Spiced Apple Punch

Ingredients

• 4 litres apple juice
• 4 pints/2.25 litres hot water
• 2 scant teacups granulated sugar
• 4 large, sharp eating apples (Granny Smith are good, Golden Delicious are too flavourless, don't use Bramley apples as you'll end up with dilute apple sauce!)
• 6 oranges
• 3 lemons
• 2" / 5cm piece of cinnamon stick or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 20+ cloves
• ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Method

• Put the water into the pan with the sugar and bring to the boil, stirring to prevent the sugar from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Wash all the fruit.
• Stick the cloves into one of the oranges and add it to the pan with the rest of the spices.
• Core the apples but do not peel them. Slice them and the rest of the fruit and add it all to the pan.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Add the apple juice, return to simmering point, taste to check for sweetness and if necessary add a little more sugar dissolved in a small amount of hot water. Serve.

If you want to make an alcoholic version of this, replace the apple juice with dry cider and add a miniature of brandy or a slosh of Calvados just before serving.