Name: Pink Champagne Punch
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 1 1/2 hours
Yield: Makes 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups water; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 (4-inch long) strips lemon zest; 1 cup chilled bottled pomegranate juice; 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 750 milliliter bottle chilled pink sparkling wine or champagne; lemon twists

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Pink Champagne PunchJeffrey Schad

This pretty-in-pink punch is a festive and delicious way to kick-off your holiday celebration. If you prefer a punch that's less sweet, use fresh squeezed pomegranate juice instead of bottled (see Cooks' Notes).

Cooks' Notes:

•Syrup can be made 2 days ahead and kept chilled.
•To squeeze juice from fresh pomegranates, halve them horizontally and squeeze them, like oranges, with a reamer.

Recipe information

Total Time
1 1/2 hours
Yield
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup sugar

2 (4-inch long) strips lemon zest

1 cup chilled bottled pomegranate juice

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 750 milliliter bottle chilled pink sparkling wine or champagne

Accompaniment:

lemon twists

Preparation

Step 1
Bring water, sugar, and lemon zest to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar, then boil 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add pomegranate and lemon juice, then chill until very cold, at least 1 hour.
Step 2
Just before serving, pour pomegranate syrup into a 2-quart glass pitcher and add champagne.