Retro berry punch is a delicious and simple recipe from the 1940s that is packed full of flavor. This classic beverage combines the sweetness of berries with a refreshing, tangy twist, making it perfect for any occasion.
The other day I shared a recipe for a vintage fruit punch from the 1950s. Well today I have another punch recipe for you. Like the other punch recipe this one uses “flavored summer drink powder.”
From what I can find there were two options during the 1940s for “flavored summer drink powder,” Kool-Aid and Flavor Aid. I talked about the history of Kool-Aid which was the first on the market in the vintage fruit punch recipe if you want to learn a bit more about how it started.
Judging from drink recipes you find in vintage magazines it would seem they were quite popular but unlike now they were often used in recipes for punches. Now we generally just mix it with some water and sugar and that’s all.
However, when I was a ’90s kid my mom cut the sugar and added apple juice. I didn’t know this at the time and never understood why her Kool-Aid was so much better than when I made it or I had it at someone else’s house.
This recipe uses multiple drink mixes and fruit juices but is still very easy to mix up for a hot summer day. It would also be easy to make a double batch for when you have guests.
You can scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full recipe or keep reading to learn tips for making this delicious recipe and a bit about the history of Flavor Aid.
Berry Punch Recipe from the 1940s
This recipe was originally called Raspberry Cooler but that didn’t seem like something anyone would be searching for and wasn’t terribly clear what it was. To me that sounds like an alcoholic drink and this is a kid-friendly punch.
These days Kool-Aid doesn’t make a raspberry flavor so I’ve used mixed berry for this recipe but the recipe actually uses multiple drink mix flavors and has a few juices. Berry does come out as the most dominate flavor though.
And if you like the covers I have on the bowl of grapes and the pitch of punch in the picture above, they are reusable bowl caps from Esembly. I love using them in place of plastic wrap or foil to cover things, especially outside or in the fridge. Now through July 19th you can get 20% off of the bowl caps and other eco-friendly products with my code GREENHM20.
Before we get to the recipe I wanted to talk briefly about the history of Flavor Aid since I already shared about the history of Kool-Aid the other day. It’s interesting to learn about these retro foods that we still use today. Plus, I remember having Flavor Aid in our house at least as much as Kool-Aid if not more often.
The History of Flavor Aid
Flavor Aid started in 1929, just a couple of years after Kool-Aid. It was created by the Jel Sert Company in Chicago, Illinois. The history of Flavor Aid gets pretty dark.
You’ve likely heard the phrase “drinking the Kool-Aid” which came from the Jonestown cult. Well it turns out it wasn’t Kool-Aid they drank, it was Flavor Aid.
This is likely due to the fact that by that time Kool-Aid was used as a generic term for flavored powdered drink mixes, much like many call all tissues Kleenex.
Jel Sert is still around and you can get Flavor Aid singles but I’ve been unable to find the normal drink mixes and I don’t believe they are still made. Kool-Aid was the original and seems to have won out for the battle of drink mixes.
How to Make Berry Punch
This punch recipe is easy to make and would also be easy to change up the flavors. The mixed and grape used in this aren’t my favorite so next time I’d like to try strawberry and maybe lemonade, there is a also a blue raspberry lemonade that would be fun to try. If using the blue raspberry lemonade I would leave the lemon juice out of the recipe.
Scroll down to find the full recipe card. There is a printable version as well!
You will need these ingredients:
- Mixed Kool-Aid and Grape Kool-Aid
- Sugar
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Crushed Pineapple
- Water
You can find Kool-Aid in-store or get a variety pack on Amazon. You can use some of the other flavors to also make the vintage fruit punch recipe I’ve shared on the site.
The instructions for making this punch are very simple. You will just need to get out all of your ingredients and start by dissolving the drink powders and sugar in water and then add the juices.
The punch should be chilled and poured over ice. You can also store it in the fridge for about three days.
If you don’t want to use half packages of the drink mixes simply double the other ingredients and use the full packages. This would work well for a crowd.
You can also print the recipe card below to keep in your recipe binder so you will have it anytime you need it for a party or summer gathering.
More Vintage Summer Recipes
If you are looking for more delicious vintage recipes to try this summer I’ve got you covered.
- Mashed Potato Stuffed Hot Dogs
- Oklahoma Onion Burgers
- Chocolate Coffee Ice Cream
- Old-Fashioned Chocolate Coke
Retro Berry Punch Recipe
A delicious retro punch made with drink mixes and juice.
Ingredients
- 1/2 package of Mixed Berry Kool-Aid
- 1/2 package of Grape Kool-Aid
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
Instructions
- Dissolve the Kool-Aid and sugar in water.
- Add fruit juices and pineapple and mix well.
- Chill throughly and serve over ice.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 121Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 30gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
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giulia lombardo says
nie idea for summer I must to try!!!