Searching for cocktail recipes that are both delicious and visually appealing? Cranberry cocktails, with their vibrant hue and balanced taste, are a fantastic choice. Our curated list of the top 12 cranberry cocktails offers step-by-step guides to making these delightful drinks. Read on to learn how to mix these perfect cocktails and make your next event unforgettable.
Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan, often called a “cosmo,” is a classic cranberry cocktail. It is famous for its pink hue and balanced flavors. This drink gained popularity in the 1990s and is loved for its refreshing taste.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz triple sec
Instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and triple sec to a cocktail shaker.
- Add Ice: Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake: Cover and shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold.
- Strain: Pour the mixture through a strainer into a martini glass.
- Garnish: Optionally, garnish with a lime wheel or twist.
For a twist, use cranberry syrup instead of juice. This adds more depth to the flavor.
Cranberry Margarita
A Cranberry Margarita is a refreshing twist on the traditional margarita. Combining the tartness of cranberries with the tangy flavor of lime, it offers a unique drink experience.
Ingredients
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1.5 oz tequila blanco
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur
- Ice
- Coarse salt or Margarita salt (for the rim)
- Lime wedge (for garnish)
- Cranberries (optional garnish)
- Rosemary sprig (optional garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the glass:
- Rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge.
- Dip the edge into a plate of coarse salt.
Mix the drink:
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Add 3 oz cranberry juice, 1.5 oz tequila blanco, 0.75 oz lime juice, and 0.5 oz orange liqueur.
Shake:
- Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds until the outside is frosty.
Strain and serve:
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with cranberries and a rosemary sprig if desired.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
A Cranberry Moscow Mule is a great way to enjoy a refreshing cocktail with a bit of tartness and spice. Here’s how you can make one.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz ginger beer
- Crushed ice
Instructions:
- Fill your glass: Use a copper mug if possible. Fill it with crushed ice.
- Add liquids: Pour 2 oz vodka, 2 oz cranberry juice, and ½ oz lime juice into the mug.
- Top it off: Add 3 oz of ginger beer.
- Stir gently: Combine the ingredients without losing the fizz of the ginger beer.
- Garnish: Add a few frozen cranberries and a lime wedge for a festive touch.
For a slightly different twist, you can use rum instead of vodka. This is still delicious and easy to make.
Ingredients for Rum Variation:
- 2 oz rum
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz ginger beer
- Crushed ice
Instructions:
- Fill your glass: Again, use a copper mug filled with crushed ice.
- Add liquids: Add 2 oz rum, 2 oz cranberry juice, and ½ oz lime juice.
- Top it off: Pour in 3 oz ginger beer.
- Stir gently: Mix everything together carefully.
- Garnish: Add frozen cranberries and a lime wedge.
Bay Breeze
The Bay Breeze is a refreshing and tropical cocktail. It combines cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and vodka. This drink is perfect for a summer day.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- Ice
Instructions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour vodka over the ice.
- Add cranberry juice and pineapple juice.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or pineapple wedge if desired.
This combination of juices and vodka creates a balanced, tropical flavor. The splash of pineapple adds a touch of sweetness. Cranberry juice provides a tart note.
Bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike enjoy the simplicity of this drink. Each sip transports you to a tropical locale.
Madras
The Madras is a vibrant and refreshing cranberry cocktail. Perfect for various occasions, this drink combines the tartness of cranberry juice with the sweetness of orange juice.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the vodka.
- Add the cranberry juice. Pour slowly to create a visual effect.
- Top with orange juice.
- Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.
This cocktail is easy to make and offers a balance of fruit flavors. It’s ideal for brunch, daytime, or evening gatherings. The Madras is versatile and can be adjusted by changing the juice combinations.
Cranberry Mimosa
A Cranberry Mimosa is a refreshing twist on the classic brunch cocktail. Its vibrant red color and tangy taste make it perfect for holiday celebrations or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice (100% pure recommended)
- 1/2 cup champagne or sparkling wine
- Optional garnishes: mint sprig, frozen cranberries, orange twist
Instructions
- Pour cranberry juice into a champagne flute.
- Add champagne slowly to avoid spilling.
- Garnish with a mint sprig, frozen cranberries, or an orange twist for extra flair.
This cocktail is easy to customize. Adjust the juice-to-champagne ratio to suit your taste.
For a non-alcoholic version, use sparkling water or ginger ale instead of champagne.
Serve Cranberry Mimosas chilled for the best experience. This drink pairs well with brunch dishes.
Cranberry Whiskey Sour
The Cranberry Whiskey Sour is a refreshing cocktail. It combines whiskey with tart cranberry juice. It’s a holiday favorite but enjoyable year-round.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey (bourbon is preferred)
- ¾ ounce unsweetened cranberry juice
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup or maple syrup
- Clear ice for serving
- Garnishes: orange wheel or twist, cocktail cherry, cranberries, rosemary sprig
Instructions
- Prepare your shaker. Add the whiskey, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake well. Add ice and shake until the mixture is cold.
- Strain into a glass filled with clear ice.
- Garnish with an orange wheel or twist, cocktail cherry, cranberries, or a rosemary sprig.
There are variations you can try:
Spiced Syrup Variation
- Make the spiced syrup: Combine cranberries, water, and maple syrup in a saucepan.
- Simmer with spices: Add cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel. Simmer until cranberries collapse.
- Use spiced syrup: Replace simple syrup with spiced cranberry syrup in the main recipe.
Egg White Variation
- Add egg white: Include one egg white in the shaker.
- Shake without ice: Shake vigorously for 30 seconds until frothy.
- Add ice and shake: Shake again with ice until cold.
- Strain and serve as before.
Poinsettia
The Poinsettia cocktail is a delightful cranberry champagne drink. It’s perfect for festive occasions and gatherings. Here’s how you can make it.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces cranberry juice (90 milliliters)
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (30 milliliters), such as Cointreau
- Champagne to fill up the glass
- Optional: Sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions:
- Shake: Add ice, cranberry juice, and orange liqueur to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain: Pour the mixture into a champagne flute.
- Top Off: Fill the flute with champagne or sparkling wine.
- Garnish: Add sugared cranberries or a rosemary sprig if desired.
Tips:
- Use 100% cranberry juice for the best flavor.
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute champagne with non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice.
- Play around with flavors by adding a touch of pomegranate liqueur for a twist.
Cranberry Gin and Tonic
Try a Cranberry Gin and Tonic for a refreshing twist on a classic cocktail. This drink combines the tang of cranberries with the botanical notes of gin. It’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- Tonic water
- Lime slices
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Fresh rosemary sprig
Instructions:
- Fill a tall glass ¾ full with ice.
- Add 2 lime slices and half of the cranberries.
- Pour in the gin and cranberry juice.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with a lime slice, remaining cranberries, and a rosemary sprig.
- Serve with a straw if desired.
Washington Apple
The Washington Apple cocktail is a refreshing, easy-to-make drink. Combining the crisp flavors of cranberry juice, sour apple schnapps, and Canadian whisky, it’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Canadian whisky
- 1 ounce sour apple schnapps
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add Canadian whisky, sour apple schnapps, and cranberry juice.
- Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
- Strain into a coupe or martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of apple.
Some variations include adding a splash of soda for extra fizz or making it as a shot with equal parts ingredients.
Cranberry Rosemary Champagne Cocktail
A Cranberry Rosemary Champagne Cocktail is a festive drink perfect for celebrations. Its bright flavors and elegant presentation make it a showstopper.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp Rosemary Cranberry Syrup
- 1 tbsp Fresh Orange Juice
- 6 oz Champagne
- Frozen Cranberries (for garnish)
- Sprig of Fresh Rosemary (for garnish)
- Orange Wedge (for garnish)
Instructions:
Prepare your glass:
- Fill a champagne flute with 3 tablespoons of Rosemary Cranberry Syrup.
- Add 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice on top.
Add champagne:
- Pour 6 ounces of champagne into the flute.
Garnish:
- Add a few frozen cranberries.
- Place a sprig of fresh rosemary and an orange wedge on the rim.
Cranberry-Orange Sangria
Cranberry-Orange Sangria is a vibrant, fruity cocktail. It combines the tartness of cranberries with the sweetness of oranges. This drink is perfect for any festive gathering.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium orange, thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 bottle cranberry juice (32 ounces)
- 1 bottle red wine (750 ml)
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)
- Cranberry soda for topping (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the cranberry juice, red wine, brandy, and Cointreau.
- Add Fruit: Add the sliced oranges, apples, and cranberries.
- Sweeten: Stir in the simple syrup.
- Chill: Refrigerate the mixture for at least 3 hours or overnight to let flavors meld.
- Serve: Pour the sangria over ice, top with
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