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This festive Cranberry Martini holiday cocktail is made from an extra batch of homemade cranberry sauce and paired with vodka.
It turns out I made some fresh cranberry sauce with orange and Grand Marnier, and I just couldn’t get enough of that stuff! So I decided to give some vodka a long cold soak in it to see what would happen. What happened was a really good cocktail emerged.
Most cranberry martinis are cranberry juice shaken with vodka and triple sec. Not this one. One cup of cranberry sauce soaks in a whole bottle of vodka in the freezer for three days, then gets strained. You end up with ice-cold, ruby-red cranberry vodka that’s ready to pour, with enough for 8 martinis.
Table of Contents
- Cranberry Martini at a Glance
- Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Martini
- What You’ll Need
- How to Make a Cranberry Martini Step-by-Step
- Step 1: Chill the cranberry sauce
- Step 2: Combine and freeze
- Step 3: Chill the glasses
- Step 4: Strain
- Step 5: Pour and garnish
- Storing the Cranberry Vodka
- Cranberry Martini FAQs
- Do I use the whole batch of cranberry sauce?
- Can I make a smaller batch?
- Is a cranberry martini the same as a cosmopolitan?
- More Holiday Cocktails
- Cranberry Martini Recipe
Cranberry Martini at a Glance
- What it is: vodka soaked with cranberry sauce, strained and poured ice cold into a frozen martini glass.
- Why make it: it’s made days ahead, so you can pour 8 martinis at a holiday party without shaking a single one.
- Time: about 5 minutes of work, plus at least 3 days in the freezer.
- Ingredients: cranberry sauce and vodka. Sugared cranberries on top are optional.
- Method: mix, freeze, shake now and then, strain and pour.
- Flavor: cranberry and orange, very cold and strong.
- Quick tip: use 1 cup of cranberry sauce per 750 ml bottle of vodka.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Martini
Don’t get me wrong – it’s strong. But martinis are supposed to be strong, right?
- Two ingredients. It is simply a combination of my homemade fresh cranberry sauce and vodka – that’s it!
- Made ahead for a crowd. It’s waiting in the freezer when your guests walk in.
- A use for extra cranberry sauce. When you make cranberry sauce for a holiday dinner, just make a little extra so you have enough for this vibrant red cranberry cocktail.
If you have extra leftover cranberry sauce, or if you make an elegant cranberry mold and have extra sauce you didn’t use, you can also make brie and cranberry bites or a bowl of cranberry fruit dip to serve as an appetizer with this festive drink!
What You’ll Need
- Cranberry sauce: mine is made with fresh orange juice, orange zest and Grand Marnier, and that orange comes right through in the martini. Store-bought cranberry sauce works too.
- Vodka: a good-quality vodka. There’s no mixer in this drink, so you taste it.
- Garnish (optional): fresh cranberries and a little sugar.
- A large airtight container: it has to hold a full bottle of vodka plus the sauce, with room to shake.
- A fine mesh strainer and martini glasses.
Full amounts are in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Cranberry Martini Step-by-Step
Step 1: Chill the cranberry sauce
If you’re making homemade cranberry sauce, make it ahead and chill it before using.
Step 2: Combine and freeze
Combine the cranberry sauce and vodka in a large airtight container. Store it in the freezer for at least 3 days, and give it a good shake any time you open the freezer.
PRO TIP: Stick to 1 cup of cranberry sauce per 750 ml bottle. That’s the ratio I use, and mine never froze solid. More sauce means less alcohol in the mix, so it freezes more easily. If yours does freeze, let it soften in the refrigerator, then strain it.
Step 3: Chill the glasses
Put up to 8 martini glasses in the freezer before you strain.
Step 4: Strain
Pour the cranberry vodka through a fine mesh strainer to remove the cranberry solids.
Step 5: Pour and garnish
Pour about 3 ounces into each frozen glass. If you like, spray fresh cranberries with a bit of water, roll them in sugar and set them on a skewer over the glass.
★★★★★
“This is the perfect holiday cocktail! Love that bright red color and fresh cranberries on top. So festive!”
Taylor, reader comment
Storing the Cranberry Vodka
- After straining: if you’re not serving it right away, keep the strained cranberry vodka in the freezer and give it a shake before pouring.
- How long it keeps: I’ve always served mine right after straining, so I can’t tell you how it holds up over months. It’s mostly vodka and it lives in the freezer, but I’d plan to drink it during the holidays.
Cranberry Martini FAQs
Here are the answers to the questions readers ask most about this cranberry martini.
Do I use the whole batch of cranberry sauce?
No. A batch of my homemade cranberry sauce makes more than this needs, so measure out what the recipe card calls for and save the rest for your holiday dinner.
Can I make a smaller batch?
Yes. Tap the 1/2x button on the recipe card: 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce and 375 ml of vodka makes 4 martinis. It still needs the full 3 days in the freezer.
Is a cranberry martini the same as a cosmopolitan?
No. A cosmopolitan is vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice shaken with ice. This cranberry martini is just cranberry-soaked vodka with no juice or mixer, so it’s stronger.
More Holiday Cocktails
You’ll definitely want to make these too.
If you tried this Cranberry Martini recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberry sauce best to make fresh, but store bought will work
- 750 milliliters vodka (good-quality)
- fresh cranberries and sugar for garnish optional
Instructions
- If making homemade cranberry sauce, prepare ahead of time and chill before using.
- Combine 1 cup cranberry sauce and 750 milliliters vodka in large airtight container. Store in freezer for at least 3 days. Give it a good shake any time you open the freezer.
- Chill the martini glasses in the freezer.
- Strain the solids using a fine mesh strainer. To serve, pour about 3 ounces of the ice cold cranberry vodka into each frozen martini glass. If not immediately serving, store the strained liquid in the freezer until ready to serve, and give it a shake before pouring into glasses.
- If desired, spray fresh cranberries with a bit of water and then roll in sugar. Serve on a skewer over the glass.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in 2014. I’ve updated the photos and tips since then, but this reader-favorite recipe has always remained the same.
Truly delicious and festive! Love the cranberry sauce recipe and bonus cocktail!
These are a dream
This is the perfect holiday cocktail! Love that bright red color and fresh cranberries on top. So festive!
I love how you sugared up the cranberry garnishes! It really added an extra unique touch to a wonderful drink.
How much cranberry sauce? All of it???
Just 1 cup of cranberry sauce per 750 ml bottle of vodka, not the whole batch. Save the rest for dinner!
The. Cranberry sauce froze when put in freezer. I took out and put in fridge
Sorry it froze on you, Donna! With 1 cup of cranberry sauce per 750 ml bottle of vodka, mine never froze solid. More sauce means less alcohol, so it freezes more easily. Letting it soften in the fridge, like you did, works. Then strain it and pour.
Use the whole sauce recipe for bottle of vodka?
Can I freeze the sauce& if so, how long will it keep? Thank you!
Just 1 cup of cranberry sauce per 750 ml bottle of vodka, not the whole batch. More sauce than that and the mix can freeze. And yes, you can freeze leftover cranberry sauce. Thaw it in the fridge before using it.
Sounds delish! Love, cranberries, vodka, and martini’s! How would suggest a breakdown the recipe if I only wanted to make approximately 4 martinis? BTW I halved the Cranberry Sauce recipe to serve this Thanksgiving and can’t wait to taste it!
Hi Susan, you would just need to cut the recipe in half: 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce and 375 ml of vodka makes 4 martinis. Hope you liked it!
This looks delicious, and beautiful. I’m looking for a cranberry martini recipe for New Years Eve. I’m going to give this one a try! Thank you ๐
This sounds fantastic! I love any fruity flavored drink made of vodka ๐ Last Thanksgiving I used some leftover cranberry sauce in a mojito (and it was really good!)