Sparkling Cranberry co*cktail Recipe (2024)

Make this sparkling Cranberry co*cktail with fruit juices, vodka, and sparkling water in just 5 minutes, and have one of the most delicious and festive co*cktails for your Holidays. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and low-carb (not keto).

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this cranberry co*cktail recipe you'll need:

• 2 cups cranberry juice, unsweetened -- chilled (100% juice)
• 2 cups passion fruit, chilled (or orange juice). If the juice is from frozen pulp, make sure to thaw it before measuring. NOTE: Either type of fruit juice is usually quite sweet! But you can still add sugar, simple syrup, or the sweetener of your choice to adjust the sweetness of your co*cktail.
• 1 cup vodka (or gin)
• 1 ½ cups lime sparkling water, chilled -- Other flavor options: Passion fruit, lemon, orange, or cranberry (or Ginger Ale or champagne -- If you prefer to use champagne instead of sparkling water, skip the vodka. However, it will be way less boozy).
• Ice cubes
• Garnish suggestions: Fresh cranberries, orange slices, mint leaves, rosemary sprigs, lime wedges or slices, or sugared cranberries.

How to Make Cranberry co*cktail

1. Combine the juices and vodka in a pitcher and refrigerate. Before serving, gently stir in sparkling water and add ice.

2. Serve it in glasses or in a punch bowl, garnished with any of our garnish suggestions. TIP: Taste and adjust the sweetness of your co*cktail before serving! You’ll have a drink with tart and sweet flavors.

NOTE: If making individual servings, use can use a co*cktail shaker.

Tips for Making Vodka Cranberry co*cktail

• If possible, use fresh cranberry juice and fresh orange juice (or passion fruit juice). They will make your co*cktail drink taste better than if you use bottled juices. But in any case, make sure one is unsweetened and the other is sweetened (or both juices are unsweetened and you add just enough sugar to balance tartness), giving your drink the perfect balance between tart and sweet flavors.
• Use high-quality vodka, gin, or champagne for the holiday season!
• Only add sparkling water right before serving your cranberry vodka co*cktail. Otherwise, those amazing crisp bubbles may become flat.
• To make it ahead for your holiday party, chill the mixture of juices and vodka in a pitcher in the fridge up to 1 day ahead. As for the glasses, chill them in the freezer for about half an hour before serving the drink. Your holiday co*cktail will be extra refreshing!
• Make sure to taste it to adjust the sweetness of your cranberry co*cktail drink. It should be both tart and sweet!

Variations

• Juice: Choose juices that can pair well together such as pomegranate and orange (or lemon juice). Another option would be cranberry and pineapple juice or apple juice.
• Sparkling drink: I used sparkling water but you can use Ginger Ale or even champagne. If using the last, omit the vodka!
• Spirit: Gin would be the best option as a replacement for vodka because it has a compatible amount of alcohol. However, you may use tequila or cachaça.
• The ratio of spirit to mixer: The rule of thumb may vary! some say it should be 1:3 of vodka to juice while others think must be 2:1:1 (2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part tart). However, for a more family-friendly co*cktail, I use the 2:2:1 ratio (2 parts tart, 2 parts sweet, and 1 part spirit). It depends on how you will be serving and the occasion. Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually family-oriented holidays, requiring less boozy drinks. However, if you're making it for New Year's Eve, for example, you may alter the ratio.

FAQs

How to Store

FRIDGE: You can mix the juices and vodka ahead and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Right before serving, stir in the sparkling water.

Other co*cktail Recipes to Enjoy

• Michelada
• Caipirinha
• Pineapple Margarita
• Pineapple coconut co*cktail
• co*cktails for New Year's Eve
• Peppermint co*cktail

PIN AND ENJOY!

This post was first published on November 8th, 2012.

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