This Cranberry-Orange Mixer is a tart-sweet, make-ahead cocktail base made from fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and a touch of warm spice. Keep a jar in the fridge and you can stir up cocktails, mocktails, or sparkling punches in seconds. It’s the secret weapon for effortless holiday entertaining.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes (plus chilling)
- Yield: 4 cups
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 cups (300 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 cups (480 ml) fresh orange juice
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar, plus more to taste
- Zest of 1 orange, in wide strips
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 thin slices fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, orange juice, water, sugar, orange zest, cinnamon stick, and ginger.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the liquid turns deep red.
- Steep: Remove from the heat and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Strain: Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher, pressing gently on the solids to extract the juice. Discard the solids.
- Finish: Stir in the lemon juice and taste. Add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter mixer.
- Chill: Cool completely, then transfer to a jar or bottle and refrigerate until cold.
- Serve: Shake before using. Mix 2 oz with 2 oz spirit, or top with sparkling water or ginger beer.
Notes
- The mixer makes about 4 cups and keeps in the fridge for up to 10 days.
- Freeze in ice cube trays for up to 3 months and drop the cubes into drinks or sparkling wine.
- For a smoother mixer, strain a second time through cheesecloth.
- Simple ways to use it: blend with vodka for a quick cosmo, with tequila for a paloma, with bourbon and ginger beer for a mule, or top with prosecco for a spritz.
- For an alcohol-free punch, combine 2 parts mixer with 1 part sparkling water and a splash of lime.
- Replace the sugar with honey or maple syrup for a different flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/cranberry-orange-mixer/
