Cranberry Limeade Cocktail Recipe
I picked this recipe because it brings together tart cranberry juice with fresh lime and crisp soda. The bright color looks so inviting, and you only need a handful of tools and ingredients you probably already have.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or jar with a tight lid
- Jigger or measuring spoons
- Citrus juicer or manual hand squeezer
- Mixing glass or sturdy glass
- Tall serving glass
- Bar spoon or stirring stick
- Strainer (if using a shaker without built-in strainer)
- Ice cubes
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice unsweetened or sweetened, depending on preference
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1.5 ounces vodka or substitute with club soda for non-alcoholic
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda
- Ice cubes
- Fresh lime wheel for garnish
- Fresh cranberries for garnish, optional
- Mint sprig for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
- Pour in cranberry juice, lime juice, vodka, and simple syrup.
- Secure the lid and shake well for about 15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top with lemon-lime soda and stir gently with a bar spoon.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, cranberries, or mint as desired.
Notes
Sometimes I use diet lemon-lime soda to make this lower in sugar. For extra tartness, I’ll splash in a bit more lime juice.
If I want a non-alcoholic drink, I just leave out the vodka and use extra soda. Fresh squeezed lime juice always tastes better than bottled, in my opinion.
I taste the mixture and adjust the syrup to get the balance just right. For a nice look, I chill the glass first and add the garnishes right before serving