• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Cocktails
    • Vodka Recipes
    • Wine Cocktails
    • Moscow Mule Recipes and Variations
    • Wine
  • Dessert
    • Dump Cake Recipes
    • Alcohol Infused Cupcakes
    • Cake Mix Desserts
  • Easy Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Salad
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
  • Mom Life and Style
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Blog

Cupcakes and Cutlery logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Cocktails
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Cocktails » Classic Vodka and Cranberry Recipe for Your Holiday Party

    Published: Oct 28, 2021 · Updated: Oct 26, 2021 by Sharon Garofalow | This post may contain affiliate links. See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Classic Vodka and Cranberry Recipe for Your Holiday Party

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Close up of a cocktail glass with a 2-ingredient Christmas cocktail.

    A Vodka and Cranberry may just be 2 ingredients but it’s delicious, and one of the easiest vodka recipes you can make!

    With a sprig of sugared rosemary, this drink becomes perfectly festive for fall and winter parties, holiday gatherings and beyond!

    Vodka and Cranberry in a cocktail glass with rosemary garnish.
    The color is bright and the flavor is bold!

    My cocktail mission statement is to use basic ingredients in delicious ways that don’t require any special skills or tools.

    While you can drink a Vodka Cranberry any time of year, it’s especially wonderful around Christmas. With that gorgeous color, this 2-ingredient cocktail is one of my favorites.

    Like my Vodka and Coke, this is Vodka Cranberry Recipe is barely a recipe. Just the way I like it.

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Top Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Related Recipes
    • Vodka and Cranberry

    Why This Recipe Works

    Cranberry juice is a classic cocktail ingredient. And I hear it works wonders for your urinary tract health. Bonus!

    Vodka is a bar staple that you probably have hanging around. It’s versatile in flavor and color and pairs well with just about anything you put with it (apple juice, orange juice, tea, etc).

    The color of the juice creates a pretty drink that looks extra celebratory. You can easily make the drink suit any occasion depending on when you are serving it.

    For the holidays, garnish with fresh herbs (rosemary looks like super tall skinny pine trees) and whole fresh cranberries.

    Any other time of year, slap a lime wheel on top and you’re good to go.

    While it’s delicious to sip as is, by adding just one more ingredient you can really level up the flavor and create many more cocktails. (More on this later!)

    Serve this drink at Friendsgiving, your Holiday Cookie Exchange, or any time you’re having a holiday happy hour.

    Ingredients

    Labeled ingredients to make a Vodka Cranberry cocktail.
    • vodka
    • 100% cranberry juice cocktail
    • lime, optional

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    A jigger next to a bottle of Tito's vodka and a cocktail glass with ice.

    To a short cocktail glass with ice, add vodka.

    A cocktail glass full of ice next to a jigger with cranberry juice.

    Next, add the cranberry juice.

    A cocktail glass with cranberry juice and vodka on a tray next to a piece of lime.

    A squeeze of fresh lime really does wonders to brighten this Vodka and Cranberry and give it another layer of flavor.

    I don’t consider lime another ingredient really. It’s like salt and pepper are in a recipe.

    You can skip this if you don’t have it. Or use a splash of Rose’s Lime Juice if you have it.

    Give it all a quick stir.

    A sprig of sugared rosemary on a tray next to a plate of sugar with a sprig of rosemary.

    Hint: The perfect holiday garnish for Vodka and Cranberry is sugared rosemary with a few fresh cranberries skewered on the stem.

    How to Make Sugared Rosemary

    To create the sugared rosemary, simply dip the sprig in a bowl of water. Shake to remove excess water.

    Dip the moistened rosemary into sugar poured on a shallow plate. Let sit to dry before adding as a garnish.

    Overhead view of a bundt cake topped with powdered sugar next to cranberry vodka in glasses.

    Variations

    You can take this super simple Vodka and Cranberry and make it into a handful of other delicious drinks.

    • Cosmopolitan – add Cointreau and you’ve got the signature drink of Sex and the City.
    • Madras – Orange juice gives this cocktail some sweetness and a delicious kick of citrus.
    • Sea Breeze – the addition of grapefruit juice makes this vacation worthy.
    • Cranberry Mimosa – Make it brunch worthy with the addition of some sparkling wine.
    • Bay Breeze – Pineapple juice makes this version sweet and perfect for people who aren’t big drinkers.
    • Cranberry Mule – A little ginger beer makes this into one of my favorite Moscow Mule cocktails.
    • St. Germain and Cranberry – Skip the lime and use lemon instead. A splash of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur gives this a delicious floral update.

    Top Tips

    • If you want this Vodka and Cranberry recipe to be a bit sweeter, you can use a little bit of simple syrup (or a flavored simple syrup like Vanilla Cinnamon Simple Syrup).
    • You can play around with the ratio of vodka to juice to suit your taste preferences. Some people just like a splash of juice.
    • Want to make this even more holiday friendly? Make my Spiced Cranberry Juice and use that in place of plain juice.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does vodka and cranberry juice taste good?

    YES! Cranberry juice is refreshing but not overly sweet. This is a good drink for people who don’t like sugary cocktails.

    Does vodka and cranberry get you drunk?

    Yes. Depending on how many you drink, how quickly you drink them and how much vodka you put in the cocktail you can absolutely get drunk. This is currently my favorite hangover supplement if you need it (not intended as medical advice).

    Is vodka and cranberry a girly drink?

    Nope. There’s no such thing as a “girly” drink. Guys and girls can drink whatever they want.

    What type of vodka should I use?

    To keep this vodka and cranberry juice cocktail as classic as possible, you should use plain vodka. I prefer Tito’s. It’s reasonably priced and has a nice taste. But you can also swap out for flavored vodka. Something with citrus would be delightful!

    Overhead shot of two cocktail glasses with cranberry juice and vodka and garnished with rosemary and cranberries.

    This quick and easy Vodka and Cranberry drink makes the perfect simple cocktail for the holidays and beyond.

    An overhead shot of pine branches and a package with a printable sheet on top of it next to text.

    Related Recipes

    • Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail – This yummy drink uses spiced cranberry juice to make a delicious cocktail perfect for winter.
    • This list of Winter Vodka Cocktails is full of seasonal flavors that you’ll love.
    • Yummy Apple Spice Sangria is a great cocktail to serve a crowd!
    A cocktail glass with vodka and cranberry garnished with lime and cranberries on a table.

    Vodka and Cranberry

    This super easy vodka and cranberry juice cocktail is full of flavor and might just be the easiest drink you can make. Try out different garnishes to make it suited for a specific holiday or time of year.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 4 minutes
    Total Time: 4 minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 142kcal
    Author: Sharon Garofalow

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 ounces vodka
    • 3 ounces cranberry juice
    • .25 lime

    Instructions

    • To a short cocktail glass with ice, add vodka.
    • Add cranberry juice.
    • Add the juice of 1/4 of a lime.
    • Stir. Garnish and enjoy.

    Notes

    • If you want this Vodka and Cranberry recipe to be a bit sweeter, you can use a little bit of simple syrup (or a flavored simple syrup like Vanilla Cinnamon Simple Syrup).
    • You can play around with the ratio of vodka to juice to suit your taste preferences. Some people just like a splash of juice.
    • Want to make this even more holiday-friendly? Make my Spiced Cranberry Juice and use that in place of plain juice.
    • See the post for flavor variations by adding one more ingredient.
    To make sugared rosemary: Dip a fresh rosemary sprig into a small bowl of water. Gently shake off excess. Dip wet rosemary in a shallow plate of sugar. Let dry for a few minutes before using to garnish a drink. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1drink | Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!
    « 50 Birthday Dinner Ideas {Delicious Recipes for Celebrating at Home}
    Netflix Christmas Movies (and Shows) for 2021 »

    Click to share!

    • Share
    • Tweet

    About Sharon Garofalow

    Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Welcome!
    Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com

    More about Sharon →

    Posts about wine, liquor and/or cocktail recipes are expressly for people 21 years of age and older. Drink responsibly.

    Seasonal Favorites

    • Best Ever Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Recipe
    • Corner Bakery Overnight Oatmeal Recipe: No-Cook!
    • Best 3 Ingredient DIY Coffee Scrub for Cellulite
    • How to Rim a Glass: 3 Ways! {For Cocktails}

    Reader Favorites

    • 2-Ingredient Fireball and Ginger Ale Cocktail Recipe
    • Easy Strawberry, Jello and Angel Food Cake Dessert Recipe
    • The Best Quick and Easy Cool Whip Frosting Recipe
    • Dried Beef Cheese Ball Recipe For Your Next Party
    laptop with a photo on it and text around it to shop my amazon store.

    Affiliate Link Disclosure

    Cupcakes and Cutlery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure policy.

    This site generates income via ads.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Accessibility Policy
    • CCPA
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    © 2008-2022 CUPCAKES & CUTLERY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.