Recipe

4 Easy Cranberry Cocktails That Are Way Better Than Vodka Cranberry

By Carl Parker Luthman at Johnson & Wales University

When most people think about Thanksgiving, the first things they think of are turkey, stuffing, and family. Of course, the first thing I think of is alcohol. This Thanksgiving, take a step away from that boring canned cranberry sauce and try making these cranberry cocktails instead.

#SpoonTip: If you really like the taste of cranberries, feel free to substitute cranberry-flavored spirits in these recipes. 

 

Spiced Cranberry Rum Punch

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 minute
  • Servings: 1
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 2 oz spiced rum
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 3 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 2 oz ginger ale
  • 1-2 lemon slices, for garnish (optional)

Photo by Parker Luthman

Step 1

Pour all of the liquids into a glass with ice, and garnish with lemon slices.

Cranberry Gin & Tonic

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 minute
  • Servings: 1
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 11/2 oz gin
  • 1/4 oz lime juice
  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 2 oz tonic water
  • 1 lime wedge, for garnish (optional)

Photo by Parker Luthman

Step 1

Pour all ingredients over ice in a tall glass, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Cranberry Margarita

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 minute
  • Servings: 1
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 oz silver tequila
  • 3/4 oz triple sec
  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 2 oz sour mix
  • Margarita salt, for garnish

Photo by Parker Luthman

Step 1

Rub the rim of the glass with lime juice and garnish with margarita salt.

Step 2

Fill the glass with ice and combine all ingredients in the glass.

Coconut Cranberry Cocktail

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 minute
  • Servings: 1
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 oz coconut rum
  • 1/4 oz lime juice
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 2 oz white cranberry juice
  • 1 orange slice, for garnish (optional)
  • Sprig of mint, for garnish (optional)

Photo by Parker Luthman

Step 1

Combine all ingredients in a glass with ice, and garnish with whatever you want.

#SpoonTip: I happened to have oranges and mint in my fridge at the time, so there you go.

 

Check out these other articles to spike up your Thanksgiving: