16 Festive Cranberry Cocktail Recipes | Easy Holiday Drinks & Christmas Party Ideas
I adore featuring seasonal ingredients in my creations — and cocktails are no exception! When the leaves turn and the air cools, cranberry-based drinks hit just right. Whether you’re gearing up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, a cozy night in, or any celebration, cranberries bring a tart fruity kick that pairs beautifully with spirits. Here are 16 of my favourite cranberry cocktails — easy to make and perfect for the season.
1. Cranberry Margarita
A bold twist on the classic margarita: cranberry juice meets zesty lime for a tart-sweet refreshment. A favourite for gatherings!
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup tequila
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup orange liqueur (e.g., Cointreau)
- Lime wedges and salt for rimming glasses
Instructions: Rim glasses with lime and salt. In a shaker with ice, combine cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur. Shake well and strain into ice-filled glasses.
2. Cranberry Orange Mimosa
Bright and bubbly — this mimosa blends sparkling wine with cranberry and orange juices for a festive brunch drink.
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 bottle sparkling wine or Champagne
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a large pitcher, combine cranberry juice and orange juice. Fill glasses halfway, top with sparkling wine, garnish with fresh cranberries.
3. Cranberry Gin Fizz
A sophisticated yet simple cocktail: gin, cranberry juice and soda for a crisp bubbly finish.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup gin
- ½ cup club soda
- Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine cranberry juice and gin. Shake and strain into glasses, then top with club soda. Garnish with lime wedges.
4. Cranberry Sangria
This fruity sangria mixes red wine, cranberry juice and seasonal fruits for a buffet-friendly drink.
Ingredients (serves 6):
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 apple, diced
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a pitcher, combine wine, cranberry juice and orange liqueur. Add orange slices, diced apple, fresh cranberries. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
5. Cranberry Old Fashioned
A refined holiday version of the old fashioned: rich bourbon meets cranberry syrup and bitters.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz cranberry syrup (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Fresh cranberries and an orange peel for garnish
Instructions: In a mixing glass with ice, combine bourbon, cranberry syrup and bitters. Stir, then strain into rocks glasses over ice. Garnish with cranberries and orange peel.
6. Cranberry Cosmopolitan
Chic and stylish: vodka, cranberry juice and lime come together for a glam girls’-night drink.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup vodka
- ¼ cup triple sec
- ¼ cup lime juice
- Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine cranberry juice, vodka, triple sec and lime juice. Shake well and strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with lime wedges.
7. Cranberry Mojito
Fresh and vibrant: mint, lime and cranberry juice give a mojito twist that looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup white rum
- ¼ cup lime juice
- Fresh mint leaves
- Club soda
- Lime wedges and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In each glass, muddle mint leaves with lime juice and a splash of cranberry juice. Add ice, then cranberry juice and rum. Stir, top with club soda, garnish with lime and fresh cranberries.
8. Cranberry Aperol Spritz
This winter-inspired twist on the classic spritz is fruity, bubbly and festive.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 3 oz Aperol
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 6 oz sparkling wine
- Orange slices and cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a wine glass filled with ice, combine Aperol and cranberry juice. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries.
9. Cranberry Martini
Elegant and refined: vodka, cranberry juice and a touch of vermouth make this perfect for celebrations.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup vodka
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ¼ cup dry vermouth
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine vodka, cranberry juice and vermouth. Shake and strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
10. Cranberry Whiskey Sour
A tart and tasty holiday twist on the whiskey sour with cranberry juice in the mix.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup whiskey
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tbsp simple syrup
- Lemon slices and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine whiskey, cranberry juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake, strain into rocks glasses over ice, garnish with lemon slice and fresh cranberries.
11. Cranberry Rum Punch
Ideal for a party: plenty of cranberry juice and rum in a large pitcher for easy sharing.
Ingredients (serves 6):
- 3 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup white rum
- ½ cup orange juice
- Fresh cranberries and orange slices for garnish
Instructions: In a pitcher, combine cranberry juice, rum and orange juice. Stir well and serve over ice with fresh cranberries and orange slices.
12. Cranberry French 75
A sparkling celebration: gin, cranberry juice and champagne come together for elegance.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- ½ cup gin
- ¼ cup cranberry juice
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Champagne or sparkling wine
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine gin, cranberry juice and lemon juice. Shake and strain into champagne flutes. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
13. Cranberry Daiquiri
Refreshing, frozen or shaken: this daiquiri blends fresh cranberries with rum and lime for a seasonal treat.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup white rum
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 tbsp simple syrup
- Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions: In a blender with ice, combine fresh cranberries, rum, lime juice and simple syrup. Blend until smooth, pour into chilled glasses, garnish with lime wedges.
14. Cranberry Negroni
A refined aperitif: the classic Negroni gets a cranberry twist with the sweet-tart juice.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- ½ cup gin
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup sweet vermouth
- ¼ cup Campari
- Orange slices and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a mixing glass with ice, combine gin, cranberry juice, sweet vermouth and Campari. Stir well and strain into rocks glasses filled with ice. Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries.
15. Vanilla Cranberry Vodka Sour
Sweet meets tart: vodka, cranberry juice and a hint of vanilla combine for a standout drink.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 cup vodka
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Lemon slices and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine vodka, cranberry juice, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Shake well and strain into rocks glasses over ice. Garnish with lemon slice and fresh cranberries.
16. Poinsettia Cocktail
Visually stunning and festive: cranberry juice meets orange liqueur and sparkling wine for a holiday toast.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ¼ cup orange liqueur (e.g., Cointreau)
- Sparkling wine or Champagne
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions: In a shaker with ice, combine cranberry juice and orange liqueur. Shake and strain into champagne flutes. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
These sixteen cranberry-forward cocktails are perfect for holiday parties, cozy evenings or just when you want to sip something special. From tart & refreshing to sweet & elegant, there’s variation for every taste. My favourite? The Cranberry Margarita — give it a try and let me know how you like it!
