these cute little patriotic umbrellas make a great addition, too!
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, no. This drink needs to be made immediately before serving. Luckily it’s quick to assemble!
Since the dramatic layering comes from the different levels of sugar content, it’s best to use a nice sugary base, and then use lighter options for the next layers. The important thing is that you have different levels of sugar content, so you may be able to get away with just a slightly sugary red drink, topped with a diet blue drink, then you can let the ice cubes add your white.
Feeling patriotic? You may also like:
Layered Patriotic Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red juice or soda Hawaiian Punch or cranberry juice
- 1 bottle clear colored diet (sugar free) soda Diet 7Up, Sierra Mist
- 1 bottle blue punch or juice with minimal sugar G2 Gatorade, Hawaiian Punch
Instructions
- Fill your glass all the way to the top with ice.
- Start with your red (or whichever has the highest sugar content) and fill up the glass 1/3 of the way.
- Pour your blue layer very slowly, right over an ice cube, down the side of the glass. This will help keep the layers separated.
- Lastly, pour your white or clear layer on top, very slowly, right over an ice cube. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you’re making these for a party, you’ll probably want to stick with short glasses.
- These taste best served with straws.
Questions & Reviews
If you don’t mind white on the bottom, Sobe pina colada works well.
ooh, why didn’t I think of that? I love that idea Sarah!
Thank you for posting this! I have wanted to make them since I celebrated Independence Day in California, but forgot the recipe. Now, to try to make them Canadian…
Since you’re sugaring the kids up, couldn’t you just use a colored sugar from the decorating aisle to put on the rim? And I love the trays. So cute!!
This reminds me of Italian sodas before you stir them up. Sugar and charm (http://www.sugarandcharmblog.com/2011/06/italian-sodas.html) has some recipes for making your own syrups. So I might experiment with a layer of red syrup, then cream, then club soda that has been enhanced with a little blue food coloring. I’ll let you know how it turns out. 🙂
I think these are so fun! One question, though. Does the white layer have to be a diet soda? I have an allergy to the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and would love to be able to make this and still drink it. Any suggestions?
Anything clear and sugar free will work!
I wondered the same thing. We don’t do artificial sweeteners at all either (for health reasons, so bad for you!) And anything that’s “sugar free” will have artificial sweeteners. But I love this idea! I may have to experiment with some other drinks and try to find another combo that varies enough in density to layer. I’ll post it if I come up with something….unless someone else has found a way!
I told my kids we’d try to do a science experiment every week this summer and this will be perfect for next week! I already went to target and got my ice cube trays. Thanks for the tip.
Oh when science and food get together and make sweet awesomeness.
omg these are so cute!! I love love love them. I’m thinking about adding a little liquor in here to make it an adults only beverage. so fun!
Fun post to read, Sara. So you and Oprah seem to have the same effect on the world. She with her book reviews (or anything else for that matter) and you with your dollar section recommendations at Target! I guess I better get over there right away!
I will have a house full of grandchildren for the fourth, so we’re going to add this to our list of things to do/make! Thanks!
LOVE that you added star ice cubes!!!!
I haven’t tried this out yet, but it’s happening on the 4th. My son will LOVE it!!