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Cranberry Christmas Cocktail
A festive cranberry Christmas cocktail made with cranberry juice, blood orange juice, vodka, and simple syrup. Refreshing, easy to make, and perfect for holiday entertaining.
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This cranberry Christmas cocktail is the ultimate festive holiday drink, bursting with tart cranberry flavor and bright, refreshing citrus. Made with cranberry juice, vodka, and fresh orange juice, it’s a vibrant Christmas morning cocktail that’s easy to mix and perfect for celebrating.
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide with helpful photos, pro tips, and simple tricks to make sure your cocktail turns out perfect every time. Be sure to check the frequently asked questions for answers to common cranberry Christmas cocktail questions.
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Dress this Christmas cocktail up with a sprig of rosemary, fresh cranberries, or a sugared rim for a holiday drink that looks just as good as it tastes. Whether you’re serving one glass or making a big batch for a crowd, this cranberry cocktail fits right into any Christmas celebration.
Ingredients To Make A Cranberry Christmas Cocktail
What you'll need to make this Cranberry Christmas Cocktail:
- 3 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 ounces blood-orange juice, from 1 large fresh blood-orange
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
Optional Garnishes
- Simple syrup, for rimming the glass
- Super fine granulated sugar, for rimming the glass
- Thin slices of blood-orange
- Fresh rosemary sprig
- Cinnamon stick, food grade
- Fresh cranberries
Pro Tip
Fresh cranberries are easy to find in grocery stores during the holiday season, but can be hard to track down the rest of the year.
The good news is that whole fresh cranberries freeze beautifully and thaw without losing their shape or color.
To enjoy cranberries year-round, stock up during the holidays and freeze a bag or two for later. Simply store them in a freezer-safe bag, and they’ll be ready whenever you need them for cocktails, garnishes, or recipes.
If you missed fresh cranberry season, many grocery stores also carry frozen whole cranberries in the frozen fruit aisle.
Substitutions and Additions
Our Christmas cranberry cocktail is very forgiving, so don't stress if you discover a missing ingredient.
🍹 Cranberry Juice: If you can’t find 100% cranberry juice, you can use a mix of cranberry cocktail. It may be less tart, but it will still maintain that bright red color.
🍊 Blood Orange Juice: Regular orange juice works great too! It adds natural sweetness and citrus brightness when blood oranges aren’t available. A touch of grapefruit juice can also add a lovely tartness.
🍾 Vodka: If vodka isn’t your thing, try gin for a botanical twist or light rum for a slightly sweeter profile. For a cozy winter vibe, a splash of spiced rum pairs beautifully with the cranberry and orange.
❌ Non-Alcoholic: Swap the vodka for extra juice or a citrus-flavored sparkling water to make this a refreshing mocktail for all ages.
🍶 Simple Syrup: Honey syrup (honey dissolved in warm water) or agave nectar can be used in place of simple syrup for a richer sweetness. Adjust to taste!
How to Make a Cranberry Christmas Cocktail
- Add ice, cranberry juice cocktail, blood-orange juice, vodka, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add the lid and shake for 20-30 seconds or until well blended and chilled.
- Add ice (approximately ½ cup) to a 10-ounce low-ball cocktail glass. Remove the cap and strain into the prepared glass.
3. Garnish with an orange slice, sprig of fresh rosemary, cinnamon stick, and fresh cranberries. If you plan to rim the glass, do that before adding ice and pouring the cocktail.
How To Serve Christmas Cranberry Punch
A slice of blood orange, a few fresh cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary instantly turn this cranberry cocktail into festive holiday decor in a glass. The rosemary adds a subtle piney note, the orange brings a bright citrus flavor, and the cranberries create that classic Christmas pop. For extra warmth and aroma, add a cinnamon stick.
If you’d like to rim your glass, it’s easy to do. Pour simple syrup into a shallow dish and sugar into a second shallow dish. Dip the rim of the glass into the syrup, then twist to coat it in the sugar. Set the glass aside to dry while you prepare the cocktail.
You can garnish with frozen cranberries if that’s what you have on hand, but keep in mind they soften as they thaw. For the best presentation, fresh cranberries hold their shape better and look prettier in the glass.
If you’re hosting, this holiday cranberry cocktail is easy to scale up and serve from a pitcher, drink dispenser, or punch bowl. Pitchers work well for smaller gatherings; drink dispensers make serving simple and keep cocktails cold; and punch bowls create a festive holiday centerpiece.
For the best flavor, serve this cocktail right after mixing so the ice doesn’t dilute the drink. If you’d like to make it ahead, mix the cocktail in a pitcher, stir to combine, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours without ice. When you’re ready to serve, add ice to individual glasses and pour.
Cranberry Christmas Cocktail FAQ
Can I make this cranberry Christmas cocktail ahead of time?
Yes. You can mix the cocktail in a pitcher up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate it until ready to serve. Do not add ice until serving to prevent dilution.
What’s the best cranberry juice to use?
For the best flavor, use 100% cranberry juice. Cranberry juice cocktail will work in a pinch, but it’s sweeter and less tart, so you may want to reduce the simple syrup slightly.
Can I make this cranberry holiday cocktail in a large batch?
Yes! Multiply the ingredients, mix in a pitcher, and keep your holiday punch cocktail chilled until ready to serve. Stir before pouring.
Can I garnish with frozen cranberries?
You can use frozen cranberries if that’s what you have, but they soften as they thaw. Fresh cranberries hold their shape better and look nicer in the glass.
How do I keep the cocktail from getting watered down?
Serve the cocktail immediately after mixing, or add ice only to individual glasses rather than the pitcher or punch bowl.
What’s the best way to serve this for a party?
This cocktail works well in a pitcher, drink dispenser, or punch bowl. Garnish just before serving for the best presentation.
Can I adjust the sweetness?
Yes. Taste the cocktail after mixing and adjust the simple syrup to your preference. Add more for a sweeter drink or less for a more tart, cranberry-forward flavor.
Cranberry Christmas Cocktail
A festive cranberry Christmas cocktail made with cranberry juice, blood orange juice, vodka, and simple syrup. Refreshing, easy to make, and perfect for holiday entertaining.
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Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 ounces blood-orange juice (from 1 large fresh blood-orange)
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
Optional Garnishes
- Simple syrup (for rimming glass)
- Super fine granulated sugar (for rimming glass)
- Thin slices of blood-orange
- Fresh rosemary sprig
- Cinnamon stick (food grade)
- Fresh cranberries
DIRECTIONS
- Add ice (approximately ¾ cup), cranberry juice cocktail, blood-orange juice, vodka, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add the lid and shake for 20-30 seconds or until well blended and chilled.
- Add ice (approximately ½ cup) to a 10-ounce low-ball cocktail glass. Remove the cap and strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with an orange slice, sprig of fresh rosemary, cinnamon stick, and 3-4 fresh cranberries. If you plan to rim the glass, do that before adding ice and pouring the cocktail.
Notes
- To make a larger batch:
- Add 4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, 3 cups blood-orange juice, 1 ½ cups vodka and ½ cup simple syrup to a large (90-ounce) glass pitcher.
- Stir and add ice to the pitcher if serving immediately. You can make this ahead in the pitcher, stir to combine, then refrigerate for up to 24 hours to chill (do not add ice) before serving. Ice can be added to individual serving glasses once the large batch Christmas Cranberry Cocktail has been well chilled.
Nutrition
Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Michael says
This is so yumny!