I’m not much of a drinker but my love for champagne runs deep. So when I saw this recipe while looking for holiday punch ideas for last week’s party, I was sold immediately!

While it was a little potent for my taste (which is easily fixable by adding less rum), it was still super delicious and SO pretty – perfect for a holiday party.

Pomegranate Champagne Punch
Recipe courtesy of Epicurious

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 750 ml bottles chilled brut Champagne
1 1/2 cups white rum
1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh mint leaves
1 ice block*

*I actually did something kind of interesting here. An ice block isn’t very pretty and since I was using a jar instead of a punch bowl, it wouldn’t fit anyway. Instead of just adding ice cubes (also not pretty), I froze water in jumbo muffin cups. It worked perfectly! If you’re using a punch bowl, you could use one of those pretty ice molds but this method would work there too.

Directions

• Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves
• Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely
• Combine Champagne, rum and pomegranate juice in bowl or jar
• Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste
• Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds and mint leaves
• Add ice block to bowl and serve

Yield: Serves 12