Cranberry Holiday Cocktail with Vodka
This Cranberry Holiday Cocktail with Vodka is Christmas in a glass. Serve it cold or heated as a winter warmer.
Why This Recipe Works
- The orange slices provide a zingy freshness that pairs well with the tangy cranberry juice.
- Grenadine delivers rich color and extra sweetness.
- Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and juniper berries give the cocktail a spiced aroma and flavor, perfect for the holidays.
I’ve been testing out a variety of drinks to serve, and this is the one my husband and I liked best. It’s a lovely Christmas drink that can be served cold or warm, and I hope you enjoy it.
Ingredient Notes
- Vodka – You can use regular, Citron, or orange-flavored vodka. For alcohol-free options, try sparkling water, flavored seltzer water, or ginger ale.
- Cranberry Juice: Use a cranberry juice cocktail for a less bitter option. If you prefer a cocktail with a bit of bitterness, use 100% cranberry juice.
- Fruit: Feel free to experiment with this recipe and find your favorite fruit combo. Some great options are apples, oranges, cranberries, pomegranates, pears, or anything else in season.
- Cinnamon Sticks: You can use whole cinnamon sticks or mix in 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
- Star Anise: A little goes a long way. If you aren’t a fan of star anise, you can substitute whole allspice or a few cloves for it.
- Juniper Berries can be found in most supermarkets or online. If you can’t find them, you can substitute them with peppercorns such as red, pink, black, green, or white peppercorns.
- Herbs: I used Lemon balm, which is a lemony mint, but you can use mint, thyme, or for a festive look, rosemary makes an excellent presentation.
Step By Step Instructions
Add the cranberry juice, juniper berries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, half of the orange slices, and 1 cup of fresh cranberries in a medium-high saucepan.
Turn the heat to medium and high and simmer for 10 minutes. The cranberries may start to burst – this is normal and won’t affect anything.
Strain the liquid through a fine strainer, and if serving hot, return to the pot over low heat, or if serving cold, strain it into a large pitcher.
Add the vodka to the mixture.
Followed by orange juice and grenadine.
Give it a good mix. If serving warm, ladle into mugs.
If serving cold, chill for 1 to 2 hours and stir before serving. Serve over ice in a glass garnished with the remaining oranges slices, a cinnamon stick, and herbs.
More Cranberry Recipes
Christmas time is the only time of year you can get fresh cranberries where I live, so when I see them in the supermarket, I can’t wait to get them home to try new recipes. Here are some from years gone by.
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Let’s Make
Cranberry Holiday Cocktail with Vodka
A festive spiced cocktail made with vodka, cranberries and oranges that can be served warm or cold.
Prep10 minutes
Cook10 minutes
Total20 minutes
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Instructions
In a medium saucepan, add the cranberry juice, Juniper Berries, a cinnamon stick, 2 star anise, half of the orange slices, and 1 cup of fresh cranberries.
Turn the heat to medium, high and simmer for 10 minutes. The cranberries may start to burst – this is normal.
To Serve Cold:
Add the cranberry mixture to a 2-quart pitcher, through a fine strainer, discard the fruit and spices, and set the juice mixture aside until cooled.
Pour in the vodka, orange juice, and grenadine, and give it a good mix.
Chill for 1 to 2 hours and stir before serving. Serve over ice in a glass garnished with the remaining oranges slices, a cinnamon stick, and herbs.
To Serve Warm:
Strain the warm mixture through a fine strainer into a large bowl and return to the pot over low heat. Pour in the vodka, orange juice, and grenadine, and give it a good mix.
Ladel into mugs garnished with fruit, spices and herbs. Serve warm.
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 222 (11%)| Carbohydrates: 39g (13%)| Protein: 1g (2%)| Fat: 1g (2%)| Saturated Fat: 0.04g| Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g| Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g| Sodium: 8mg| Potassium: 287mg (8%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 34g (38%)| Vitamin A: 225IU (5%)| Vitamin C: 51mg (62%)| Calcium: 34mg (3%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)
Nutritional Data Disclaimer
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