I'm a sucker for a nice punch, especially around the holidays, and I've just stumbled across a great recipe that could get you out of a pinch. This Brandy Apple Punch can be ready in just over an hour if you're facing down a last-minute gathering or what have you. It contains apples, cranberries, a bit of brown sugar and - you guessed it - brandy. Sounds like a great drink for Thanksgiving, especially considering how likely it will be you'll have many of these ingredients already on hand.

Brandy-Apple Punch Recipe

TIME/SERVINGS

Total: 15 mins, plus 1 hr chilling time

Makes: 18 to 24 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cranberries (about 4 ounces), thawed if frozen

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

3 cups apple cider or freshly pressed apple juice

3 cups brandy

1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 15 lemons)

3/4 cup maple syrup

1 large Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced, for garnish

Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place cranberries, 1/4 cup of the water, and the brown sugar in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher until the cranberries are completely smashed and the brown sugar has dissolved slightly.

2. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups water, apple cider or juice, brandy, lemon juice, and maple syrup and stir vigorously until well combined and the sugar has completely dissolved. Pour the mixture through a strainer set over a 10-cup pitcher and discard the solids left in the strainer. Chill for at least 1 hour, or until cold.

3. If desired, transfer the mixture to a punch bowl and top with apple slices. To serve, pour 3 ounces of the punch into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a thin slice of apple.

via Chow.com

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