Make Ahead
Spiced Tea Punch
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Start to Finish: 3 Hours 20 Minutes 18 servings
- Ice Wreath
- 1 orange, cut into small chunks
- 16 whole cranberries
- 8 cinnamon sticks (3 inch)
- Fresh mint leaves
- 1½ quarts water
- Fragrant Simple Syrup
- 1½ cups packed brown sugar
- 1½ cups water
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup chopped gingerroot
- 4 whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Grated peel of 1 orange
- Punch
- 3 cups water
- 14 tea bags orange pekoe or white mango tea
- 4 cups cranberry or cranberry-pomegranate juice, chilled
- 4 cups pineapple or orange juice, chilled
- ¾ cup frozen (thawed) lemonade concentrate (from 12-oz can)
- 1 bottle (1 liter) ginger ale or club soda (4¼ cups), chilled
- 2 cups light rum (16 oz), if desired
1 In 12-cup fluted tube cake pan, arrange orange pieces, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and mint to look like a holiday wreath. Carefully pour enough of the 1½ quarts water along edge of pan to touch at least part of all decorations without dislodging them. Freeze about 1 hour or until firm. Add enough water to completely cover decorations. Freeze until completely frozen, about 3 hours. Keep frozen until serving time.
2 Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix simple syrup ingredients. Cook over medium-low heat about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until simmering, liquid is clear and spices are fragrant. Cool to room temperature. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until cold. Strain syrup; discard solids. Refrigerate until serving time.
3 In medium microwavable bowl, heat 3 cups water until very hot but not boiling. Add tea bags; let stand 5 minutes to steep. Remove tea bags; discard. Cool tea to room temperature. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until cold.
4 In large punch bowl, stir together tea, simple syrup, juices and lemonade concentrate. Stir in ginger ale and rum.
5 Briefly run outside of cake pan under warm water; invert pan to remove ice wreath. Gently slip ice wreath into punch.
1 Serving: Calories 200; Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 15mg; Total Carbohydrate 49g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 0g Carbohydrate Choices: 3
Make-Ahead Magic The flavor of the Fragrant Simple Syrup improves if it rests overnight in the refrigerator. In fact, you can keep it in the fridge up to 1 week before making the punch. The Ice Wreath can also be made ahead and kept in the freezer up to 1 month.
