Bright, balanced, and beautifully festive — this Cranberry Christmas Cocktail layers sweet-tart cranberry, citrusy blood-orange, and smooth vodka into a drink that looks as good as it tastes. It’s the kind of cocktail that makes holiday hosting easy.

Collage showing Cranberry Christmas Cocktails served in different glasses and pitchers with various garnishes — blood-orange slices, cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and cinnamon sticks — demonstrating creative serving ideas and festive presentation options.

Here’s what you will need to make this drink:

Ingredients for cranberry Christmas cocktail including cranberry juice, vodka, simple syrup, blood oranges, cranberries, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks.

Ingredient Substitutions

BLOOD-ORANGE JUICE: Blood-oranges are slightly sweeter than a standard navel orange. If blood-oranges aren’t available, freshly squeezed navel oranges or bottled 100% pulp-free orange juice are substitutes. You may need to add an extra ½ ounce simple syrup to sweeten the drink.

SIMPLE SYRUP: If you don’t have simple syrup on hand, in mere seconds, you can make just enough for one drink. Stir together one tablespoon water and one tablespoon sugar in a small heatproof cup, then microwave for 10–15 seconds until the sugar dissolves. Give it a quick stir, let it cool and you’ll have about ½ ounce of fresh syrup—perfect for mixing without any waste.

Can I use frozen cranberries instead of fresh? You can use frozen cranberries if that’s what you have on hand, but they tend to get soft once thawed. For the best presentation, fresh cranberries hold their shape and look much prettier in the glass.

Tested By People, Not AI

We developed this recipe through firsthand testing with both fresh and bottled juices to ensure consistency when you make it at home. The ratios were adjusted to maintain balance whether its served as an individual drink or by the pitcher.

Once you’ve made it, you’ll see why this Cranberry Cocktail is one of those rare drinks that feels equally at home at a cozy fireside evening or a full-scale holiday party — festive without being fussy.

Enjoy!
Stephanie Keeping

3 Easy Steps To The Perfect Christmas Drink

Add ice, cranberry juice cocktail, blood-orange juice, vodka, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add the lid and shake for 20-30 seconds or until well blended and chilled.
Add ice (approximately ½ cup) to a 10-ounce low-ball cocktail glass. Remove the cap and strain into the prepared glass.
Garnish with an orange slice, sprig of fresh rosemary, cinnamon stick, and fresh cranberries. If you plan to rim the glass, do that before adding ice and pouring the cocktail.

Three festive cranberry Christmas cocktails served in crystal glasses rimmed with sugar, each garnished with a slice of blood-orange, fresh cranberries, rosemary sprig, and a cinnamon stick, with a bottle of vodka and fresh ingredients in the background.

Serving Suggestions

A slice of blood-orange, a few fresh cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary turn this drink into holiday decor in a glass. The rosemary adds a hint of pine, the orange brightens each sip, and the cranberries give that perfect festive pop. Add a cinnamon stick if you want extra warmth and aroma.

If rimming your glass as an optional garnish, add simple syrup to a shallow dish and sugar to a second shallow dish. Dip the rim of the glass into the syrup, then into the sugar. Set aside to dry while preparing the cocktail.

Garnish tips for cranberry Christmas cocktail with fresh cranberries, thin orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary sprigs displayed on a slate board with festive text overlay.

Can I garnish with frozen cranberries instead of fresh? You can use frozen cranberries if that’s what you have on hand, but they tend to get soft once thawed. For the best presentation, fresh cranberries hold their shape and look much prettier in the glass.

Three ways to serve cranberry Christmas punch—shown in a pitcher, beverage dispenser, and punch bowl—each filled with ice, orange slices, and cranberries.

If you’re hosting, mix a larger batch in a pitcher, drink dispenser, or punch bowl. Each option works well depending on your setup—pitchers are great for small gatherings, dispensers keep drinks cold and easy to pour, and punch bowls make a festive centerpiece.

This cranberry Christmas cocktail is best served immediately after mixing so the ice does not have a chance to water down the cocktail.

You can make this ahead in a pitcher, stir to combine, then refrigerate for up to 24 hours to chill (do not add ice) before serving. Ice can be added to individual serving glasses when ready to serve.