Copious amounts of Thanksgiving leftovers are a given when you are hosting the holiday at home. If your household is anything like mine, you probably have a TON of leftover cranberry sauce in your fridge. Well, thank the Heavens because cranberry sauce happens to be one of the most versatile items to use after the holiday table has been cleared. One of my favorite ways to use this sweet, tart, and spicy condiments is in cocktails. Here are a few of my top Thanksgiving cranberry cocktail recipes to start your Black Friday off right, but don’t hesitate to experiment with a few variations of your own! Note: I used the cranberry sauce recipe previously posted on the site which has a lot of citrus flavor, but I assume these recipes are equally good with other cranberry sauces as well…

 

Cranberry Moscow Mule

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Cranberry Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

  • 1 spoonful of cranberry sauce
  • ½ lime, cut in half or quarters depending on the size
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • Ice – crushed is best, but cubes will also work
  • Ginger beer
  • Garnish: small dollop of cranberry sauce and a lime wedge
  • Glass: Mule mug or old fashioned

Directions:

  • Place your cranberry sauce and the lime pieces into your glass and muddle vigorously. Add the vodka and fill your glass halfway with crushed ice. Stir briefly, add more ice so that your glass is about ¾ full, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a small dollop of cranberry sauce and a lime wedge. Enjoy!

Variation: Try substituting the vodka with bourbon for a delicious spin on this recipe.

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This Cranberry Moscow Mule is probably my favorite of the four cocktails!

Cranberry Gin and Tonic

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The Cranberry Gin and Tonic is refreshing spin on an everyday classic.

Ingredients:

  • Spoonful of cranberry sauce
  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 dash bitters (orange is preferable, but Angostura works fine also)
  • 4 ounces tonic
  • Orange
  • Garnish – orange slice and a few fresh cranberries
  • Glass: Old-fashioned

Directions:

  • Place a spoonful of cranberry sauce in the bottom of your glass and add the gin and dash of bitters. Gently stir. Add ice to the glass and top with the tonic and a fresh orange slice. Taking the orange you just used to cut your garnish, squeeze a few drops of juice into your glass. Stir and garnish with some fresh cranberries, if desired.
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Not too tart, the cranberry and orange flavors balance the bite of gin nicely.

Cranberry Bourbon Smash

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Use chai simple syrup to give this Cranberry Bourbon Smash that warm, winter flavor.

Ingredients:

  • Spoonful of cranberry sauce
  • ½ lime, cut in half again
  • 1 ounce chai simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 1 ounce club soda
  • Garnish: a lime wedge and a few fresh cranberries (optional)
  • Glass: old fashioned

Directions:

In an empty cocktail shaker, thoroughly muddle the cranberries, lime and chai simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and add the bourbon and bitters. Seal and shake vigorously for 20 seconds, then strain into an ice filled old fashioned glass. Top with one ounce club soda and garnish with a lime wedge and a few fresh cranberries.

*Chai Infused Simple Syrup:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and cut into pieces
  • 1 ½ teaspoons whole black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • ½ teaspoon whole allspice
  • 8 whole cardamom pods
  • 2 cinnamon sticks

Instructions for Chai Simple Syrup:

Place all ingredients into a medium, heavy bottomed saucepan. Over medium high heat, bring to a boil, stirring regularly until the sugar dissolves and them occasionally afterward.  When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for approximately 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature before straining into a glass jar or container. Discard the solids. Store simple syrup in the fridge for two to three weeks.

This simple syrup is also amazing in tea, coffee, or with club soda.

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I love the fresh cranberry garnish in the Cranberry Bourbon Smash.

 

Cranberry Mimosa

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This cranberry mimosa will help make the next day clean up much better!

Ingredients:

  • Spoonful of cranberry sauce
  • 2 ounces fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ½ ounce Cointreau or Grand Marnier
  • Sparkling wine
  • Glass: Champagne flute
  • Garnish: a few fresh cranberries (optional)

Directions:

  • In an empty cocktail shaker, place the cranberry sauce, orange juice, and Cointreau/Grand Marnier. Add ice, seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a few fresh cranberries if desired.
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Such a festive hue!