Juneteenth Punch

What better way to celebrate Juneteenth—the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States—than with a gorgeous summer punch? Chef Millie Peartree created it using inspiration from a recipe her second grade teacher, Ms. Purnell, made at the end of the school year, with a few modern upgrades like sorbet and fresh fruit. Don’t worry, there’s still a ton of nostalgia to be had here too. Read on for how to make it (and how to customize it for parties all summer long):

The bright red color here, Peartree tells us, symbolizes the bloodshed and resilience of those enslaved, so while you can change up a number of the ingredients, don’t stray too far from the red fruits below. This is a celebratory drink, though, after all, so don’t be afraid to also have a little fun with it! One of our favorite parts of this recipe is how it uses sorbet instead of ice. Not only does it keep the drink extra cold (chilling your ingredients and using chilled glasses also helps!), but it adds a delicious creaminess as it melts as well. Peartree recommends strawberry sorbet, but any red flavor like cherry or raspberry could also work. She likes the classic fizz that comes from 7UP, but you can swap for your favorite lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or even seltzer. Garnish however you like—we like Peartree’s mix of fresh and canned/jarred fruit, but you do you!

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.