Cranberry Simple Syrup (with winter spices)

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.

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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 – you can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe.
• Water
• Sugar – 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 – ginger adds lots of festive flavor to this syrup.
• Spices – 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:

1. To start, add all the ingredients to a small pot or saucepan.
2. 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.
3. Once it's cool, strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or dish.
4. 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!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

FAQS

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.