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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!

Top down image of glass of cranberry spritzer with a cherry dripping with juice being placed inside the bright red drink.

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!

Pretty glass filled with bright red Cranberry Spritzer with cherries.

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!!

Image of small pitcher filled with cranberry simple syrup and frosted cranberries.

If desired for the garnish, make sugared cranberries, use Amarena cherries or maraschino cherries.

Bright rich red glossy candied cherry in syrup being placed into cranberry spritzer glass.

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
Long pin for how to make a Cranberry Spritzer with top image of ingredients for Spritzer and bottom image of glass filled with fizzy cranberry refresher ingredients.

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

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cranberry spritzer bubbling in glass with red and white polka dot straw, garnished with lemon and cherry.

Easy Cranberry Spritzer

Author: Kathleen | The Fresh Cooky © 2019
4.86 from 7 votes
A beautiful holiday drink – make it as a cocktail or mocktail. Cranberry simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, lemon lime soda. By the glass or by the pitcher.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Cocktails, Mocktails | Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink
Calories 376 kcal

Ingredients
  

BY THE PITCHER

  • 4-6 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
  • 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, like Simply Cranberry
  • 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

✱ Kathleen’s 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

Serving: 1 Calories: 376 kcal Carbohydrates: 55 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 41 mg Fiber: 5 g Sugar: 44 g

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Kathleen Pope, The Fresh Cooky.

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.

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9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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!

  2. 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!

  3. 5 stars
    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!