Looking for a refreshing drink that mixes tangy cranberry with zesty orange? The Cranberry Orange Spritzer Cocktail hits that sweet spot—bright flavors, a bit of tartness, and some eye-popping bubbles.
This cocktail only needs four ingredients: cranberry juice, orange juice, soda water, and a little fresh fruit for garnish. It comes together in under five minutes, so it’s a real winner for casual hangouts or when you’ve got guests arriving soon.
The color is a showstopper—vivid red with a citrusy aroma that grabs attention. You can serve it with or without alcohol, so it’s pretty versatile. Vodka or gin work great if you want to spike it.
Cranberry Orange Spritzer Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger or measuring cup
- Highball glasses
- Ice bucket
- Bar spoon
- Cutting Board
- Sharp knife
- Citrus juicer (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 oz cranberry juice unsweetened
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz club soda or sparkling water
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- Ice cubes
- Orange slices for garnish
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
- Rosemary sprig optional garnish
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail shaker about halfway with ice.
- Pour in the cranberry juice, orange juice, and simple syrup.
- If you want it boozy, add the vodka now.
- Shake it up for about 15 seconds until it’s good and cold.
- Fill a highball glass with fresh ice.
- Strain the mix into your glass, filling it roughly two-thirds full.
- Top it off with club soda or sparkling water.
- Give it a gentle stir with a bar spoon.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a few cranberries.
- Throw in a rosemary sprig if you want that extra aromatic flair.
Notes
Must Have Ingredients
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Tasting Notes
The Cranberry Orange Spritzer Cocktail is bright and seriously refreshing. First sip? Tart cranberry and zippy orange—can’t really go wrong there.
It pours a gorgeous ruby red, and those little bubbles just keep rising. Looks pretty lively in the glass.
The aroma is crisp—cranberry up front, sweet orange in the background. If you go for the rosemary garnish, it adds a subtle herbal note that’s surprisingly nice.
Flavor Profile:
- First impression: Tart cranberry, orange brightness right away
- Mid-palate: Sweetness balances out, a little sparkle from the soda
- Finish: Clean, a bit dry, with a lingering fruitiness
It’s light and effervescent on the palate. The carbonation brings a pleasant tingle—kind of wakes up your taste buds.
Honestly, chilling it makes a difference. Keep it around 35-40°F for best results; otherwise, it can get a bit watery.
This cocktail pairs well with lighter appetizers—think cheese, salads, maybe some seafood. The acidity cuts through richer foods, too, which is always a plus.
If you skip the alcohol, you still get most of the flavor, though you do lose that subtle warmth from the spirits. But hey, it’s still a good drink.
Substitutes
You can totally swap out ingredients in a Cranberry Orange Spritzer Cocktail if you’re missing something. Here are a few ideas worth trying when your bar or fridge is running low.
Juice Substitutions:
- Don’t have cranberry juice? Pomegranate or cherry juice will do the trick.
- No orange juice? Blood orange or even tangerine juice is a solid stand-in.
- Want it more tart? Grapefruit juice is surprisingly nice here.
Alcohol Options:
- Vodka can take the place of gin, honestly, and most folks won’t mind.
- White rum? That’ll give you a sweeter twist.
- Or hey, just skip the booze for a mocktail. No judgment.
For garnish, fresh berries are pretty flexible. Raspberries or blackberries look and taste great if cranberries are nowhere to be found.
When you’re swapping things in, just taste as you go. Some juices are way sweeter, others are more tart, so you might want to add a splash of simple syrup if it feels off-balance.
Oh, and frozen juice concentrates work in a pinch. Just make sure to dilute them according to the package before mixing them in.
