Sparkling Cranberry Cocktail (with hard cider)

Toast the holiday season with a refreshing Vodka Cranberry Cocktail! This sparkling, hand-crafted cocktail is made with Rosé Hard Cider and fresh cranberries.

The holidays seem to approach us so quickly! We always think we are ready for them and then suddenly it's the week before Christmas, and we realize we are a just little behind. Shopping seems to have gotten easier with on-line options, but one thing you can't do online is entertain. We try to have friends and family over as much as possible, especially during the holidays. And it has become our tradition at superman cooks to create festive new drink recipe each year. Our strategy is simple: it has to look good and it has to taste good. This Sparkling Cranberry Cocktail checks off all of the boxes.

Ingredients:

• APPLE JUICE VODKA (2 ounces): we like Absolut Juice Apple
• HARD CIDER (4 ounces): we like Angry Orchard Rosé for its color & sweetness
• a splash of CRANBERRY JUICE
• FRESH CRANBERRIES (½ cup)
• SUGAR (2 tablespoons)
• FRESH ROSEMARY sprigs (for garnish)

How to make this recipe:

1. Fill 12 oz glass with crushed ice. Pour vodka into a glass. Then top with hard cider and cranberry juice.
2. Place sugar on a small plate and rinse cranberries off. Roll them in the sugar to coat, then add them to drink along with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
3. Serve.

The colors of this Cranberry Christmas Cocktail are both festive and enticing. The beauty is that it will bring beer drinkers and the vodka drinkers together, since this drink is a combination of both liquor and bubbly rosé hard cider. Sweeten it up with some tart and juicy cranberries, and it screams holiday. I know that rosemary is an herb that brings beautiful flavor to some of our recipes, but it also makes a sophisticated garnish to this special drink (we love the rosemary and cranberries coated in sugar for that extra wintery, Christmas look). We hope it makes its way to your holiday festivities, as it is a party pleaser! From all of us at superman cooks we wish you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season. Cheers!!!

recipe notes:

• If you don't have Apple Juice Vodka, you can use regular vodka and add more cranberry juice or a splash of apple juice instead.
• We really like the taste of hard cider in this recipe, but you can always substitute champagne, Prosecco, or sparkling wine for extra sparkle.
• No need for a cocktail shaker! Layering the ingredients tastes great!
• For a very Christmas cocktail look: roll both the cranberries and rosemary sprigs in sugar.

serving suggestions:

• Elevate your holiday brunch! Sip on these cranberry cocktails as you nibble on mini quiches and a cheese plate.
• A pitcher of Sparkling Cranberry Cocktails will be the hit of your holiday cocktail parties! Serve them with a cheese board and Artichoke Tapenade.
• Surprise your friends at the cookie exchange! These holiday vodka cocktails taste great with Teekuchen Cut-Out Cookies, Cinnamon Rugelach, and Cocoa Drop cookies.
• Serve your guests a cranberry cocktail when they arrive for Christmas dinner. It's a great way to start a meal.

more holiday drink recipes:

Festive Empress Gin Fizz: a sweet and pretty drink with a "punch", this holiday cocktail combines gin with ginger beer and fresh cranberries.

Caramel Eggnog Chata: Rum Chata, Eggnog, and a shot of cinnamon whiskey make this gorgeous wintery white drink a Christmas favorite.

Violet Femme Sparkling Purple Gin Cocktail: this elegant cocktail with a stunning violet hue is flavored with Empress Gin, grapefruit juice, and elderflower liqueur.

Red Russian with Rosemary Simple Syrup: this sweet vodka cocktail is the perfect shade of holiday red.

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