This Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini is the perfect holiday cocktail! Sweet, tart, and vibrant, it features easy step-by-step instructions and make-ahead ingredients so you can spend more time with your guests. A festive crowd-pleaser for any Christmas celebration! You might even call it a Christmas Lemon Drop!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Why You Will Love Cranberry Martini Recipe
This has been my go-to holiday cocktail for years and it’s no wonder why! It’s sweet, tart and full of bright festive flavor. Every time I serve it, people ask for the recipe – it’s that good and fun.
What makes this even better is how easy it is to make. The cranberry simple syrup can be made ahead of time and chilled, so when your guests arrive, you won’t have to spend time making it. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is unbeatable, and with step-by-step instructions, you’ll feel like a pro mixing these up. Shake one or two at a time for the best results.
Success Tips for the Best Christmas Lemon Drop
- Make the cranberry simple syrup ahead of time and chill well to save time and get the perfect flavor.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best sweet-tart taste – bottled lemon juice is just not the same.
- Shake one or two at a time for perfect chill and balance in each glass.
- Now you’ve got a holiday cocktail that will wow your guests and make your holiday season even more fun!
Cranberry Simple Syrup
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff: Cranberry Simple Syrup! Seriously, friends, the colors are gorgeous—it’s bright, festive and will impress. And the best part? It’s as easy as the name says. I go into all the details in my full cranberry simple syrup post, but trust me, having this in your fridge is a holiday lifesaver.
This syrup isn’t just pretty; it’s versatile and adds that perfect sweet-tart cranberry flavor to this martini (and many other cocktails or mocktails). Make it ahead of time and you’ll be shaking up the season in no time and style. You’ll wonder how you ever hosted without it!
Ingredients for a Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
- Cranberry Simple Syrup – You can’t have a cranberry martini recipe without the cranberry, so whip some of this up!
- Lemon juice—Fresh squeezed is best here. Bottled lemon juice has an off-putting taste in a drink with so few ingredients. Squeeze your heart out!
- Vodka – It wouldn’t be a martini without vodka; use plain or citrus or cranberry vodka. If you want to make it a mocktail, try non-alcoholic vodka or replace it with a little lemonade or sparkling water (after shaking, if not, you’ll have an explosion.
- All-natural cane sugar for rimming glass, optional but certainly makes it into a fun Christmas-looking martini!
- Garnish – Sugared Cranberries for garnish, lemon twist, and or a sprig of rosemary.
- Ice – You need ice, the secret behind a great martini is shaking it with lots of ice so it’s super cold!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
If desired, rub a wedge of lemon around the rim of the glass, dip the glass a plate with 3- tablespoons of all-natural cane sugar, and set aside until ready to pour.
Fill a cocktail shaker or mason jar fitted with a lid ⅔ full with ice. Pour cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice, and vodka over ice.
Shaken, not Stirred
- Very Important * Give it at least 40-60 vigorous shakes.
- Why is vigorous shaking so important? Because it causes the flavors to mix, the ice to break apart.
- Plus, it makes it icy and frothy!
Serve in a Martini glass with or without ice (I prefer with ice personally, as it’s a bit strong, and I am a professed lightweight).
Garnish with a skewer of sugared cranberries and a twist of lemon.
FAQs for Christmas Lemom Drop
Yes! The cranberry simple syrup can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge. This not only saves time but also keeps it well-chilled for when you’re ready to make the martinis.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice is highly recommended for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice often has a less vibrant, slightly bitter taste that can impact the balance of the cocktail.
A good-quality plain vodka works beautifully in this recipe. You can also experiment with citrus-flavored vodka for an extra lemony kick.
You can adjust the sweetness by using less cranberry simple syrup or increase the tartness by adding a little extra fresh lemon juice. Customize it to suit your taste!
Absolutely! Simply replace the vodka with sparkling water or lemonade for a refreshing non-alcoholic version. Add a splash of cranberry simple syrup and fresh lemon juice to taste.
How to Make Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini by the Pitcher
If you’re serving a crowd, preparing this cocktail by the pitcher is a fantastic way to save time while keeping the drinks flowing.
Ingredients for a Pitcher (About 6-8 Servings):
- Garnishes: fresh cranberries, lemon slices, or sugared rims (optional)
- 1 cup cranberry simple syrup
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 6-8 lemons)
- 1 ½ cups vodka (plain or citrus-flavored)
- Ice for chilling
Provide guests with sugar-rimmed glasses, and if they want to shake their own, provide a shaker or a bunch of mason jars! Or make individual servings in mason jars and keep them on ice, with a note for your guests to add ice and shake, shake, shake, then pour!
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Equipment
Ingredients
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
- 2 oz cranberry simple syrup
- 1 – 2 oz fresh lemon juice for a more sweet-tart taste, go for 2 ounces
- 1 – 2 oz vodka depending on how strong you like it
- Ice
- All natural cane sugar for rimming glasses, or regular sugar
Garnish
- rosemary sprigs
- lemon twist
- sugared cranberries Stack onto a cocktail pick
Instructions
- Make cranberry simple syrup, up to a week ahead of time.
- Fill shaker or mason jar with about ⅔ full of ice. Pour in 2 oz of cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice and vodka. Adjusting vodka and lemon down if preferred.2 oz cranberry simple syrup, 1 – 2 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 – 2 oz vodka
- Rub lemon slice (this is a great use for the end) on rim of martini glass and dip in all natural sugar or regular sugar to rim glass if desired.
- Shake, shake, shake the covered jar or shaker, 40-60 vigorous shakes. Using a strainer, pour into glass and garnish.
Notes
- Garnishes: fresh cranberries, lemon slices, or sugared rims (optional)
- 1 cup cranberry simple syrup
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 6-8 lemons)
- 1 ½ cups vodka (plain or citrus-flavored)
- Ice for chilling
Provide guests with sugar-rimmed glasses, and if they want to shake their own, provide a shaker or a bunch of mason jars! Or make individual servings in mason jars and keep them on ice, with a note for your guests to add ice and shake, shake, shake, then pour!
Nutrition
Leslie
Delicious! Big hit on Christmas eve.
Always makes me happy to read!! Thank you!
Holly R
I make this recipe frequently around the holidays!
Awe thank you so much!!
Julie Menghini
I was looking for the perfect cocktail for Thanksgiving, and we loved this one. It really got the fun rolling and is so pretty!
Aren’t they so fun!
Erica
Ooh, I love cranberry at this time of year. Thanks for sharing at the Weekend Potluck. I am pining this recipe to try later.
Thanks for pinning and commenting Erica!! Hope you enjoy!