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Cranberry juice makes brilliant and tasty drinks! Here all the best cranberry co*cktail recipes, from Cosmos to Madras to the laid-back Sea Breeze.
Looking for stunning and refreshing co*cktail recipes? Grab a bottle of cranberry juice! This bright red juice makes some of the best mixed drinks out there. They’re vibrant in color and sweet tart in flavor. There’s everything from the sophisticated bright pink Cosmopolitan co*cktail, to the laid-back Sea Breeze, to the no-frills Vodka Cranberry. Here’s a list of our very favorite cranberry co*cktail recipes! But first: a few notes on the type of cranberry juice to use!
Cranberry juice vs cranberry juice co*cktail
While most traditional versions of a vodka cranberry usesweetenedcranberry juice, all of these cranberry co*cktail recipes use100% cranberry juice! What’s the difference:
- Cranberry juiceis unsweetened. It tastes tart and is labeled as “100% juice”.
- Cranberry juice co*cktailis sweetened, often with added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup. Most traditional versions of cranberry co*cktail recipes use this; even if they specify “cranberry juice” in the recipe, it often means cranberry juice co*cktail.
These cranberry co*cktail recipes use unsweetened juice!
If most cranberry co*cktails use the sweetened version of cranberry juice, why use the tart unsweetened juice here?
- It has less sugar. Use 100% juice and the drink has less sugar overall.
- You can customize the sweetness. To balance the flavor, you can add back sweetness with maple syrup or simple syrup.
- Makes naturally sweet drinks (no refined sugar added). Alex and I like using maple syrup in our cranberry co*cktails because it provides a gentler sweetness. We use maple syrup to sweeten lots of our co*cktails, from the gin fizztowhiskey sourto our classic daiquiri.
- The color is brighter.The color is bright pink because 100% juice has a deeper color.
And now…the best cranberry co*cktail recipes!
Cosmopolitan co*cktail
First up in the best cranberry co*cktail recipes: it’s got a brilliant pink color and tangy, refreshing flavor: yes, it’s a Cosmo! A Cosmopolitan co*cktail, to be exact. This classic co*cktail is ready to spice up your next gathering, be it a dinner party or drinks on the patio with friends. It was at its height in the 1990’s (hello, Sex and the City), but the Cosmo is a legit sour that’s worth drinking.
Ingredients: Citron vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and lime
Sea Breeze co*cktail
Want a drink that’s laid-back, tart and refreshing? Look no further than the Sea Breeze co*cktail! It tastes just like its name: light, breezy, and all about no-frills vibes. It’s perfect for happy hour with friends, a light brunch drink, or a little evening nightcap. Or mix up a big pitcher for a garden party or a weekend at the lake. Really anything goes here!
Ingredients: Cranberry juice, vodka, and grapefruit juice
Vodka Cranberry co*cktail
Here’s one of the easiest co*cktail recipes you can make: the vodka cranberry! Also known as a Cape Codder, it has only a handful of ingredients and it tastes tart and refreshing. Even better (or worse?), it goes down easy. The flavor is nicely balanced so that the alcohol is not too strong. Fun fact: Believe it or not, this classic drink was invented in the 1940's by Ocean Spray itself (you know, the cranberry company?). What a marketing ploy: we're still drinking them today.
Ingredients: Vodka and cranberry juice
Bay Breeze co*cktail
Looking for an easy and refreshing fruity co*cktail? Enter: the Bay Breeze! Also called the Hawaiian Sea Breeze, it has a vivid color and sweet tart flavor. Because the Bay Breeze features the tropical taste of pineapple, it feels carefree and beachy. It’s perfect as a summer co*cktail on the patio, or a wintery co*cktail when you’re dreaming of the sun’s warmth! If you'd like, follow our instructions to make a layered drink.
Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, pineapple juice
Cranberry Margarita
Here's a fun cranberry co*cktail: theCranberry Margarita! This bright red drink is absolutely stunning to look at, and the sweet tart flavor is crisp and refreshing. It’s got all the character of the classic margarita, but a beautiful new look and nuance to the flavor.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
When it comes to entertaining, the Moscow Mule is pretty ideal. So here's a tasty cranberry spin: theCranberry Moscow Mule! This drink has loads of sweet tart flavor, balancing crisp cranberry with tangy lime and spicy ginger. Sip it out of an ice cold copper mug.
Cranberry Mimosa
Everything’s better with bubbles, right? This brilliant brunch drink works for any season: theCranberry Mimosa! Tart cranberry is an ideal pairing for subtly sweet orange juice. Pair the two and the glass is full of fiery red color and crisp flavor. It’s bubbly, it’s refreshing, and it’s downright fun. It’s easy as pie to mix up and perfect for entertaining. While some might reserve cranberry for winter, we think you can serve it any time of year!
Madras co*cktail
Looking for a quick and easy drink? Make yourself a Madras co*cktail! This vibrant pink vodka drink is zingy and refreshing, featuring cranberry juice for tartness and color. It takes no time at all to make: just mix it right in the glass and serve on ice!
Ingredients: Cranberry juice, vodka, and orange juice
Most co*cktails with cranberry feature either vodka or champagne. But here's a fresh and unique spin: meet theRum and Cranberry Juiceco*cktail! It’s beautifully tart, balanced withsimple syrupand tangy lime. This easy co*cktail takes just a few minutes to whip up: it’s almost like a rum spin on a Cosmo.
Cranberry Martini
Here’s a tasty, sweet tart spin on the vodka martini that you’ve got to try: theCranberry Martini! It’s refreshing, zingy and perfectly balanced, starring Cointreau orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice.Pair it with cranberry juice and it's a beautiful drink: sugar rim optional!
Another great cranberry co*cktail: mix it with St Germain! St Germain is very new to the scene, but this elderflower liqueur is a must have in your liquor cabinet. The unique flavor it brings to drinks is unlike any other. Made with vodka, cranberry and St Germain, this co*cktail sweet tart with a bit of elderflower on the finish. It goes downveryeasily (so watch out!).
Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry, St Germain, lemon, simple syrup
Cranberry Champagne co*cktail
Ready for the most vibrant, stunning co*cktail? Enter this cranberry champagne co*cktail! Its bright color and cozy vibe makes it perfect for entertaining. It has a tart flavor and bubbly texture, and it uses only a few simple ingredients. Garnish with fresh cranberries for a festive look.
Ingredients: Cranberry juice, Cointreau, and champagne
More great co*cktail recipes
Looking for more? Here are a few more of our favorite co*cktails:
- French 75 co*cktail Here’s a classic co*cktail made with gin and lemon. It’s sophisticated and perfect for celebrations of all kinds!
- Gin Fizz co*cktail This gin fix is sweet, tangy, and has a frothy egg white foam topping.
- St Germain Champagne co*cktail This one mixes elderflower liqueur with champagne, lemon, and gin. A sophisticated bubbly drink perfect for any occasion!
Easy Cosmopolitan co*cktail Recipe
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
What’s in a cosmopolitan co*cktail? It’s easier to make than you think! This vibrant pink drink is perfect for celebrations of all kinds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons vodka (or citron vodka)*
- 2 tablespoons 100% cranberry juice (do not use sweetened!)
- 1 tablespoon Cointreau
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or simple syrup)**
- For the garnish: lime wheel (optional)***
Instructions
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup in a co*cktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold. Strain the liquid into a martini glass.
- Squeeze with the lime wedge and serve, garnished with a lime wheel if desired.
Notes
*If you have it, use citron vodka for the most authentic Cosmo: in this case you can omit the lemon juice. In our tests we found it was just as tasty to use standard vodka with lemon juice, so you don’t have to buy another type of vodka.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: co*cktails
Keywords: Cranberry co*cktail Recipes, Cosmo Recipe, Cosmopolitan co*cktail Recipe,
Last updated: October 2020
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Recipe Collections
Tagged with:
- co*cktails
- Roundup
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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