Cranberry Simple Syrup (with winter spices)
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This homemade cranberry simple syrup is here to help you get into the holiday spirit! Add festive flavor to Christmas cocktails, mocktails, and more with our bright and warmly spiced cranberry syrup. It's easy to make and it's ready in 20 minutes!
If you love festive cranberry cocktails, also try our Christmas cranberry margarita and spiced cranberry hot toddy.
Sometimes it's the simple things, like swirling spiced cranberry syrup into your cocktail, that makes the season special.
We've always got some of this delicious holiday-spiced syrup on hand over the holidays. With its warm spices and bright red hue, it adds incredible festive flair and cranberry flavor to anything it touches.
It's really easy to make this syrup at home, too. Simply simmer cranberries low and slow with sugar or honey, a generous amount of ginger, and a mix of warm winter spices. Strain the syrup into bottles and it will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Make a big batch and keep it for yourself or wrap it in some twine and gift it to friends, family, or your favorite holiday hostess!
Give the gift of cranberry syrup
Since there's nothing more special than a homemade Christmas gift, delight your friends, family, or co-workers with a jar of homemade cranberry syrup this season. Just pour it into small jars or bottles, tie it with some candy cane twine, and attach a little name card. They'll love it!
For more easy and edible homemade gifts, check out our DIY foodie Christmas gifts.
Cranberry simple syrup ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this cranberry simple syrup:
- Cranberries ā you can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe.
- Water
- Sugar ā to balance out the tartness of the cranberries, we use regular granulated sugar but you can use an equal amount of honey if you prefer.
- Ginger ā ginger adds lots of festive flavor to this syrup.
- Spices ā we use a warming mix of winter spices including peppercorns, whole cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks but you can use your own unique mix of mulling spices, too.
How to make cranberry simple syrup
Making fresh cranberry simple syrup is easy to do, and will fill your home with the most incredible aromas! Here's how to make it in a few simple steps:
- To start, add all the ingredients to a small pot or saucepan.
- Bring it all to a boil, then dial down the heat to low right away. Continue to gently simmer it for a few more minutes while using a spoon to crush some of the cranberries. Then remove it from the heat and let it cool.
- Once it's cool, strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or dish.
- Transfer the syrup to a clean jar and use it to make festive cocktails, mocktails, and other seasonal beverages. It will store in your fridge for up to 2 weeks!
Recipe FAQs
How do I store cranberry simple syrup?
Store cranberry syrup in a clean jar or container with a tight-fitting lid in your refrigerator. You can also can it to prolong its shelf life.
How long can I keep cranberry simple syrup?
This cranberry simple syrup will keep in the fridge for at least two weeks.
What's the best sugar to use for simple syrup?
We recommend either granulated sugar or honey for simple syrup. Honey will have a stronger flavor but it's a good natural alternative to sugar.
How to use cranberry simple syrup
There are so many fun ways to use cranberry syrup. It adds festive flavor to holiday cocktails, mocktails, and other seasonal beverages.
It's what we serve with our cranberry french toast on Christmas morning. We also love to use it throughout the season stirred into yogurt or oatmeal, spooned over ice cream, or warmed up and drizzled over a fluffy stack of pancakes or waffles.
More tasty syrup recipes
Cranberry Simple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar (can use honey)
- 10 slices peeled fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 4 star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Add the cranberries, water, sugar, ginger, peppercorns, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon stick to a small pot over medium-high heat.2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, 2 cups water, 10 slices peeled fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, 4 star anise, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 cup sugar
- As soon as the liquid starts to simmer, turn the heat to low. Crush the cranberries with the back of a spoon then simmer very gently for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool completely.
- Strain the cranberries through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the cranberries to remove as much liquid as possible.
- Transfer the syrup to a clean jar and store it in your fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
If you love cranberries as much as we do, make sure to check out all of our cranberry recipes!
