This cranberry orange spritzer is a festive non-alcoholic drink for the holidays made with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and sparkling water.
This was supposed to be a post with photos of all the delicious things I baked to bring with us when we visited our families for Christmas. But I didn't do any baking. And we are not on our way to make that visit - thanks to a weather snafu.
And you know what didn't seem like the best idea? Making several batches of holiday treats when Christmas is just going to be the three of us.
So no holiday baking. But what did seem like a great idea was holiday mocktails! So instead I created this Cranberry Orange Spritzer.
While you're here don't forget to check out our new Vegan Christmas Cookbook. It's packed with all my favorite tried and true recipes for a plant based holiday feast!
I mean, not only are cranberries holiday appropriate, but they're also healthy, right? Perfect!
If there were such a thing as cranberry Orangina, this would taste just like it--it's very orange-y, but with a tart kick from the cranberries.
And while I made this as a non-alcoholic mocktail - you can totally add some vodka if you prefer. 😉
Anyway, for those of you who celebrate, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
And if you're still planning that holiday menu, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas:
- My Vegan Christmas Cookbook (new!)
- 100+ DIY Food Gifts for the Holidays
- Gingerbread Waffles
- 5-Minute Vegan Egg Nog
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 cups freshly-squeezed orange juice about 5 large oranges
- ½ cup white sugar (organic for vegan-friendly)
- 2 inch piece ginger peeled and sliced into thick coins (optional)
- 2 cups sparkling water chilled (or more if you like it less sweet)
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and ginger in a medium pan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Continue to boil until cranberries begin to pop. Once cranberries have popped open and softened, use the back of a wooden spoon to smash them against the side of the pan. Remove from heat and cool.
- Strain cooled cranberry mixture into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve. Discard solids and refrigerate juice until chilled, about an hour. Transfer juice to pitcher and stir in sparkling water. Serve with cranberries or orange slices as garnish, if desired.
[email protected] says
Mmmm, so bright and festive! Merry Christmas Friend!
Kiersten says
Merry Christmas to you too, Sommer!
Sheri says
That looks so good! I hope Miso feels better soon. Merry Christmas!
Kiersten says
Thank you, Sheri. Merry Christmas to you too!
alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] says
sending lots of healthy thoughts Miso's way. hope he gets better soon!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I hope so too. 🙂
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
That looks soooo yummy! Sorry about Miso, but I'm glad there's improvement!
Kiersten says
Thanks, Liz. I am hoping that we don't have to spend Christmas at the emergency vet!
Courtney Rae Jones says
Awe, I hope Miso feels better ASAP 🙂 Poor little one!
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas. xo
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2013.
Looking forward to all of your posts in the new year!
Kiersten says
Thank you, Courtney! And I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too!
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
Poor kitty! Good thing it didn't happen when you were away.
Beautiful cocktail, by the way 🙂
Kiersten says
I know! As much as we hate missing Christmas, I think this was a blessing in disguise. If it happened two days later, we wouldn't have been around to catch it...
[email protected]'s Recipes says
What beautiful bright colour!
Poor Miso...one of my 3 cats had similar problem a while ago...and another had broken his leg and then having breathing problems...gosh...this afternoon, almost had another accident. Sorry for babbling ;-( it's holiday and Miso is getting better...let's celebrate with this beautiful and festive drink!
Kiersten says
Oh Angie, I am sorry! Sick pets are so tough to deal with--it's hard to see them suffer. 🙁 I wish we could figure out exactly what's going on with Miso, but I guess with this kind of cystitis, there are no easy answers or solutions...
Stephanie @ henry happened says
Poor little Miso! Hope he's better soon. Give him a few sips of cranberry for good measure 🙂 We just took Sam to the dr this morning & found out he has a double ear infection. No fun to be sick on Christmas. 🙁
Kiersten says
Someone suggested cranberry supplements to us! But right now he's on so many different meds, we didn't want to introduce something else. Poor Sam--ear infections are the worst! 🙁
JulieD says
This looks fantastic, Kiersten!! I love the picture of your oranges!
I'm so sorry about Miso, I keep thinking about him and you guys. Please keep us posted!! xoxo and merry Christmas!!
Kiersten says
Thank you, Julie. Christmas definitely isn't the same without seeing our families, but I am really glad we decided to stay home. As an animal lover, I know you know how it is!
Emily says
Hope your sweet kitty is feeling better soon!
Merry Christmas!
Kiersten says
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!
Maryann says
Sounds delicious!
Cindy says
I'm sorry to hear about Miso. I work at a vet's office and I know how critical those cases are. Hug him as tight as you can and make him promise he won't obstruct again!
Kiersten says
He spent most of the past three days next to me, on my lap, or in my arms! He was doing so much better, but today he's lethargic and refusing food and water. He's definitely not completely obstructed (just stepped in a little puddle of pee to prove that!), but if he keeps up like this, I think we'll have to bring him back in. 🙁
Corinna says
Hope your kitty feels better soon!
Kiersten says
Thank you!
BusyWorkingMama says
Aww, hope your sweet kitty is feeling better! I wouldn't be able to leave him behind, either.
Kiersten says
Thank you! I'm so glad we ended up staying home. Even if he was better, I still would have worried about him the whole time!
BusyWorkingMama says
Our new cat Kitty gave us a Christmas present by coming all the way downstairs today 🙂
Kiersten says
Yay! It's funny how timid some of them are in new situations. 🙂 But once they start making those little steps, it seems like the others come more quickly...
Shirley says
Oh no, poor Miso! At least he won't be missing his mom for Christmas. Sorry you couldn't make the trip, though. And you also made me laugh -- "good for urinary health." Sounds like my mom! Hope you two still have a Merry Christmas and that Miso feels better soon.
Kiersten says
Thank you! He was doing better, but today he's very lethargic and won't eat or drink. I think we might end up spending Christmas at the emergency vet. 🙁 I hope you have a Merry Christmas too--at the very least, I'm sure it will be better than ours! 😉
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
How festively delicious!! YUM!
Jennifer H says
mmm that sounds and looks so delish!
HilLesha says
I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Kiersten says
Thank you! You too! 🙂
elisa says
oohhh! that looks good. i'll have to try it. maybe as a new years drink?
i hope miso feels better soon! poor kitty.
Kiersten says
Thank you! He's going to have surgery tomorrow, so we're hoping he will be back to his old self after that...
[email protected] eco friendly homemaking says
Oh I hope your cat will be all better really soon. This drink looks so delicious and refreshing! I hope this New Year brings you an abundance of blessings.
Kiersten says
Thank you! I hope 2013 is a wonderful year for you, your family, and your business!
Jennifer The Quirky Momma says
The beverages look so festive and lovely! I think my family would really enjoy the last cranberry spritzer.
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I'm so sorry Miso is under the weather! Poor guy. I hope he is feeling better now.
This looks like such a great drink (awesome idea to just put the orange juice in the simple syrup). And I especially love these photos of yours. The splash of color those cute red ornaments add is just perfect.
Kiersten says
He's been at the vet since Wednesday and he's having surgery this morning. So if all goes well, we will be bringing him home tomorrow. It's been really weird not having him around! 🙁
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
I hope that Miso is doing better but sorry you had to cancel your plans. Either way, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! This drink look so good but I keep thinking off adding a dash of vodka!
Kiersten says
Thank you! And yes, vodka or even champagne would probably work well in this. 🙂
Bernadette @ Now Stir It Up says
Poor Miso!! I hope that he is feeling better now. 🙂
I love cranberries and oranges together. In anything. So this HAS to be delightful!
Kiersten says
Thank you! He is having surgery today, but he'll come home tomorrow and hopefully he'll be back to his normal self soon!
Genevieve says
Cranberry, orange and ginger is such a good combination - reminds me of cranberry sauce turned into a drink! Hope your cat is doing better and that you had a nice Christmas 🙂
Kiersten says
Yes! That's what I told my husband--"This is like cranberry sauce in drink form." But I thought maybe that didn't sound too appetizing, so I didn't mention it in my post. 😉