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Fruity, tart, and sparkling cocktails are always so refreshing and this Cranberry Fizz, spiked with vodka, is an easy drink you’re sure to love.
I’m a huge fan of easy cocktails. When I go to a fancy bar and look at the amazing combinations of flavors and bizarre concoctions they come up with, I realize the drinks I make at home simply can’t compare. What I do make, however, are simple drinks that taste good. What more do you need, really?
If you want a fancy drink with black walnut bitters and habanero infused absinthe, you’re best bet is to visit any of the trendy bars in Portland, Oregon. You’ll never see me come up with something crazy like that. What you will see are drinks like this Cranberry Fizz.
This tart and tasty cocktail starts with 100% cranberry juice, fresh orange juice, and sugar. I basically make a simple syrup by cooking these things together, but I take it a step farther and continue cooking until I end up with a thick ruby red syrup.
You can turn this into a non-alcoholic mocktail like I did for my kids by just mixing this syrup with sparkling water, or in my case sparkling cranberry lime water. That, all by itself, is downright delicious. If you’re looking to make a cocktail, however, an ice cold shot of vodka does the trick.
Just to make this drink extra pretty, I love freezing fresh cranberries in ice cubes. When you add a few cranberries and only fill the ice cubes wells half way up and let them freeze, you can top them with more water and freeze in order to get the cranberries to get frozen in the middle. Enjoy!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice freshly squeezed (basically all of the juice from one orange)
- 3 ounces vodka equivalent to 2 shots
- 12 ounces sparkling water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup orange juice and cook until reduced by half while swirling occasionally, about 15 minutes.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
- To make cocktail, combine sweetened cranberry syrup with 3 ounces vodka. Mix well. Divide between two ice filled glasses. Top with 12 ounces sparkling water.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We made a pitcher or two for my holiday gathering. So yummy! Thank you. We used the stove top method. It was a big hit.
I’d love to know how much syrup you used per drink. Can anyone tell me? Thanks!
I can’t wait to try this drink.
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
I love how simple this drink is, and yet, super yummy and looks very pretty and festive. This will appear on my Christmas menu. 🙂
This is perfect! We had all of the ingredients and made it over the holiday! Came out great!
These are fantastic and just what I needed on a Saturday night! So fun
Such a fun, Fall cocktail. Served it for Thanksgiving, and it was such a hit! Festive, delicious, and light enough to still eat my weight in thanksgiving deliciousness.
Love this holiday drink and can’t wait to make this!