POISON APPLE PUNCH

Poison Apple Punch image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 thick slices peeled fresh ginger
6 cups apple cider
Zest of 1 orange, removed with a vegetable peeler
Zest of 1 lemon, removed with a vegetable peeler
1 to 2 cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
1 red apple, sliced into 8 wedges, for garnish
Gummy worms, for garnish
1 750-ml bottle sparkling cranberry-apple juice
1 cup cinnamon whiskey (optional)

Steps:

Smash the ginger slices with the flat side of a chef's knife and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add the apple cider, orange zest, lemon zest, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 10 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
Poke holes in the apple wedges with a chopstick or skewer and insert a gummy worm into each. Add the cranberry-apple juice and whiskey, if using, to the punch. Serve over ice. Garnish with the apples.