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Whether it’s classic Christmas cocktails you’re looking for, or you’re just in the mood for a fruity vodka cocktail, this vodka cranberry cocktail has your name on it!
It’s that time of year again! Treats, eats and a month-long happy hour. Let the festivities begin!
I’m still VERY much enjoying my time here in Hawaii, but I would be remiss to say it feels like Christmas here. Probably if you grew up in a tropical place, you’d be used to the lack of snow during the holidays, but for me it just feels so odd. So, on that note, I am looking forward to joining in on all the Christmas fun when we get home, which – fingers crossed – should be tomorrow morning. I will most likely be a little worse for the wear after the upcoming overnight flight….!
Someone get me a drink!
This vodka cranberry cocktail came about when I committed to being a part of a holiday cocktail collaboration over on Instagram, starting tomorrow!
How do you make a vodka cranberry cocktail?
This drink is SO simple, you guys! You need 4 things:
- cranberry juice
- vodka (duh)
- fresh lime
- soda water or gingerale to top things off
Plus, you’ll want some ice for the glass.
The order in which you craft the cocktail isn’t all that specific, although I would recommend leaving the bubbly water for the end. I usually go cranberry juice, followed by vodka, then the lime, and then the bubbly. The amount of soda water you add is up to you. More for a tall glass with less concentrated flavor, or just a splash for a stronger, short glass.
If you’re feeling extra festive, throw some fresh or frozen cranberries in the drink too! It’s a beautiful way to add some natural color.
Can you make this vodka cranberry cocktail ahead of time?
You could certainly mix the vodka with the cranberry juice ahead of time, but since you’ll want the drink to remain carbonated, I would wait until serving to top it off with lime juice and soda water.
I actually served this cocktail to a small group recently, and I did just that. I made a large batch of the vodka and cranberry juice ahead of time, then topped each person’s drink off with the bubbly water and a splash of lime as I served it!
Do you have to use vodka?
Not necessarily, but I think the vodka is the perfect alcohol of choice when paired with cranberry juice. Usually, we buy Russian Standard Vodka since it’s a great price point for the quality of vodka!
If you wanted to use gin, I would recommend using a short glass and adding less soda water. You could absolutely try this with white rum, too!
Since it’s the holidays (yay) you might as well try this a few times just to make sure you get it right, don’t you think?
I know I’ll be looking forward to mixing one of these up as soon as we get back! I might need one, or two, to help me with the jet lag that’s coming my way. Is it just me, or is coming home always worse than going there!?
PS – it was my birthday yesterday. I celebrated with a cupcake made from a boxed cake mix. I will be correcting this gross oversight with a decadent cake this coming week, all for me!
Cheers!
I LOVE a fun cocktail this time of year. Check out my other cocktails on the blog. Maybe make one of each 😉
- apple cinnamon gin fizz
- blackberry-mint Moscow mule
- boozy Christmas slush
- lemon vodka cocktail
- peach vodka cocktail
Vodka Cranberry Cocktail
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
Whether it’s classic Christmas cocktails you’re looking for, or you’re just in the mood for a fruity vodka cocktail, this vodka cranberry cocktail has your name on it!
Ingredients
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/2 fresh lime (~2 tsp)
- soda water or gingerale for topping
- fresh cranberries, for decoration
Instructions
- In either a short or tall glass, add a few cubes of ice, followed by the cranberry juice, vodka, and then lime juice. Top off your glass with soda water or gingerale, and throw a few fresh cranberries in for decoration. Serve immediately!
Make ahead:Â To make this ahead of time for a party, combine equal parts cranberry juice and vodka in a pitcher and store it in the fridge, for up to 1 day. When ready to serve, pour 4 oz of the picture into a, ice-filled glass, followed by the lime juice and bubbly.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Category: cocktails
- Method: mix
I want to sip on this while wrapping presents! It might get interesting if I have two or three of these and start mixing up who’s wrapped present belongs to who hahahaha. That might have happened one year actually….but I still want a few of these cocktails!
Yeees it’s the perfect present-wrapping cocktail! Haha but maybe make it in the tall glass while you first start wrapping gifts, haha!! So funny. Thanks Kelly!!
These are so festive. And, hey wouldn’t be too strong, unless you wanted them to be. I love cocktails, but I can’t do anything really strong, especially martinis. so this is perfect, and so pretty!
Exactly! I love that you can make it strong or not. Martinis always knock me under the table 😉 Thank you Mimi!
It never feels like Christmas in Phoenix; some afternoons I can get away with short sleeves even this time of year so the Christmas decorations on people’s houses just feel totally incongruous. It’s hard to get in the spirit! But I find a way. . .and I think this cocktail will help–vodka and cranberry is usually my go-to but the addition of ginger ale sounds delicious!
That’s so crazy to me, it would be so weird not to have snow and cold during Christmas (as much as I hate it). The vodka would definitely help get you in the Christmas spirit, Kelsie! All you need is one of these and an ugly Christmas sweater…or short sleeved shirt 😉
Well that’s a fun little sipper! So festive and pretty! Cheers, my friend!
Haha!! Thanks Annie. Cheers!
This is so festive Katherine! Just the kind of cocktail I’d like to serve to guests this holiday season. I hope you enjoyed a few cocktails like this on your birthday yesterday! And you definitely need to get yourself a proper birthday cake when you get back home! Safe travels!
I’m definitely working on that birthday cake, throughout all the holiday baking and cookie eating!! Thanks Leanne, I hope that you get to enjoy a few of these over the holidays!
Such an easy cocktail for the holidays! When I do have a cocktail, it’s usually with vodka so this is something I would totally enjoy! So festive and fun too! Cheers, my friend 🙂 Happy weekend ahead! XO
We like mixing drinks with vodka too! It’s so versatile. I bet you’d love this festive drink! Thanks Dawn!
I love simple cocktails like this one for the holidays Katherine! Delicious. Cheers to a wonderful holiday season ahead!
Cheers to all the holiday drinks and festive activities! Yay!
i like the recipe actually i really try to copy your recipe and it always turned out to be so delicious and i’ve learned alot from you thanks for being my mentor 🙂
This Vodka Cranberry Cocktail would most definitely get me in the holiday spirit!! Love that you can make it ahead of time! So easy and great for a party!
Yees this would definitely give you all the festive feels! Thanks Haylie!
I like the idea of a month-long happy hour:) Bring on the cocktails and this Cape Cod certainly looks festive enough to start with. Cheers!
I could definitely do a month-long happy hour Milena! Haha! Thanks friend!