This easy cranberry spritzer is my go-to holiday drink for young and old alike. Cranberry simple syrup, a squeeze of fresh lemon and bubbly lemon-lime soda over crushed ice. That’s it! Serve it as a mocktail, or add a splash of vodka for a grown-up cranberry spritz. Make it by the glass or by the pitcher.
Christmas Morning Snow Spritzers
My boys were tweens the first time I made these. I’d just made a batch of cranberry simple syrup for Lemon Drop Martinis, plus jars to gift the neighbors. Then a snowstorm rolled in.
The grown-ups had their martinis. I thought, the boys deserve something fun too!
So out they went to scoop fresh snow. I packed their glasses with it, added the syrup and a squeeze of lemon, and let them pour their own lemon-lime soda.
A new tradition was born. They asked for it every Christmas morning, right at the breakfast table. Snow or no snow.
No snow? Crush ice in your blender. It looks just like snow, and it’s probably a little safer! (And no yellow snow, please.)
I still make these for Christmas dinner parties whenever kids are coming. Add a splash of vodka to the grown-up glasses, and everybody’s happy.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Spritzer
- Mocktail or cocktail. One recipe works for the whole table. Add vodka to the grown-up glasses.
- Just a few ingredients. Cranberry syrup, fresh lemon and lemon-lime soda over ice.
- Make-ahead friendly. The syrup keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, so you can mix the drink in seconds.
- By the glass or the pitcher. Make one, or make a punch for a crowd.
- Naturally red. That gorgeous color comes from real cranberries.
- Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. No special swaps needed.
Cranberry Spritzer Ingredients
- Cranberry simple syrup | The star of the show. Make a batch of my cranberry simple syrup ahead of time.
- Fresh lemon juice | A squeeze of fresh lemon keeps it from tasting too sweet. Use more if you like it tart.
- Lemon-lime soda | Like Sprite or 7Up or an all-natural soda. Use sparkling water if you want it less sweet.
- Ice | Crushed ice is best. Or clean fresh snow!
- Garnish | Sugared cranberries, a lemon slice, a dark Amarena cherry or a sprig of rosemary.
- Vodka (optional) | For the cocktail version.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Cranberry Simple Syrup
You only need three ingredients: 12 ounces of cranberries (fresh or frozen), 1½ cups of water and 1 cup of sugar.
Simmer them together for about 5 minutes, until the berries burst. Let it steep for 15 minutes, then strain. That’s it!
It makes about 2 cups, enough for 8 spritzers, and keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Get the full recipe and tips in my cranberry simple syrup post. Make a double batch, it goes fast!
If desired for the garnish, make sugared cranberries, use Amarena cherries or maraschino cherries.
How to Make a Cranberry Spritzer
Step 1: Fill the Glass with Ice
Fill the glass with crushed ice (I use my Ninja blender to pulverize my ice, but crushed or even cubes would be just fine) or grab some of that newly fallen snow.
Step 2: Add the Syrup and Lemon
Pour in 2 ounces of Cranberry Simple Syrup. Squeeze in ½ ounce fresh lemon juice (about ¼ lemon), up to 1 ounce if you like it tart.
Step 3: Top with Soda
Top off with about 4 ounces of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7Up), stir gently to combine. For the cocktail version, add 1 to 1½ ounces of vodka before the soda.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Garnish with sugared cranberries or a dark, rich cherry.
Tips and Variations for a Cranberry Spritzer
- Swap the soda. Use lemon or lime sparkling water, ginger ale, cranberry ginger ale or even ginger beer.
- Make a cranberry orange spritzer. Use fresh orange juice instead of lemon. Lime works too.
- Try 100% cranberry juice. Pure cranberry juice with a sweeter soda can make a fun sweet-and-sour drink. I haven’t tried this one yet, so if you do, let me know how it turns out!
- No time for syrup? A good grenadine works in a pinch. It tastes more like a Shirley Temple.
- Make a cranberry vodka spritzer. Add 1 to 1½ ounces of vodka, then top with seltzer or lemon-lime soda.
- Make it sugar-free. Use the monk fruit version of my cranberry simple syrup, and top with diet lemon-lime soda or sparkling water.
- Make a cranberry spritz with prosecco. A classic spritzer uses wine, so top the syrup and lemon with chilled prosecco instead of soda. I haven’t tried it yet, but I love the idea. Let me know if you do!
- Make it for Valentine’s Day. That red color is perfect for February too.
Cranberry Sparkling Punch for a Crowd
- ½ cup Cranberry Simple Syrup (up to ¾ cup if you like it sweeter)
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail (like Simply Cranberry)
- ⅓ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup vodka (optional)
- 1 liter of lemon-lime soda or mineral water (not as sweet)
- Garnish with sliced lemons, cranberries and a sprig of mint or rosemary
Easily doubles, the above amounts should fit into a large pitcher, double for a punch bowl. Keep vodka on the side so kids and non-imbibers can enjoy, allowing those who prefer it spiked, to pour a splash.
What to Serve with a Cranberry Spritzer
This spritzer goes with just about any holiday spread. A few of my favorites:
How to Make Ahead and Store
Syrup: Store the cranberry simple syrup in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze it for up to 2 months.
For a party: Mix everything except the soda and chill until you’re ready. Add the soda right before serving so it stays bubbly.
Leftovers: Once the soda is in, enjoy it right away. It goes flat in the fridge.
Cranberry Spritzer FAQs
A cranberry spritzer is a light, bubbly drink made with cranberry and something fizzy. Classic spritzers use wine and soda water. Mine uses cranberry simple syrup, fresh lemon and lemon-lime soda, so it’s a mocktail unless you add vodka.
Yes. A good grenadine syrup works in a pinch. It makes the drink taste more like a grown-up Shirley Temple.
Yes, I’ve made it that way. Cranberry juice cocktail (like Simply Cranberry) works best since it’s already sweetened. Pure unsweetened cranberry juice is very tart, so add a little sugar or extra soda. The color is a bit lighter, but it’s still pretty and festive.
No. Cranberry juice cocktail is sweetened and often blended with other juices. 100% cranberry juice is just cranberries, so it’s very tart. For this drink, juice cocktail is the easy pick.
Add 1 to 1½ ounces of vodka per glass before you top it with soda. For a pitcher, add 1 cup of vodka.
Yes. Mix the cranberry syrup, cranberry juice and lemon juice in a pitcher and chill. Add the soda right before serving so it stays fizzy.
Sparkling water, lemon or lime seltzer, ginger ale, cranberry ginger ale or even ginger beer all work. Sparkling water makes it less sweet.
A Cape Codder. It’s vodka and cranberry juice over ice, usually with a lime wedge. Add soda and you’ve got the grown-up version of this spritzer.
More Holiday Drinks to Try
- Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
- Pomegranate Mule
- Christmas Margarita Punch
- Spiced Holiday Pomegranate Sangria
- Cranberry Bourbon Sour Cocktail
Like this recipe?
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- BY THE GLASS
- Crushed ice or clean fresh snow.
- 2 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice about ¼ lemon, up to 1 oz if you like it tart
- 4 oz lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7Up
- [Garnish with sugared cranberries & slice of lemon]
- [Optional garnish Amarena Cherries]
- 1-1.5 oz vodka optional for cocktail
BY THE PITCHER
- ½ cup Cranberry Simple Syrup up to ¾ cup if you like it sweeter
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail like Simply Cranberry
- ⅓ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup vodka optional
- 1 liter of lemon-lime soda or mineral water not as sweet
- Garnish with sliced lemons cranberries and a sprig of mint or rosemary
Instructions
- Fill glass with crushed ice (I use my Ninja blender to pulverize my ice, but crushed or even cubes would be just fine) or grab some newly fallen snow.
- Pour in 2 oz of Cranberry Simple Syrup. Squeeze in ½ ounce fresh lemon juice (about ¼ lemon), up to 1 ounce if you like it tart. For the cocktail version, add 1 to 1½ ounces of vodka. Top off with about 4 ounces lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7Up) and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with sugared cranberries or a dark, rich Amarena cherry.
- By the PitcherMix ingredients in order listed, except soda/seltzer and refrigerate until ready to serve. Before serving, add soda or seltzer, stir gently. Slice oranges and/or lemons to float on top, a few cranberries and sprigs of rosemary. Serve with sliced lemons, sugared cranberries or Amarena cherries.
Notes
- In place of lemon lime soda, use lemon or lime sparkling water, ginger ale, or cranberry ginger ale or even ginger beer
- Use lime or orange juice instead of lemon juice
- If you don’t want to make cranberry simple syrup, you can purchase a good Grenadine syrup, making it more like a Shirley Temple
- Adult-version: add 1-1.5 oz of vodka, top with seltzer water or lemon-lime soda
Nutrition
Erin
We sipped these on New Year’s Eve–me with the vodka, my husband without–and oh my WORD, were they delicious! Cheers to Spritzers and ringing in the new year with them!
MICHAELA KENKEL
These were a HUGE hit at our New Years get together! Great recipe!
Thanks Michaela, makes me so happy!
jennifer stewart
jennifer stewart
We had these a few days ago and I have decided to make them the NYE drink this year! The cranberry simple syrup is to die for. I think I am going to use it in some homemade salad dressings too!
YAY! Thanks Jennifer!
Sandra Shaffer
Just finished making a batch of the cranberry simple syrup, and you’re not kidding – so easy! Saving this for our new year’s day brunch. Can’t wait!
Deb Clark
So fun and festive, we love this cocktail! Perfect for a crowd.
Julie Menghini
This drink is just gorgeous and that cherry photo is sublime!