Easy Cranberry Spritzer (by the glass or pitcher)
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Naturally cranberry red, this Easy Cranberry Spritzer is the ideal holiday drink, for young and old alike! Cranberry simple syrup, a squeeze of lemon, topped with a bubbly lemon-lime soda is delicious and refreshing, add a splash of vodka to make it into a cocktail!
Christmas Cranberry Spritzer with Fresh Snow
Even more fun — if you live in an area that gets snow, instead of crushed ice use freshly fallen snow for the younger crowd, they will get a kick out of it! (no yellow snow – ick)
Once you have the prep work done, this drink comes together so quickly!
How to Make Cranberry Simple Syrup
Make a batch (or double it, it will go fast) of my cranberry simple syrup, which is really just like it sounds, so very simple, really!!
If desired for the garnish, make sugared cranberries, use Amarena cherries or maraschino cherries.
A Great Holiday Drink!
- 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 of that newly fallen snow.
- Pour in 2 oz of Cranberry Simple Syrup
- Squeeze ¼ to ½ lemon (depending on how tart you want it)
- Top off with lemon-lime soda, stir gently to combine
- Garnish with sugared cranberries or a dark, rich cherry
Alternate Ingredients
- 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 instead of lemon
- 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
- Also perfect for Valentine’s Day!
CRANBERRY SPARKLING PUNCH FOR A CROWD
- 4-6 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
- 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.
Enjoy these other holiday drinks!
Holiday Drinks
Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
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Fresh Strawberry Gin Cocktail
Let's make a beautiful Strawberry Gin Cocktail! This gorgeous pink gin and tonic uses a fresh strawberry syrup blended with your favorite gin and tonic for a fresh, bright, pink signature cocktail for spring and summertime. Great for Mother's Day, Bridal and Baby Showers, Easter or any summer cocktail hour.
Mint Julep | A Southern Cocktail
This recipe for a delicious, refreshing, icy cold Mint Julep cocktail is perfect for any celebration or Derby party. Fresh mint, a wee bit of sugar, muddled together with a dose of bourbon and a couple generous splashes of club soda.
Easy Blueberry Limeade
Using a homemade blueberry syrup, make this easy, refreshing Blueberry Limeade drink, or use lemonade for a blueberry lemonade either way, this is a sweet and easy, non-alcoholic summer drink recipe!
Hibiscus Dark & Stormy Recipe
This Hibiscus Dark and Stormy recipe is just the vibrant burst of tropical sunshine we need! Dark rum, spicy, floral hibiscus ginger beer and fresh lime juice is all it takes!
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
This Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-tart; bright, delicious and festive holiday cocktail! With easy make-ahead cranberry simple syrup.
Blackberry Bourbon Moscow Mule (B2M2)
This recipe for the Blackberry Bourbon Moscow Mule is bursting with simple yet, amazing flavors; smokey bourbon, sweet fresh blackberries, fresh lime juice and bubbly Ginger Beer.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- BY THE GLASS
- Crushed ice or clean fresh snow.
- [2 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup]
- ¼ to ½ lemon juice depending on how tart you want it
- lemon-lime soda stir gently to combine
- [Garnish with sugared cranberries & slice of lemon]
- [Optional garnish Amarena Cherries]
- 1-1.5 oz vodka optional for cocktail
BY THE PITCHER
- 4-6 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
- 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 ¼ to ½ lemon (depending on how tart you want it). Top off with lemon-lime soda, stir gently to combine. If adult cocktail is desired, add vodka prior to lemon-lime soda.
- 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.
Video
Fresh Tips
- 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
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
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!
These were a HUGE hit at our New Years get together! Great recipe!
Thanks Michaela, makes me so happy!
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!
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!
So fun and festive, we love this cocktail! Perfect for a crowd.
This drink is just gorgeous and that cherry photo is sublime!