Crispmas%2BPunch%2BSettee.jpg — Cosmic Crispmas Punch

**By Chadwick Boyd**
Photo Paul Brissman

New Year, new favorite cocktail! The holidays are all about the details, don't you think? This NYE, serve a special cocktail with Cosmic Crisp apples. Make your own apple juice on a stove top or instant pot with this perfectly sweet and tart fruit, then mix it with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Don't forget to rim the glasses with sparkling or granulated sugar for that extra holiday sparkle! There you have it, the perfect cocktail for what is sure to be a great year.

Chadwick’s Checklist

What you need to know before you cook.

Make the Cosmic Crisp apple juice ahead of time in the Instant Pot or the stove top.
This recipe is for a batch; cut the recipe by 1/5 for a single cocktail.
Have a pitcher ready to mix the cocktail right into.

SERVING SIZE: PREP TIME: 5 mins ACTIVE TIME: 5 mins

Ingredients

6 cups Cosmic Crisp apple juice (see recommended recipe below)
1 cup gin
½ cup Campari
⅓ cup sweet vermouth
Sparkling or granulated sugar to rim the glasses

Directions

For the cocktail

Makes 4-6 servings

Pour Cosmic Crisp apple juice into a pitcher. Add gin, Campari and vermouth. Stir well.
Fill a small bowl with room temperature water. Fill a small plate with sparkling or granulated sugar. Carefully dip the rims of the cocktail glasses in water, about ½-inch deep. Then, roll the edges of the glasses in the sugar. Fill the glasses with 3-4 cubes of ice. Pour the cocktail in the glasses. Garnish with spruce tips or small pieces of fresh rosemary. Serve.

To Make the Cosmic Crisp Apple Juice - Two ways

Makes 1 quart

When used to make fresh apple juice, Cosmic Crisp apples create this striking, pink-red color – perfect for festive, holiday drinks. Apple juice can be made two ways: simply on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot. Either way works beautifully, it just depends on what equipment you have close at hand and are most comfortable with. Because of Cosmic Crisp apples’ naturally high acidity, no lemon juice or citric acid is needed to prevent browning.

Ingredients

5 lbs. Cosmic Crisp apples, peel on
5 cups water
1 small nub (about ½-inch) of fresh ginger, peeled (optional)

Directions

For the Stove Top

Wash the apples really well. Using a paring knife, remove the cores along with the stems and blossom end as well as any bad spots; discard.
Cut the apples into large chunks. Place them in a large stock pot and add the water.
Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 2 hours.
Transfer all the contents to doubled up cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Place over a mixing bowl or other large container and let the juice drip for 1 hour. Press the solids with a wooden spoon to release any more juice; discard.
Store juice in a clean, 1-quart jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Instant Pot

Prepare the apples as above in Step 1.
Cut the apples into large chunks. Place into the inner cooking pot. Pour in the water.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and close to seal. Set to Pressure Cook on Normal for 6 minutes. Set the valve on Natural Release.
Transfer all the contents in the inner cooking pot to doubled up cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Place over a mixing bowl or other large container and let the juice drip for 1 hour. Press the solids with a wooden spoon to release any more juice; discard.
Store juice in a clean, 1-quart jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.