Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

Cranberries are a staple at most Thanksgiving dinners. Normally they are served as a side dish to go along with the turkey and mashed potatoes. This year, break out of that tradition and let these tart little berries shine at your feast with this spiced cranberry cocktail.

With a variety of spices, fresh cranberries and the botanical flavors of gin, it is the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail. Plus, if you make the spiced cranberry simple syrup the day before it will be a breeze to make these drinks for you and your guests on turkey day.

Spiced cranberry cocktail
(Serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ ounces gin
• 1 ounce spiced cranberry simple syrup (recipe below)
• ½ ounce Cocchi Americano
• Soda water

Directions:

1. In a rocks glass combine gin, spiced cranberry syrup and Cocchi Americano.
2. Stir, add ice and top with soda water.

Spiced cranberry simple syrup
Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 10 cloves
• 12 whole allspice berries
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (if using pre-ground nutmeg use 1/8 teaspoon)

Directions:

1. Add sugar and water to a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
2. Once the sugar is dissolved add the cranberries and spices.
3. Stir and bring back to a boil. Let it cook for about 3 minutes until the berries have burst open.
4. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool in the pot for 1 hour.
5. Strain the syrup using a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl. Use a spatula to press down the berries as you strain to get all of the juicy goodness out of them.
6. Store the spiced cranberry simple syrup in a glass jar in the fridge until ready to use. Oh, and the leftover cranberries are pretty tasty all on their own as a little snack after you’ve removed the spices.

About our guest writer

Jessica Torres is the founder and chief cocktail creator at onemartini.com. She always wanted to be a bartender and is finally getting that chance in her own kitchen every night. When not taste testing new spirits or shaking up cocktails, she can be found tending her garden, homeschooling her two daughters or taking a nap. She lives in the biggest little city of Reno, Nevada and is always willing to make a cocktail for friends and family who come to visit. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google Plus.

Meet the Author | Guest Writer

This post was written by someone who we think has some pretty savvy ideas! We love sharing creative, informative and fun things form guest contributors!

• View all posts by Guest Writer →
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook

You May Also Enjoy:

10 Delicious Thanksgiving Desserts 10 Turkey recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers The Sassy Leprechaun cocktail Spring Rock Candy Cocktails