Cranberry Cider

My Cranberry Cider may just be the perfect festive drink. This sweet, spiced, and tangy cocktail is made with just three ingredients and, in my opinion, the cutest garnishes. You can even nix the rum for an alcohol-free easy-peasy holiday punch!

My friend, Christine, over at For the Love of C (a fantastic blog and wardrobe revival service, if you’re in the market) has been tasting out festive cocktails before the big 12-25. She challenged me to improve upon this simple cocktail of apple cider, cranberry juice, and rum. It was good in theory but just not quite hitting the spot.

I made a couple of really quick fixes to the original recipe to turn this drink into the star of the party. The warm spices of mulled cider complemented by a hint of molasses in the black rum is simply to-die-for. It’s everything I hope for in a Christmastime cocktail! It even tastes fantastic if you forget the ice and enjoy the drink hot.

Ingredients

Keep on scrolling for the ingredient amounts and the full recipe instructions. I have this post chalked full of useful information, tips, and substitutes.

• Black rum – Or dark rum. I don’t suggest using light rum for this recipe.
• Mulled apple cider – Check below for instructions for how to make your own.
• Cranberry juice – I used cranberry cocktail. Use any type you like best.
• Optional garnish – I used cinnamon sticks, sugared cranberries, and wheels of fresh orange. If you’re going for a simple garnish, I highly suggest using orange.

Can I use other spirits for cranberry cider?

Maybe you’re not a rum fan, maybe you want to get creative, or maybe you don’t want to trudge the treacherous tundra to your local liquor store, and a substitute from your own collection would be ideal. No matter the reason, I’ve got you covered.

Whiskey, rye, or bourbon would be an ideal substitute for this recipe. They suit the warm spiced flavors of this cocktail well. You can also try some brandy. I don’t suggest using gin or tequila. Just… don’t. Vodka isn’t ideal, but a flavored version such as vanilla or orange would work well.

You can even serve this drink completely alcohol-free. Just mix the cranberry juice and mulled apple cider, serve with some fresh orange wedges or wheels, and you have the easiest AND tastiest all-ages holiday punch.

How to make cranberry cider

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour in the rum, cider, and cranberry juice. Stir to combine.
2. Optional: Pierce three cranberries with a cocktail stick and lay it atop the glass. Slide a wheel of orange into the side of the glass and finish the drink with a cinnamon stick.

Mulled apple cider

I’m not talking about the fizzy alcoholic cider today! I usually find my favorite mulled cider at the grocery store in big jugs. It’s the best part of the holidays, in my opinion! Cold or hot, it’s such a treat.

If you can’t find any already made, You can do your own really easily. Find a good, fresh, 100% pure apple juice. It should look like the type I have in the ingredient photo. Cloudy, and deeply colored. Not that clear apple juice! This is key to making a deep, delicious, flavorful mulled cider.

You’ll need:

• Spices: Cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, allspice berries, and star anise.
• Fresh orange peel
• Pure apple juice
• Brown sugar, to taste

Add your ingredients to a pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer, and stir occasionally to ease the bubbling. Cook for 5-10 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat. Let everything cool for a few minutes before straining through a sieve and storing in the fridge.

Did you love this recipe? Give these a try:

• Whiskey Sour
• Christmas Citrus Cocktail
• Apple Cider Mimosas
• Mulled Sangria

[ss_social_follow]