Whenever I have an idea for a new cocktail, a cranberry is the first fruit that slides into my imaginative cocktail cart.
Whether you are muddling, juicing or infusing, cranberries add welcome hue and complexity to the glass.
Let’s mix up this ruby of a fruit into some of the season’s best cranberry cocktails.
The 11 Best Cranberry Cocktails
1. Cosmopolitan
There is nothing better for me than a cocktail, and my favorite is when I mix up vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and some lime juice. I start sipping and this blend is so interesting and exciting, it’s always good for a party or when you have guests.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 oz cranberry juice
Lime wheel or twist, for garnish
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled, about 15-20 seconds.
4. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lime wheel or twist, and serve immediately.
2. Cranberry Margarita
Here’s a variation of the traditional margarita that I think of as a holiday drink, because of the beautiful color of the cranberry juice. The cocktail uses fresh cranberries, lime juice, tequila, a splash of triple sec, and a touch of simple syrup.
Ingredients
- 2 oz silver tequila
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedges, for garnish
- Fresh cranberries, for garnish
- Salt or sugar, for rim (optional)
Instructions
1. If you wish, rim the inside of the glass with a lime wedge then dip in salt or sugar.
2. Shake up the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup with ice cubes in a shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled, typically for about 15-20 seconds.
4. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge and a few fresh cranberries.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing cranberry margarita!
3. Bay Breeze
I do like a good twist on a classic cocktail, and this is certainly one. It’s a well-balanced mix of pineapple juice, cranberry juice and vodka and is like a little vacation in a glass.
With these flavors, I can go to the tropics almost anytime I want.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge or pineapple slice for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in the vodka, followed by the cranberry juice and pineapple juice.
3. Stir the ingredients gently to combine.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge or pineapple slice if desired.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Bay Breeze cocktail.
4. Sea Breeze
I love the way a crisp coastal cocktail can summon the flavors of sunny beach days and breezy ocean air in an instant. One I especially enjoy is made with cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and vodka.
I find it a wonderfully refreshing way to relax.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge or slice (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
4. Strain the cocktail into a highball or rocks glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge or slice, if desired.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Sea Breeze cocktail.
5. Madras
Think of the fresh smell of a lime wedge , the cranberry and orange juice and the vodka.
This is a really refreshing cocktail!
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz vodka
3 oz cranberry juice
1 oz orange juice
Lime wedge (for garnish)
Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
4. Strain the cocktail into a highball or rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Madras cocktail!
6. Cape Codder
This is one of my standbys when I’m thinking about refreshing cocktails: easy, crowd-pleasing cranberry juice (color!) and vodka, a nice drink, with maybe some lime to give it a zing. Really simple, really good.
Ingredients
2 ounces vodka
3 ounces cranberry juice
Lime wedge, for garnish
Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a glass with ice cubes to chill it thoroughly.
2. Pour 2 ounces of vodka over the ice.
3. Add 3 ounces of cranberry juice to the glass.
4. Stir the mixture gently until well combined.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Cape Codder!
7. Cranberry Martini
Even more genteel, the cranberry martini, with its blend of tart cranberry juice, velvety smooth vodka and a splash of lime. What a wonderful taste combination for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Fresh cranberries or lime wheel for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes.
2. Pour the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and lime juice into the shaker.
3. Close the lid of the shaker and shake vigorously for around 15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with fresh cranberries or a lime wheel if desired. Serve immediately.
8. Cranberry Gin and Tonic
Here’s a refreshing riff on a classic, made with my favorite flavor of the fall: cranberries. The fresh drink is joined by a dash of cranberry juice and lime, with a scattering of fresh cranberries on top.
To decorate, I spike a sprig of rosemary on the rim.
Ingredients
2 ounces gin
2 ounces cranberry juice
4 ounces tonic water
Ice cubes
Lime wedge or wheel, for garnish
Fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Rosemary sprig, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes to chill the glass.
2. Pour in the gin and cranberry juice over the ice.
3. Top off the glass with tonic water, stirring gently to combine.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel for a touch of citrus.
5. Add fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig for additional festive flair.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Cranberry Gin and Tonic.
9. Cranberry Mojito
This is a lovely cocktail which I’ve given a zesty little kick to by adding rum, muddled mint and a splash of lime juice. This then goes onto the ice, topped up with cranberry juice for a really zingy, tart drink.
Perfect for a party drink but equally as enjoyable by one!
Ingredients
10 fresh mint leaves
1 lime, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup white rum
1/2 cup club soda
Ice cubes
Fresh cranberries (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Put the mint leaves and limes in your glass and bash them together with your muddler to juice the limes and release the mint oils.
2. Add sugar and muddle again until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour in the cranberry juice and white rum, then mix gently.
4. Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with club soda.
5. Stir everything together gently to combine.
6. Garnish with fresh cranberries and additional mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately.
10. Cranberry Mimosa
I love making a mimosa for my guests. This drink can make any of my gatherings look like a party.
The cranberry juice adds a little brightness but makes it not too sweet. Just the right amount of Orange slice and Bubbly champagne for an excellent sip.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 bottle of chilled champagne or sparkling wine
- Cranberries for garnish (optional)
- Orange slices for garnish (optional)
- Sprig of rosemary for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Cranberry juice and champagne should be chilled in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
2. In a champagne flute, pour about 1/4 cup of cranberry juice.
3. Top the glass with chilled champagne, filling it to the top.
4. Gently stir to combine if desired, being careful not to lose the bubbles.
5. Garnish with cranberries, a slice of orange and/or a sprig of rosemary, if preferred. Serve immediately.
11. Cranberry Sangria
I like it when sangria is very full-flavored with a deep, dark taste of the wine. Sometimes I add some cranberry juice for some tartness.
Red wine and some brandy mixed with orange and apples
Ingredients
1 bottle of red wine (750 ml)
1 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Cointreau)
1/4 cup brandy
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 orange, sliced
1 apple, cored and sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup club soda
Instructions
- Mix the red wine, cranberry juice, orange liqueur and brandy in a big pitcher.
2. Add the sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved.
3. Stir in the fresh cranberries, oranges, apples and cinnamon sticks.
4. Stir, then chill at least 2 hours to blend flavours.
5. Before serving, add the club soda to the sangria and gently stir.
6. Pour the sangria over ice into your glasses and don’t forget to include a piece of fruit in each glass.