This cranberry ginger cider cocktail combines apple cider, ginger beer, and fresh cranberries for festive fall cocktail. Perfect for Thanksgiving or a holiday party!
This week, things started to click.
I wasn't a Tasmanian devil trying to get myself and Kai out the door in the morning. Things got accomplished at work. Things got accomplished at home. Kai didn't cry when I dropped him off at daycare for the first time ever.
We are finally settling some sort of routine now that I'm back at work/school after a whole year of maternity leave. What a relief!
Given that it's Friday and I'm starting to feel like maybe I can do this whole mom/PhD/food blog thing, I'm in the mood to put my feet up and have a cold and bubbly cider cocktail.
Reasons you'll โก this cranberry ginger cider cocktail
- it's ready in under 5 minutes and doesn't require a simple syrup
- it's cool, bubbly, and refreshing
- it would be perfect for a holiday party
The truth is that this cider cocktail barely counts as a recipe. It takes 2 minutes flat to make, if that.
Translation: something that real people in the real world might make. I do love fancy margaritas, but things that involve homemade simple syrups send me running on Friday afternoons. Sometimes even the thought of digging out the blender {and cleaning it after} is also enough to send me running.
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So now you guys know how I feel about being in the kitchen on a Friday. Gimme easy. Sunday is the day for complicated in my house ๐
ย
ย So. This cider cocktail.
Easy, yes. Delicious? Yesss. It is cool and bubbly, yet spicy {gingery} and comforting somehow. It just tastes like fall.
Hard {sparkling} apple cider with a spicy edge from ginger beer...you can't go wrong with apple and ginger flavors! I used non-alcoholic ginger beer, but you could also use alcoholic.
Fresh cranberries are muddled in the bottom of the glass before adding the cider and ginger beer. Really, they don't lend much cranberry flavor to the drink, and feel free to add more if you want a stronger cranberry taste.
I also added a pinch of cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon to the cocktail, but it was also good without.
ย TGIF!! Have a great week-end!
Tips & equipment for the perfect cranberry ginger cider cocktail
- it's a 'dump and go' slow cooker meal
- it freeze/thaws great (before or after cooking!)
- looking for more easy holiday cocktails? Check out these Spiced Bailey's Ice Cream Floats, this Apple, Pear & Pomegranate Sangria, or thisย Cranberry Ginger Fizz
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Cranberry Ginger Cider Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 fresh cranberries
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- ice cubes
- ยฝ cup hard apple cider (sparkling)
- ยผ cup ginger beer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
- 1 squeeze lemon (ยฝ tsp or so)
Instructions
- Muddle cranberries & cinnamon in the bottom of the glass.
- Fill with ice.
- Add remaining drink ingredients.
- Serve immediately
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Tips:
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Adapted from Martha Stewart
Denise says
Wow, thank-you, Nicole! You just made my night ๐ Hope you enjoy my blog!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
This sounds awesome! Light and crisp yet sooo perfect for the holidays! Sometimes the festive drinks are too sweet and heavy for me, but this sounds perfect!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
Denise, this drink sounds fantastic! I must add cider to my grocery list. I'm so glad you are getting a routine established and juggling everything so well.
Denise says
Thanks, Andrea! I don't drink cider very often, but it is so nice and bubbly, I will have to have it more often ๐
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Yay, so glad to hear that your new work routine is going well ๐ This is such a great cocktail! Love that it's easy too ๐
Denise says
Aw, thanks, Kelly! I'm all about easy recipes these days!
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
How great that your new routine is starting to pick up! I'm still waiting for any kind of routine ๐ What a great drink recipe! Love the gif!
Denise says
Thanks, Nora! We didn't actually have a routine until he was like 8 months old...the first 8 months was pretty much me trying to figure out what the heck was going on! To this day, I still don't really know what's going on LOL! But it gets a lot easier when they are older.
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
What a perfect cocktail! I'm so with ya on the easy ones. Sometimes I just don't want to clean a blender and get all fancy. Glad your routine is going so well. Cheers lady!
Denise says
Thanks, Leah! I am pretty useless on Friday afternoons...I just need easy!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
Yay to things working out and yay to cocktails! Lovely pictures, Denise, and you're rocking the gif! I want one of these right now.
Denise says
Thanks, Geraldine! GIFs are just fun...and cocktails too ๐