How to Make a Cranberry Spritzer

Celebrate the holiday season with a refreshing Cranberry Spritzer! This easy holiday recipe is the perfect addition to your holiday festivities. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply looking to enjoy a festive drink, this cranberry spritzer is sure to impress. 

Bursting with the vibrant flavors of fresh cranberries and a hint of sweetness, it will leave your taste buds craving for more. Get ready to spread holiday cheer at your next holiday party with this delicious and festive cocktail!

What is a Cranberry Spritzer?

A cranberry spritzer is a refreshing and festive beverage that is perfect for the holiday season. Made with a combination of cranberry juice, sparkling water, and a hint of citrus, this drink strikes a delightful balance between sweet and tangy flavors.

It’s a popular choice among both adults and kids, as it can be enjoyed as a non-alcoholic option or mixed with a splash of vodka for those looking for a little kick. 

Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or simply want to treat yourself to a flavorful drink, the cranberry spritzer is a surefire way to spread cheer and brighten up any occasion.

What to Serve with a Cranberry Spritzer

This drink recipe can be served with many different dishes. I love to meal plan and here’s what I usually serve with this refreshing drink:

Appetizer: Mini Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Glaze

Main Course: Cheesy Spinach Quiche with Cherry Tomatoes

Side Dish: Roasted Mediterranean Potatoes

Dessert: Cranberry Crisp Bars

How to Make a Cranberry Spritzer Mocktail

To make this drink recipe into a mocktail, simply skip adding in vodka in the juice mixture. You don’t need to add anything additional to it to make up for it!

Recipe Tips and Variations

This recipe is best made a day in advance. This lets all the flavors blend together so you get the most out of your holiday drink. If you don’t have time to make it advance, make sure you have a few hours 

The best way to serve this drink is in champagne flutes. I like to fill them with about 1/3 of the juice and then top the glasses with sparkling water. You can garnish with a little rosemary sprig, fresh cranberries, lime slices or even cinnamon sticks! If you’d like the drink a little sweeter, you could add in a little more honey to the glass. 

If you’re serving this at a party, you could fill a punch bowl or large pitcher with the sparkling water and the juice mix and guests can help themselves. The only thing with this method is that the fuzziness of the sparkling water will be lost over time.

Alternatively, you could add the sparkling water to each glass individually before pouring in the juice mix. This will help retain the fizziness of the sparkling water, but it may take a bit more time and effort on your part.

If you like really chilly drinks, freeze some of the juice mix into ice cubes and use those to cool your drink. 

More Holiday Drinks

Craving more fun holiday cocktails? Here are some of the best holiday drinks:

• Homemade Eggnog
• Gingerbread Martini
• Cranberry Moscow Mule
• Ponche Mexicano Navideno
• Apple Cider Mimosas

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

• ¼ c. honey

• ½ cup water
• 2 T whole cumin seeds

• 4 cinnamon sticks

• 3 cup unsweetened cranberry juice

• 2 medium organic oranges, each cut into 8 wedges

• 3 cups sparkling water
• optional: ½ cup vodka

Instructions

1. Add cranberries, honey, water, cumin seeds, and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until the honey is melted and the spices are intensely fragrant.
2. Remove from heat and transfer to a large glass or other non-reactive bowl. Add cranberry juice, orange wedges, and vodka, if using. Refrigerate for several hours to overnight.
3. Once thoroughly chilled, remove from refrigerator and firmly squeeze each orange wedge into the bowl to capture the juice before discarding. Strain mixture with a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids.
4. To serve, fill serving glasses with ice and add enough of the seasoned cranberry juice mixture to fill each glass about ⅓ full. Top off each glass with sparkling water and stir to combine. Taste and sweeten with additional honey, if desired. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and/or rosemary skewers and serve immediately. 

Click here to print the recipe