I love the vibrant taste of cranberries! When the weather gets cooler, or even when I just want a bright, refreshing drink, I often turn to these little red berries. They add a perfect tartness and a beautiful color to any beverage.
If you’re like me and enjoy a good cranberry cocktail, you’re in for a treat today. I’ve put together some of my favorite cranberry drink recipes that are easy to make and perfect for any gathering or just a quiet evening at home.
Jump to Recipe:
- 1. Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria
- 2. Cranberry Christmas Mimosa
- 3. Cranberry Gin Fizz
- 4. Cranberry Orange Margarita
- 5. Cranberry Orange Prosecco Cocktail
Refreshing Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria
This sangria mixes cranberry and apple cider with wine and fruit. It’s a wonderful drink for sharing with friends at any fall gathering.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Sangria
- Fresh Fruit: Use sliced apples and fresh cranberries to soak in the sangria. This adds natural flavor and makes it look beautiful.
- Chill Time: Let the sangria sit in the fridge for at least 2-4 hours. This helps all the flavors blend together perfectly for a better taste.
What You Need for Sangria
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup brandy or triple sec
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
⏱️ Time: 15 mins prep, 2-4 hrs chill🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria
Step 1: Combine Liquids
In a large pitcher, pour in the red wine, cranberry juice, apple cider, and brandy. Stir them gently to mix everything together evenly.
Step 2: Add Fruit & Spices
Add the sliced apples, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher. Give it another light stir to make sure the fruit is coated.
Step 3: Chill & Serve Sangria
Cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 4 hours. Serve cold over ice in glasses.
📝 Final Note
You can make this sangria a day ahead for even deeper flavors. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Easy Cranberry Christmas Mimosa
This festive mimosa is a simple, bubbly drink perfect for holiday mornings or brunch. It combines tart cranberry with sparkling wine for a cheerful sip.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Mimosa
- Chilled Ingredients: Make sure both your cranberry juice and sparkling wine are very cold. This keeps your drink refreshing without needing extra ice.
- Garnish: A few fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig make this drink look extra special and festive for any occasion.
What You Need for Mimosa
- 1/4 cup chilled cranberry juice
- Chilled sparkling wine (Prosecco or Cava), to fill
- Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
- Rosemary sprig (for garnish)
⏱️ Time: 5 mins🍽️ Yields: 1 serving
How to Make Cranberry Christmas Mimosa
Step 1: Pour Cranberry Juice
Pour about 1/4 cup of chilled cranberry juice into a champagne flute. Make sure the juice is cold for the best drink.
Step 2: Top with Sparkling Wine
Slowly top the cranberry juice with chilled sparkling wine until the glass is almost full. Pour slowly to keep the bubbles.
Step 3: Garnish & Serve
Add a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a festive touch. Serve your mimosa right away to enjoy its fizz.
📝 Final Note
Adjust the ratio of cranberry juice to sparkling wine to your liking. Less juice makes it drier, more juice makes it sweeter.
Zesty Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail
This gin fizz is light, bubbly, and brings together gin, cranberry, and citrus flavors. It’s a bright drink that’s both fun and refreshing.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Gin Fizz
- Fresh Lime Juice: Using fresh lime juice makes a big difference in the brightness and overall taste of this cocktail. Avoid bottled juice if you can.
- Fizz Factor: A good quality club soda or sparkling water will give you the best fizz. Add it last to keep your drink bubbly and lively.
What You Need for Gin Fizz
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Club soda, to top
- Fresh cranberries or lime wheel (for garnish)
⏱️ Time: 7 mins🍽️ Yields: 1 serving
How to Make Cranberry Gin Fizz
Step 1: Combine Ingredients
In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the gin, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Make sure all ingredients are cold.
Step 2: Shake Well
Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds until well chilled. You want it very cold.
Step 3: Serve with Fizz
Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with fresh cranberries or a lime wheel.
📝 Final Note
For a foamier top, you can dry shake (shake without ice) the gin, juices, and syrup with an egg white before adding ice and shaking again.
Festive Cranberry Orange Margarita
This margarita brings a seasonal feeling to a classic, combining the tartness of cranberry with the bright taste of orange. It’s a great drink for celebrations.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Margarita
- Fresh Citrus: Use freshly squeezed orange and lime juice for the best taste. This makes the margarita much brighter and more flavorful.
- Salt Rim: A salt rim with a little orange zest mixed in can add a nice extra layer of flavor and makes the drink look complete.
What You Need for Margarita
- 2 oz Tequila (Blanco)
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 0.75 oz fresh orange juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz triple sec or Cointreau
- Ice
- Coarse salt and orange zest (for rim, optional)
- Cranberry or orange slice (for garnish)
⏱️ Time: 8 mins🍽️ Yields: 1 serving
How to Make Cranberry Orange Margarita
Step 1: Prepare Glass (Optional)
If you want a salt rim, moisten the rim of a margarita glass with a lime wedge. Dip the rim into a shallow plate of coarse salt mixed with orange zest.
Step 2: Shake Ingredients
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and triple sec. Shake well until thoroughly chilled, about 15-20 seconds.
Step 3: Serve Your Margarita
Strain the mixture into your prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh cranberry or an orange slice for a nice finish.
📝 Final Note
To make a pitcher for a crowd, multiply the ingredients by the number of servings and mix in a large pitcher. Add ice to individual glasses when serving.
Sparkling Cranberry Orange Prosecco
This light and bubbly cocktail mixes cranberry, orange, and prosecco for a bright and celebratory drink. It’s quick to make and looks beautiful.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Prosecco Drink
- Good Quality Prosecco: Choose a dry or extra dry prosecco for the best balance with the fruit juices. A sweet prosecco might make the drink too sugary.
- Chilled Juices: Make sure your cranberry and orange juices are cold before mixing. This helps keep the drink very refreshing.
What You Need for Prosecco Cocktail
- Chilled Prosecco, to fill
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- Orange peel or fresh cranberries (for garnish)
⏱️ Time: 5 mins🍽️ Yields: 1 serving
How to Make Cranberry Orange Prosecco
Step 1: Pour Juices
In a champagne flute, combine about 1 ounce of cranberry juice and 1 ounce of fresh orange juice. Use chilled juices.
Step 2: Top with Prosecco
Slowly top the juice mixture with chilled Prosecco until the glass is full. Pour gently to keep the bubbles active.
Step 3: Garnish & Serve
Add a twist of orange peel or a few fresh cranberries as a garnish. Serve your drink immediately to enjoy its sparkle.
📝 Final Note
You can sweeten this slightly with a tiny dash of simple syrup if your juices are very tart, but usually the Prosecco adds enough sweetness.