How to Brighten Up Your Summer Party Punch

pretty individual mini ice rings made with fruit and sprinkles. Recipe and photos by Jackie Alpers for the Food Network.

pretty individual mini ice rings made with fruit and sprinkles. Recipe and photos by Jackie Alpers for the Food Network.

Photo by: Jackie Alpers ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Jackie Alpers, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Here’s a fun (and probably healthier) way to use mini doughnut molds. To get through these dog days of August, make pretty individual ice rings to cool down and brighten up glasses of punch at summer parties.

You will need:

Mini doughnut mold. I used the Food Network mini doughnut pan.

2 kiwis, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 cup Mountain Dew (for that extra green glow), iced green tea, neutral-colored fruit juice or water

1/3 cup mixed summer-themed sprinkles. I used metallic French dragees, white “Oyster Pearls” French dragees, flower-shaped Jumbo Daisies quins (they fade to white when liquid is added) and green jimmies.

Photo by: Jackie Alpers ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Jackie Alpers, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

These ice rings are super easy to make. Simply fill the mini doughnut rings with sprinkles and bits of chopped fruit, and top with Mountain Dew, green tea or a neutral-colored juice such as apple, leaving about 1/8 inch of room at the top.

The rings will expand a bit as they freeze. When completely frozen, unmold and serve immediately in individual cups of light-colored punch such as Giada's Apple and Mint Punch.

how to make mini ice rings for summer beverages, photo and recipe by Jackie Alpers for the Food Network.

how to make mini ice rings for summer beverages, photo and recipe by Jackie Alpers for the Food Network.

Photo by: Jackie Alpers ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Jackie Alpers, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

how to make mini ice rings for summer beverages, photo and recipe by Jackie Alpers for the Food Network.

To unmold, let the frozen pan of ice rings sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes, then turn it over onto a clean surface. You can create different moods by experimenting with different types of sprinkles. These blue stars turned the whole ice ring blue.

Makes 12 mini ice rings.

Need more inspiration for your summer bash?

How to Host a Luau-Inspired Summer Pool Party

How to Win Summer

Mason Jar Mini Pies Make Summer So Much Better

7 Stylish Ways to Serve Summer Drinks

Jackie Alpers is an award-winning food photographer and the author of Sprinkles!: Recipes and Ideas for Rainbowlicious Desserts (Quirk Books 2013).

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