Champagne Punch Recipe to Toast the Oscars

Recipe by Ruth Cousineau; Photograph by Jeffrey Schad with food and prop styling by Paul Grimes, Gourmet

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

makes 8 servings
active time: 10 min
total time: 1 1/2 hr

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 ml bottle chilled pink sparkling wine or champagne

accompaniment
* lemon twists

See more: Party-Perfect Aristocrat Sparkling Punch Recipe from 1942

instructions
* 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.
* Just before serving, pour pomegranate syrup into a 2-quart glass pitcher and add champagne.

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.

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