Punch Bowl Ice Ring Ideas
Rather than mixing up individual cocktails for a crowd, blend together an exotic concoction of juices and sodas to make a big batch of punch. To keep the punch cool, don't simply toss in a bunch of ice cubes that will eventually melt and dilute the flavor. Instead, make an ice ring filled with tasty ingredients that will add another layer of color and taste as the ring slowly shrinks. Does this Spark an idea?
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Edible Flowers
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Edible violets bring color and flavor to an ice ring. Edible flowers bring an unexpected touch of the exotic to an ice ring. Purple violets are a pretty choice, plus they're sweet. Deep red hibiscus flowers come packed in syrup as edible garnishes for cocktails and have a raspberry-rhubarb flavor. Pineapple sage is another floral option for an ice ring. It has a touch of spice and mint -- a good match for punches that aren't too fruity.
Citrus Squeeze
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The skin on kumquats is edible, so add slices skin-on, to your ice ring. Skip the typical lemons and navel oranges and offer up something a bit more unusual, such as thin slices of kumquats, blood oranges, sweet Meyer lemons and tiny tart Key limes. Layer the slices on top of each other, alternating colors to make a stripy ring. Add some citrus zest or grated lime to the rings to amp up the citrus quotient. When all the ice melts, the delicate slices will look stunning when floating on top of the punch.
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Savory and Spicy
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Wafer-thin slices of jalapeño add crunch and heat to a Bloody Mary punch. If you're making a Bloody Mary type of punch filled with vodka and tomato juice, use the ring mold as a way to spice up the punch as the ice melts and dilutes the booze. Layer some quartered cherry tomatoes, thin slices of jalapeño pepper, shavings of raw horseradish or sprigs of dill to the mix. If the punch gets too spicy, simple add more tomato juice.
Berry Bliss
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Tart berries are a welcome addition to fruity punches. Take advantage of sweet-tart berries such as blackberries, raspberries and cranberries and mix them together in an ice ring. These berries are similar in size so you can make a densely packed ring that will gradually release the berries when the ring melts. Intersperse spearmint or peppermint leaves in the ice ring to add a hint of green and a minty complement to the berries.
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