Any successful holiday gathering starts with appropriately festive drinks. Still searching for a signature cocktail? Impress party guests with this Instagram-worthy citrus and cranberry recipe (which beats a fruitcake any day).
CITRUS AND CRANBERRY COCKTAIL
Ingredients
For the Sugared Cranberries
½ cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups fresh cranberries
For the Cocktail
Ice
2 parts vodka
1 – 2 parts simple syrup (or rosemary simple syrup if you’re feeling fancy)
1 part fresh orange or tangerine juice
3 parts 100% cranberry juice (no sugar added)
Club soda
Sugared cranberries
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Orange slices
Directions
1. To sugar the cranberries, heat water and ½ cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Bring just to a boil, then mix in the cranberries until they’re completely coated. Let them cool on a baking rack, spaced apart, for about an hour.
2. Roll the cranberries in a shallow dish filled with 1½ cups granulated sugar. Place them in a clean container to dry for up to one hour.
3. To make the cocktail, fill a highball glass with ice. Add the vodka, simple syrup to taste, and fruit juices.
4. Stir and top with club soda if you’d like some bubbles. Garnish with sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and orange slices. Serve and get in the holiday spirit(s).
By Rima Butto, Staff Writer
