Simple and Versatile Cranberry Spritzer
Holiday parties are about to begin. Are you ready with your signature recipes? This is my signature recipe drink for the holidays. Please remember not to do drink and drive. Friends don't let friends drink and drive. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol.
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
In my recipe, I use vodka, but please note, we have used Gin and Rum as well.
A note on the vodka, often we use cinnamon vodka and we have used orange as well.
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.
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.