Cranberry Spritzer For the Holidays
Whether you are hosting a party, or a smaller gathering the drinks need to flow.
However, not everyone drinks, nor does everyone abstain.
What is more, is that my simple and versatile cranberry spritzer for the holidays is perfect for sipping!
What is so uniquely perfect about the cranberry spritzer drink you are about to prepare?
In fact, it can be two drinks in one!
Happy Holidays!
Because of this, you can consider this an early holiday gift to enjoy throughout the seasons no matter who you are entertaining!
Experience the classic flavor combination of orange, cranberry, and cinnamon and a surprise ingredient that elevates this cocktail to, ‘Happy Holidays’ level in one sip!
In any event, the holiday magic of this cocktail is that it is also a mocktail so making one base lets you create 2 drinks
Suddenly, both the sippers and the abstainers each have a delightfully gorgeous drink and well your life just got easier.
Kids, teens, and those adults that don’t drink will love sipping this tasty and easy to create mocktail.
While, your party-goers that want a little ‘tipsy elf’ in their drink, can enjoy their alcohol in moderate amounts!
It’s time for some ‘sip, sip, hooray’ with a simple and versatile cranberry spritzer for the holidays!
Simple and Versatile Cranberry Spritzer For the Holidays
This delightful beverage is a delicious way to celebrate the holiday season.
You’ll experience the classic flavor combination of cranberry, orange, and cinnamon which is complemented by the unexpected addition of cumin.
Years back when we had a larger gathering, I started this recipe in my home.
Parties always need a signature beverage and this is mine.
In any event, you can change this cocktail/mocktail in so many ways.
Once you make it with my signature ingredients and taste it, then tweak it.
In short, if you were going to skip on an ingredient, make it cumin.
Sub ingredients like ground coriander instead of cumin but only add HALF the amount or you won’t appreciate the results.
Therefore, you could eliminate it altogether if you prefer.
Simple and Versatile Cranberry Spritzer
At its core, presentation is everything.
Therefore if it looks good, it will taste great.
Remember to get the perfect glasses for the presentation!
This delightful beverage is a delicious way to celebrate the holiday season.
Here, the classic flavor combination of cranberry, orange, and cinnamon is complemented by the unexpected addition of cumin.
Remember to stock up on cinnamon sticks. This bag is a great deal for 100!
How to Change-up The Cranberry Spritzer?
As a girl that loves her own signature recipe, I do realize that not everyone at our gatherings has the same taste.
All good!
The key to being a great hostess is to consider everyone ahead of time.
Since I know my party-goers, I do know what they like, so I often just sub out the vodka.
First, you can change the vodka to a flavored vodka if you are fine committing to a stronger flavor.
Therefore cinnamon or orange vodka is what you would use.
If you want it a little fiery, try hot cinnamon vodka (lip-smacking, cracker-consuming, fantastic!) Yeah, you’ll eat more crackers to put the fire out!
Prefer Rum?
Try spiced rum or an orange-vanilla flavor (Captain Morgan’s is perfect!).
You get the idea, change up the alcohol to suit your guests!
Will I Have Time to Make The Cranberry Spritzer?
Your time commitment to this festive beverage is under 15 minutes.
So, this is a make-ahead (the night before) and enjoy this the next day.
So, while you are going crazy preparing all of the other food, there is not much you have to do the next day other than glass garnish!
Yeah, and don’t forget to sample, I mean, after all, getting a little snookered while cooking is the way the food turns out the best! LOL!
Mocktail Or Cocktail? Which is it?
BOTH!
So remember I said you could make this a cocktail or a mocktail?
For those that love their holiday drinks that are a bit spirited, you can add in alcohol, ranging from rum to vodka.
Therefore you are making a cocktail for the adults-only.
Naturally, if you have non-drinkers, pregnant moms or children, or teens at your part, skip the alcohol and create a pleasant mocktail everyone can enjoy.
As a result, you ALL can ‘Sip, Sip. Hooray!’
Cheers! ~ Dana XO
RECIPE For Simple and Versatile CRANBERRY SPRITZERS ⇓⇓⇓
Simple and Versatile Cranberry Spritzer
Ingredients
- 1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¼ c. honey or 1/4 C Agave if you have honey allergies or anyone in the crowd does.
- ½ c. water
- 2 T whole cumin seeds or 1 Tsp Coriander
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 3 c. unsweetened cranberry juice
- 2 medium organic oranges each cut into 8 wedges
- Optional: ½ c. vodka - Do look for Cinnamon Vodka if available but you can use basic vodka. If you use cinnamon the taste is a bit more intense! (Gin or Rum for those that don't like vodka - see my notes below)
- 3 c. sparkling water I love using berry-flavored it gives it an even better taste, but you can opt for plain
- OPTIONAL GARNISHES
- Additional cinnamon sticks
- 6 long rosemary sprigs lower leaves removed and threaded with fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Add cranberries, honey, water, cumin seeds (or coriander), and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until the honey (agave) is melted and the spices are intensely fragrant.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a large glass or another non-reactive bowl.
- (If you are making mocktails, here is where you need to change what you are doing. I suggest splitting the batch in half or making a double batch and then splitting in half so you can make both cocktails and mocktails, it just makes it easier and you will easily go through 6 glasses of this!)
- Add cranberry juice, orange wedges, and vodka, if using. (if you have split this into 2 batches then add the Vodka, Rum, or Gin to your alcohol-driven cocktails and don't add it to the other batch).
- Either way, you do need to refrigerate for several hours to overnight. (I say 24 hours but overnight is plenty)
- You may get a little messy with the next step, but after you are done, you can taste your fingers, lol, did I say that? Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly for proper sanitation methods before moving on!
- Once thoroughly chilled, remove from the refrigerator and firmly squeeze each orange wedge into the bowl to capture the juice before discarding.
- Strain the mixture with a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids.
- To serve, fill serving glasses with ice and add enough of the seasoned cranberry juice mixture to fill each glass about 1/3 full.
- Note: for a stronger drink, use less ice, but for a less intense flavor, add more ice.
- Top off each glass with sparkling water and stir to combine.
- Taste and sweeten with additional honey (agave) if desired.
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks and/or rosemary skewers and serve immediately.
Notes
Each turns out well. The key here is using a spiced Gin or a Spiced Rum. We have used both in Cinnamon and that is the perfect blend. Why do I change up the alcohol? Some people don't like vodka, so that is why.
