Shelly's Recipe

CRANBERRY RUM PUNCH

Category: Beverages and Cocktails

4 small clementine oranges, zested
4 cinnamon sticks
10 whole cloves
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup sugar
A few shakes of nutmeg
12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
25-ounce bottle sparkling cider or apple juice, chilled
8 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
1-liter bottle club soda
4 cups spiced rum

Zest the clementine rinds, then set the oranges aside. Bring the orange zest, cinnamon sticks, cloves, water, sugar and nutmeg to a boil in a saucepan. Keep stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and then simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let steep, uncovered, for up to an hour, creating a syrup. (If you already have simple syrup on hand, just use a cup or so of that in place of the water and sugar.)

While that's steeping, puncture some holes in the zested oranges and stick whole cloves into the holes. Put the clove-studded oranges and the cranberries in a punch bowl.

After the syrup has steeped, either strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids, or pour the pan, cloves and all, into a punch bowl. (If you're putting the cloves into the punch, be sure to warn guests.) Combine the remaining ingredients with the spiced syrup in a punch bowl and stir. Add ice before serving. The cranberries and oranges should float to the top of the bowl.